Let me see if I can shed some light:
1. Excellence in Design Award has two categories: 3D Design & 3D Animation.
2. All entries are submitted through the Autodesk Education Community Website @
www.autodesk.com/first - submission areas typically don't open up until getting closer to deadline.
3. The 3D Design submission (CAD/Prototyping/design/etc.) - is due March 3rd
4. The 3D Animation submission is due February 15th
5. The 3D Design submissions will only be judged at the Championship level with five finalists announced prior to the Championship Event in St. Louis, where an Autodesk Representative will announce the winner during the awards ceremony.
6. The 3D animation submissions will be judged at both the regional level & the Championship level. Regional winners are selected at each regional even by entrant peers. The Championship animations are selected (five finalists) and judged and awarded at the Championship event.
7. Regional animation winners are not automatically advanced to Championship ... in fact it's two separate competitions.
If none of this makes sense:
http://students.autodesk.com/ama/ori...odeskAward.pdf
Enjoy!!