SFTS Scholarship Official Rules
- SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The scholarship program was created to help all students pay for college, especially those who have faced trauma from suicide or bullying. It was also created to help Stand for the Silent, Inc. (“SFTS”) spread its message and help others beyond Oklahoma.
Four, $5000 scholarships will be awarded in the Spring 2024 Scholarship Period.
- ELIGIBILITY
Geographical, Graduation Requirements and or Enrollment Requirements
SFTS is offering these scholarships to any graduating high school Senior who is or will be enrolling in a college, university, vocational or technical school in the United States (if under the age of 18, parent(s) or guardian(s) must give permission for application and media information release, checkboxes will be provided on the application for permission options). Any undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university who is pursuing studies or conducting research to meet the requirements for an academic or professional degree, or students – whether full-time or part-time – who are studying at an educational institution that provides an educational program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s or higher degree, or offers a training program to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation, such as a vocational or technical school and is authorized under federal or state law to provide such a program and is accredited by a national recognized accreditation agency. All scholarship awards must be used for tuition and related expenses at an educational institution who must normally maintain a regular faculty and curriculum and must normally have a regularly organized body of students in attendance at the place where the educational activities are carried on. No funds will be paid directly to the scholarship winner. The name and contact information of the educational institution must be provided. Former recipients of SFTS Scholarships are not eligible to apply.
Contest Entity and Immediate Family Member Ineligibility
The officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents of Sponsor, SFTS, its parent companies, any other sponsor, and any entity involved in the sponsorship, development, production, implementation, and distribution of the contest as well as their respective parents, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, and successor companies, and their immediate family members (and those living in the same household) are prohibited from participating in the contest and don’t qualify as participants. “Immediate family members” include spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws” or by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, or other familial extension.
The Scholarship is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- SPONSOR
Stand for the Silent, Inc., a 501(c)(3) recognized charitable organization based in Oklahoma, is the scholarship sponsor. You can find more information about SFTS at their website, www.standforthesilent.org
As Sponsor, SFTS is solely responsible for reviewing and determining eligibility of all “Entrants.”
Entries are the sole and exclusive property of the Sponsor. All contest entries and related submissions become the sole and exclusive property of the Sponsor upon transmission. Contest entries will not be returned and may be used by the Sponsor for any purpose whatsoever related to the contest without more compensation to the participant or any other individual or entity.
- AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES
Participation in the SFTS Scholarship constitutes Entrants’ full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding.
Winning the scholarship prize depends on complying with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.
If any discrepancy arises between these official rules and any other rules, these rules shall govern. The Entrant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions provided in these rules, and to the interpretations and decisions of the Sponsor, and by all other decisions of the Sponsor, SFTS, which are final and binding in all matters related to the contest.
Rules Change
In their sole discretion, the Sponsor reserves the right to supplement or change these Rules and the rules of any contest at any time without notice. The sponsor reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to interpret the rules of any contest, and this interpretation shall be binding upon all participants.
- SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PERIOD
The Scholarship application begins on 3/1/24, at 9 am EST and ends on 3/31/24, at 10 pm EST, the (“Scholarship Period.”) All entries must be received by March 31, 2024, or whenever we reach our limit of 50 applicants, whichever comes first. Limited: to one entry per person. All entries in violation shall be voided. All entries become the property of SFTS and will not be returned.
- HOW TO ENTER
Entrants may only enter online. The application may be accessed by visiting our website during an active scholarship period at:
- SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION
On or about May 1, 2024, the SFTS scholarship committee will select the scholarship recipient from among all eligible entries. The winner shall be selected based on these criteria:
– How specifically the question is answered
– How well the applicant expresses themselves
– All rules and instructions are followed - WINNER NOTIFICATION
The winner shall be contacted by email, on or about May 1, 2024. If the winner cannot be contacted within three (3) business days after the first attempted contact, SFTS may select an alternate winner in their place based on the same scholarship selection criteria in point seven.
How to claim a prize
The sponsor will contact the winner’s email after the scholarship committee has selected its winner. The potential winner will have three business days to respond and accept the prize.
After acceptance, the winner must give the Sponsor the contact information of their academic institution and any other required information, which may include valid identification, proof of registration in an accredited academic institution, driver’s license, address, email, full name, date of birth. The sponsor will remit payment to the winners’ academic institution for payment of the semester(s) of their choice.
Under no circumstances will the Sponsor remit any funds to the winner directly. All payments will be made directly to the winner’s academic institution.
Payment will be for tuition or other non-taxable expenses. Therefore, the winner shall have no tax liability for the scholarship.
Potential winners must follow all terms, conditions, and rules, and winning depends on fulfilling all requirements.
If a winner cannot be contacted or is disqualified, SFTS will award the scholarship prize to an alternate winner. If that alternate winner is unavailable, SFTS will continue to select alternates based on the same criteria as point seven until a winner is contacted.
- PRIZE
A $5000.00 school scholarship to be used for tuition and related expenses or supplies purchased through the educational institution.
- GENERAL CONDITIONS
You must be at least a graduating high school senior, or a college undergraduate or graduate student, or enrolled in a vocational or technical school. If you are under the age of 18, and you are selected as a winner your parent(s) or guardian(s) were required to give permission of receipt of the scholarship and a media release when you applied. (Section 2).
All work must be original.
