1. Application Submission Guidelines
a. The Jed Foundation (“JED”) invites students to apply to the JED 2023 Student Voice of Mental Health Awards (the “Scholarship”). The Awards honor one undergraduate college student and one high school student 16 years of age or older, each enrolled in schools in the United States, doing outstanding work to raise awareness of mental health issues and create a school community where mental health is valued and part of the conversation.
The undergraduate Scholarship is open to currently enrolled undergraduate students based in the United States.
The high school Scholarship is open to currently enrolled high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years of age or older based in the United States.
A parent or legal guardian of applicants younger than 18 (a “minor”) will be notified that the applicant has entered the Scholarship. Minors who do not want their parent or legal guardian contacted with respect to this Scholarship should not apply.
b. All applications must be received by the deadline 5 p.m. EST on March 1, 2023.
c. There is no entry fee to apply. Void where prohibited.
d. JED will select JED personnel to serve as volunteer judges to review the applicants.
e. Additional rules and restrictions may apply.
2. Selection of Winner
a. Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the judges selected by JED. The judges, in their sole discretion, will select two (2) winners: one for the undergraduate Scholarship and the other for the high school Scholarship.
b. In administering the Scholarship, neither JED nor any of the judges will discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, nationality, ethnic orientation, sex, gender, sexual orientation or preference, disability, or any other protected class.
c. The winner will be notified in mid-March 2023. If the winner is a minor, the winner’s parent or legal guardian will be notified as well.
3. Prize
a. The winner of each Scholarship will receive: (i) $3,000; (ii) a trip to New York City for the winner and a guest to attend JED’s annual gala (if the gala is held in person) where the winner will receive the award; and (iii) recognition on JED’s website, social media platforms, publications, and other JED media (collectively, the “Prize”). Winning the Scholarship and receiving the Prize is contingent upon compliance with these Scholarship Rules and signing the required releases and waivers by the winner (or the winner’s parent or legal guardian if the winner is a minor) within the time frame established by JED.
b. If JED’s annual gala is held in person on June 7, 2023 in New York City, the winner is required to attend and speak at the event. If the winner is a minor, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the winner to New York City and the gala (as the winner’s guest). If the winner is unable to attend and speak at the gala, the winner will forfeit the Prize, including the $3,000. Applicants who cannot be in New York City on June 7, 2023 should not apply.
c. To receive the Prize, the winner must agree to be videoed for a short “spotlight video” in the winner’s school town (on the winner’s school campus if allowed by the school) or other location mutually agreed upon in writing by the winner and JED. The video footage may be used, in all or part (at JED’s sole discretion), at the gala and/or on JED’s website, social media, and other JED media. JED will seek all necessary permissions and provide a camera crew to travel to the winner for the filming on a date mutually agreed upon by the winner and JED, provided that the filming must be completed by mid-May 2023 in order for the winner to receive the Prize.
d. JED will arrange for and provide: (i) round-trip, economy class airfare to and from the nearest major U.S. airport to the winner’s home for the winner and the winner’s guest; and (ii) standard hotel accommodations in New York City (one room to be used by winner and the winner’s guest).
e. If the in-person gala is canceled for any reason or is held virtually, JED reserves the right to cancel the trip to New York City as part of the Prize.
f. The winner will receive Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) within seven (7) days after the gala. In order to receive the Prize, the winner (or the winner’s parent or legal guardian if the winner is a minor) must provide any information required by law or regulation, including Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) rules and regulations.
g. If the winner fails to comply with the terms of these Scholarship Rules, does not timely submit to JED the requested paperwork for receipt of the Prize (including without limitation the necessary waivers and releases), violates the terms of any agreements executed with JED, or does not attend the gala, JED reserves the right to disqualify the winner, in which case the winner will forfeit the Prize, and a new winner will be selected.
4. Use of Scholarship Information
a. By entering the Scholarship, applicants grant JED an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, and royalty-free right, unless prohibited by law, to use, reproduce, modify, publish, and create derivative works from and/or display the applicants’ and winner’s respective application materials, names, city, state, school, image, picture, likeness, voice, speech, and remarks (including without limitation recordings, videos, and/or photographs of the winner in the spotlight video or at the gala) (collectively, the “Scholarship IP”) without compensation and without any requirement of notification or permission for the express purpose of publicity, marketing, storytelling, editorial content, promotion, awareness, broadcasting, or any other purpose within JED’s mission in any and all media or technology, known now or later come into being. The parent or legal guardian of a minor applicant must agree to these terms for the minor to be eligible for the Prize. All Scholarship IP shall be owned by JED.
5. Legal Notices
a. If, for any reason, it is not possible to run the Scholarship as planned, JED reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Scholarship or any part of it.
b. All applicants (and minor applicants’ parent or legal guardian), are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, rules, or ordinances—including any tax consequences or obligations—that may apply to them with respect to the Scholarship, and, in the case of each winner, the Prize. It is the responsibility of the winner or the winner’s parent or legal guardian to determine the tax consequences of the Prize and to comply with relevant IRS rules and regulations.
c. By applying to the Scholarship and/or accepting the Prize, each applicant and winner (or in the case of a minor, the applicant’s/winner’s parent or legal guardian) agrees to release and hold harmless JED and its officers, directors, employees, consultants, affiliates, and agents from and against any liability, claim, or cause of action, including but not limited to, personal injury, death, damage or loss of property, or identity theft relating to the Scholarship and Prize (including the trip to New York City) (“JED Released Parties”). JED Released Parties are not responsible for any unauthorized use of the Scholarship IP.
d. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Scholarship rules, or the rights and obligations of the applicant in connection with the Scholarship, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New York without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than New York. Any legal proceedings arising out of this Scholarship or relating to these Scholarship rules shall be instituted only in the federal courts located in the Southern District of New York, and all applicants, winners, and, in the event the applicant or winner is a minor, the minor’s parent or legal guardian, consent to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to these Scholarship rules. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Scholarship rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Scholarship rules shall otherwise remain in effect and be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained in these Scholarship rules.