Skechers has announced the third year of its national Paws for a Cause Design Scholarship, a unique program that empowers college students to join its philanthropic Bobs movement and help save pets in need. Contest winners will receive a college scholarship and mentoring opportunities, as well as have their animal-themed print produced and sold on footwear in the United States.
“I decided to apply because of my belief in rescuing and protecting dogs,” said Sofia Santana, a Bellevue College senior whose winning 2025 dog design was inspired by abandoned and rescued animals. “I am very excited to see my creation come to life, and I hope it becomes a step toward a brighter future for animals in need.”
“The scholarship was so valuable for my education,” added UCLA junior Carina Moser, a 2025 Paws for a Cause cat design winner whose shelter pets improved her mental health in middle school. “It is an incredible opportunity to be recognized for my art, receive support for my tuition and be mentored by Skechers.”
Established to empower college design students to further their education and help shelter pets through their personal stories, the Bobs from Skechers Paws for a Cause Design Scholarship will feature Bobs from Skechers prints designed by two winning college students for production in the 2026 collection. Winners each receive a $10,000 college scholarship from the Skechers Foundation, one-on-one corporate mentorship sessions, a free pair of Bobs shoes and other Skechers product.
Skechers’ scholarship program is open to design students who are currently attending colleges and universities in the United States and will be enrolled in the 2026/2027 academic year. The application consists of creating a dog- or cat-themed print for a Bobs from Skechers shoe, writing about the design’s inspiration and sharing why the Bobs from Skechers mission is important to them.
With more than $13 million donated since 2015, Bobs from Skechers has now helped save and support over 2.3 million shelter dogs and cats and continues to impact animals through sales of the collection. Skecher’s contributions have helped provide pet adoptions, vaccination events, check presentations for deserving organizations and flight transport for animals to reach future homes.