SFTS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual found violating the official rules, including, without limitation, tampering, cheating, and or plagiarism. In the Sponsor’s view, participants who provide false, fraudulent, or deceptive entries or engage in false, fraudulent, or deceptive acts in connection with the contest will be disqualified.
Any attempt by a person to damage the website, credibility, or legitimacy of the scholarship contest may violate civil laws. SFTS reserves the right to pursue damages, attorney’s fees, and any other remedies to the fullest extent of the law. The failure of SFTS to enforce any provision of these rules shall not be a waiver.
- WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS
By participating in the scholarship contest, and in consideration thereof, each participant individually warrants and represents to the Sponsor that they meet the residency and age requirements at the time of entry, will be bound by these and any other rules, by all applicable laws and regulations, and the decisions of the Sponsor, and waive any rights to claim ambiguity in these rules.
- RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
By participating in the scholarship contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless SFTS, the Sponsor, and any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or other associated entities, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents, all of whom are referred to collectively as the Released Parties, from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of the participation in the contest, or use of the scholarship funds, including, but not limited to:
a. Technical errors associated with the contest dealing with internet, transmission, or mailing issues;
b. Unauthorized intervention;
c. Mechanical errors;
d. Any other errors or problems with the contest, including administration, announcements, postponements, processing time, or
e. Injury, death, losses, or damages of any kind relating to the contest.Contest Cancellation, Suspension, or Modification
If the scholarship cannot run due to unforeseen circumstances, SFTS may, in its sole discretion, pause, suspend, or terminate the scholarship contest to address the issue in a manner that best conforms to the good judgment of SFTS and these rules. In the event of a termination, no scholarship shall be awarded during this round.
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate, change, or suspend the contest if it is not capable of being completed as planned, including, but not limited to, the reasons listed. The decision of the Sponsor to cancel, terminate, change, or suspend the contest shall be final.
Participation Problem Disclaimer
Even if alleged to be caused by the sole or partial negligence of the Sponsor, the Sponsor is not responsible for any problems that affect or result from participation or attempted participation in the contest. This includes, but is not limited to, these problems:
– Incorrect, incomplete, or inaccurate entry information
– Human errors;
– Failures, omissions, interruptions, deletions, or defects of any wireless network, telephone network, internet service, computer systems, servers, utility providers, or software;
– Inability to send text or email messages;
– Identity theft;
– Tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to Sponsor’s computer network;
– Data that is processed late, incorrectly, or incomplete to any problem;
– Printing errors; or
– Equipment malfunctions
The Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties’ liability will be limited to the value of the Contest, and in no event shall the Entrant be entitled to attorney’s fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect information caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or any equipment or programming associated with or used in the contest. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.
Media Release
Unless prohibited by applicable law, the Entrant will be offered a checkbox on the application to allow or deny media release to the contest entities permission, from time to time, to reference and discuss Entrant and their participation in the contest on-air, in television, podcasts, online, and on their websites in photographs, video recordings, digital images, audio recordings and in publications, newsletters, news releases, other printed materials, and in materials provided on the internet or in other media for any purpose the Sponsor considers proper. This reference may include images, names, voices, and other relevant background information. (If under the age of 18, parent(s) or guardian must give permission for media information release, a checkbox will be provided on the application for permission options) (Section 2)
- DISPUTES
“Arising out of, from, or relating to” is intended to be read broadly and include claims after the termination or expiration of these Rules and Regulations, claims in connection with, arising out of, or dealing with any part of the relationship between Entrant, Sponsor, SFTS, or others, whether arising out of tort, contract, or other legal theory, including the terms of this Agreement.
Arbitration
Any dispute arising under this Agreement (including claims, disputes, controversies, or disagreements of any kind arising out of or relating to Entrant’s application or drafting or construction of the Rules and Regulations, or which may have occurred before or after entering this arbitration agreement (other than non-arbitrable claims including class or collective actions)) will be exclusively resolved by binding arbitration under the commercial rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association; provided that the substantive law of the Oklahoma Uniform Arbitration Act (or state equivalent) will govern such arbitration, and if any inconsistency arises between the Uniform Arbitration Act and the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association, the Uniform Arbitration Act will prevail.
Governing Law
All issues and questions about the construction, validity, enforcement, and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules are governed by and construed under the laws of OKLAHOMA without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether your home state or any other jurisdiction) that would apply the laws of any jurisdiction other than OKLAHOMA.
Limitation of Costs
Any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this contest, but in no event and under no circumstances will Entrants be allowed to obtain awards for attorneys’ fees, and Entrants waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other form of damages, other than actual out of pocket expenses and any rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.
Jury Waiver
If, for any reason, a claim or dispute regarding the contest or these rules moves forward in court rather than in arbitration, there will not be a jury trial.=
Severability/Blue Pencil
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these official rules, including but not limited to the agreement to arbitrate, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. If any such provision is deemed invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed by their terms as if the invalidity or unenforceable provision were not contained herein. The remaining portions of the agreement will remain valid.
- PRIVACY POLICY
Information collected from entrants shall be subject to SFTS’ privacy policy.
https://standforthesilent.org/privacy-policy/ - WINNER LIST
With their permission, the winner shall be posted on the SFTS website after acceptance and confirmation by SFTS. No winner shall be posted if the winner declines to post their name publicly.
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SPONSOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Stand for the Silent, Inc. (“SFTS”)
Mailing Address: Stand For The Silent
P.O. Box 185
Perkins, OK 74059Website: www.standforthesilent.org
Scholarship Email: scholarship@standforthesilent.org