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XO QUAY Blog

XO QUAY Blog
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WINNERS OF THE $120,000 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

This is why we partnered with Saweetie this past April when we launched our second Education is Quay Scholarship Program. We received thousands of entries, and due to the unprecedented number of essay applications (and incredible videos submitted), we decided to award money to even more winners.

$120,000 USD to help fuel the dreams of 12 scholars because we believe your vision has the power to change the world.

Our 12 winners wrote an essay on how the money would help fuel (and further) their education. Then semi-finalists were asked to create a video on what self-expression means to them. Meet our scholars and see some of what they had to say:

    DIAMOND B.

    The ability to express myself has allowed me to cultivate this experience and transform into the confident warrior that I am today.

        HEIDI T.

        I would use this scholarship towards gaining additional knowledge and experience aimed at advancing healthcare accessibility and quality of care through courses at my university as I complete my biochemistry degree.

            VIENNA S.

            self-expression is key to my well-being. It's the way I tell the story of who I am, how I feel and what I believe.

                LILIANA G

                 

                I aspire to earn my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience and earn my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Psychology before I turn 26. I yearn to investigate how group behavior and human cognition influence public policy.

                    GABRIEL S.

                    Self-expression is like the soul's fingerprint. It is in the way that we speak, the way that we dress, it is even in the way that we move.

                        FEBIE L.

                        Anyone who is willing to dedicate their life to nurturing another life should have every opportunity to do so. I wish to educate myself on assisted reproductive technologies that help couples overcome infertility.

                            KEANU C

                            Possessing a selfless attitude, good problem-solving skills, good communication skills, and commitment to patient advocacy are all the things that have led me to choose nursing.

                                ENRICO D.

                                One day, I stared at myself in the mirror, told myself I was enough, and burst into tears. I am my own person. I am valid... I’m loving myself, living in the moment, and embracing love and support from people who offer it.

                                    MAE J.

                                    I plan to someday go beyond advocating, learning, and researching; I’m determined to become a clinical psychologist who provides direct support to individuals who struggle with mental health issues.

                                        LAIBA Z.

                                        I believe that people shouldn't have to hide themselves to blend in with the crowd. I finally gained the confidence to not let the opinions of others stop me from expressing myself.

                                            VANESSA S.

                                            My self-expression is constructed by little dots of my cultural experiences that have created the person that I am today.

                                                MYRA J.

                                                I will graduate with my Bachelors at the age of 19 due to my persistence in high school and I have begun my Master’s degree program. I also started a company named “Mexituras” to help bring awareness to Artisans in Mexico who make $1 for every hour worked.

                                                   

                                                  SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA

                                                  • Must be located in the US, District of Columbia, Australia, New Zealand 
                                                  • Must be at least 16 years old at the time of application  
                                                  • Applicant's educational goals have a clearly defined purpose + mission, plus a specific use for the funds as explained in your application  
                                                  • Applicants must attend or plan to attend a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school

                                                  TIMELINE

                                                  • April 14th Scholarship open for applications
                                                  • June 9th Scholarship application period ends 
                                                  • July 1st  Semi-finalists are notified + given their video prompt 
                                                  • July 15th Final due date for video entries 
                                                  • On or around August 2nd Recipients will be notified + announced

                                                  SELECTION PROCESS

                                                  • First-round written submissions are reviewed + semi-finalists will be invited to a second round, where they will create a one-minute video submission. The Quay team will review the group of finalists from the second round to select final winners.  
                                                  • Twelve (12) winners will each receive $10,000 USD for a total of $100,000 USD in scholarships. All fifty (50) semi-finalists will also receive merchandise gift cards, redeemable for one (1) pair of sunnies or blue light glasses ($85 value).

                                                  EVALUATION CRITERIA

                                                  Semi-finalists Answers will be evaluated in the following proportions: use of funds (20%), writing ability (20%), creativity (20%), originality (20%), and overall excellence (20%).

                                                  Finalists Answers will be evaluated in the following proportions: answers video prompt question (25%), creativity (25%), originality (25%), and overall excellence (25%)

                                                  WRITTEN APPLICATION QUESTIONS

                                                  • Full name  
                                                  • Email  
                                                  • Phone number 
                                                  • Physical address, including country 
                                                  • Anticipated high school graduation date 
                                                  • Birth date  
                                                  • Annual household income 
                                                  • Ethnicity  
                                                  • Essay 1 (250 words or less): What are your educational goals, and how would you use this scholarship to support those goals?  
                                                  • Essay 2 (250 words or less): Self-expression is a core value at Quay. What does self-expression mean to you? 

                                                  Submissions are now closed, and the winners have been notified. Thank you to everyone who participated.

