The South African Bank Note Society, in cooperation with the South African Reserve Bank, holds an annual bank note design contest.

This year the winner took home a cool 12,500 rand (nearly U.S. $1,800).

While the criteria for judging are not explained, the story does note that "the top nine finalists had the opportunity to deliver a four-minute data video presentation to invited VIP guests including the SARB governor (deputy), executives of the SARB, representatives of SA Bank Note printing companies, members of the SA Bank Note Society and design colleagues from all participating tertiary institutions."

"Tertiary institutions" means post-secondary schools, from design schools to colleges and universities. Seven such institutions were invited to participate in this year's contest.

Designs generated through these contests may be used for reference when new bank notes are designed by the SARB, the story states.

The story reads much as a press release for a school called The Open Window — and perhaps rightly so, as the top three finishers for two years running have been The Open Window students.