                                                  Have more questions? Contact quayscholarship@educationdynamics.com

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                                                  THE HISTORY BEHIND THE SAUCE

                                                  It goes by many names—Black excellence, Black joy, the sauce, etc.—whatever you call it, it’s threaded throughout our Black History Month features, and we’re ending our Drip Series by highlighting the history behind the sauce. 

                                                  We spoke with Dr. Robert P Robinson who has served as a K-12 educator for 11 years, teaching at public high schools. His field of study is in Africana Studies & History of Education with a focus on the Black Freedom Movement, Curriculum, and Instruction. 


                                                  We’re using our platform to amplify the causes that are important to our community internally + externally, donating $25,000 in honor of Black History Month to: 

                                                  • The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.: America's premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. 
                                                  • Therapy for Black Men: An American organization working to help change the narrative around Black men seeking mental health support, helping them find the resources they need. 
                                                  • Therapy for Black Girls: A US-based online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. 
                                                  • Plus, we provided 300 pairs of blue light glasses to Black Girls Code, an organization based in New York + the Bay Area dedicated to teaching girls ages 7-17 about computer programming and digital technology. 

                                                  COMMUNITY IS QUAY 

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                                                  BUY ONE. GET ONE. GIVE ONE.
                                                  featured news

                                                  BUY ONE. GET ONE. GIVE ONE.

                                                  First + foremost—THANK YOU. Over the past few weeks, we have shifted a portion of our manufacturing efforts to producing certified medical-grade protective goggles + safety glasses for front line healthcare workers. PPE is in short supply globally, and eyewear is what we know best—so this felt like the clear way for us to contribute to the global cause during these unprecedented times.

                                                  Community is always Quay for us—so it was important to include + empower you. To distribute as many pairs as possible, we offered a BUY ONE, GET ONE, GIVE ONE program on all of our global Quay sites from April 10th-13th, with each purchase representing an additional eyewear donation. As a result, we are proud to announce a donation of over 30,000 pairs of eyewear to be distributed to front line healthcare workers across the globe, from the US to Australia to Europe. We’re overwhelmed and filled with gratitude by your emphatic support of our effort, and are so grateful for the opportunity to distribute thousands of pairs of goggles + glasses to institutions like:

                                                   
                                                  Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY

                                                  NYU Langone Hospital, New York, NY


                                                  UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA

                                                  Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, PA

                                                  Methodist Hospital, Omaha, NE

                                                  Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA

                                                  Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, CO,

                                                  Mercy Medical Center, Merced, CA

                                                  Royal Melbourne Hospital ED, Victoria, Australia

                                                  Frankston Hospital, Victoria, Australia

                                                  Cabrini Hospital, Victoria, Australia

                                                  Box Hill Hospital, Victoria, Australia

                                                  Monash Medical Centre, Victoria, Australia

                                                  Brisbane Royal Hospital, Queensland, Australia
                                                   

                                                  + more 

                                                   

                                                   Bec (ICU doc) Jess and Vlad (ICU nurses) Cally (ICU doc)

                                                  Jess(ICU nurse) and Cally (ICU doctor)

                                                  Louise, Nurse

                                                   

                                                   

                                                  Once again, louder for the people in the back—thank you. Together, we are making a difference.

                                                   

                                                  Xx, 

                                                  Quay

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                                                  DESIGN IS QUAY: FESTIVAL 2020

                                                  Quay was born roadside on the festival circuit, surrounded by artists and attendees who inspired us to create affordable, well-constructed, cool sunnies. So it's only fitting we kick off this new blog series during the launch of this year's lineup. Design Is Quay takes people behind-the-scenes of new collections.

                                                  Making the perfect festival 'play'list is an art. Our secret? Quay's in-house product designersthe people behind the statement-making sunnies and buzz worthy blue light glasses everyone will be wearing this festival season.

                                                  CREATING THE COLLECTION

                                                  The design process starts by identifying key runway trend and deconstructing them for the Quay customer based on what they see on their feed, in stores, and on the streets.

                                                  Cyborg Chic is all about structural shapes that shout 'look at me now' while Vintage Oasis features softer, romantic lenses and lines that say something's in the air.

                                                  From trend-spotting and color forecasting to making mood boards and sketching, each pair is thoughtfully designed knowing they are an extension of expression that enhance the vibe. Festival looks are edgier, riskierpeople are going there to be seenso our range of styles is a little more extra.

                                                  FRAMES FOR EVERY FESTIVAL 'FIT'

                                                  Our focus this year was on electric neons, retro rounds, statement shields, and sunset lenses sure to take any festival outfit center stage. You'll be ready to face the music in new styles and extended colorways of fan favorites.

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                                                  ORIGINAL VS. MINI SUNGLASSES: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
                                                  featured q/a

                                                  ORIGINAL VS. MINI SUNGLASSES: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

                                                  Whether you’re looking to add an everyday pair of sunnies to your wardrobe or you have a smaller face, you don’t always have to go big. Learn about our minis today!

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