No Purchase Necessary. Valid in the state of South Carolina. Entry in this contest constitutes your acceptance of the official contest rules, stated below: 

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The 2020 Census Counts Multimedia Contest (“Contest”) is designed to encourage middle and high school students in the Columbia, South Carolina area and their parents/guardians on their behalf (“Entrants” or “You”) to creatively demonstrate the importance of completing the U.S. Census. Judges will choose winners from each category. Prizes will be awarded to the winner(s) of each category. 

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1. BINDING AGREEMENT. In order to enter the Contest, you must agree to the Rules. Submissions are implicit agreements to the rules stipulated below. Any breaking of the rules will result in a dismissal from the contest and ineligibility to (a) have your submission displayed at the exhibit and (b) have your submission considered by judges. 

2. CONTEST DESCRIPTION. The 2020 Complete Count Census Multimedia Contest is designed to encourage eligible students in middle and high schools in (insert school districts here) to creatively interpret the importance of the U.S. Census. At the contest event, judges will award the winning students prizes in accordance with the official rules. The winners will be decided by a combination of vote totals during the event as well as an evaluation by judges.

3. ELIGIBILITY. In order to be eligible as a contestant, students must: (a) be enrolled in grade 6-12 in South Carolina Richland County School District One; Richland County School District Two; and Lexington-Richland County School District Five; (b) submit a project by the May 1, 2020 11:59 PM EST deadline via the submission form; (c) submit a project which adheres to the requirements (found on the submission form and in part 3); (d) include a signed parent permission form with their submission by the May 1 deadline. Any false information provided within the context of the Contest by Entrant concerning identity, contact information, ownership of right or non-compliance with these rules or the like may result in the immediate elimination of the Entrant from the Contest. 

4. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.  All projects may not include any explicit words, sounds, or visual depictions. Video projects should not exceed three (3) minutes. All written pieces should not exceed 500 words, poems/musical pieces may not exceed 15 stanzas. Sponsors and Contest Judges reserve the right to reject and submissions that do not adhere to these rules. Rejected entrants will be notified of their rejection, and will be given the opportunity to re-submit their project before the same May 1 deadline. 

5. SPONSOR. The Contest is sponsored by the City of Columbia Complete Count Committee. This committee is a volunteer organization working to ensure a complete and accurate count of residents in the 2020 U.S. Census. More information about the committee can be found at: https://www.columbiasc.net/headlines/04-22-2019/2020-Census. 

6. LIMIT ONE (1) ENTRY PER ENTRANT. Replacement submissions, initiated by a notice of rejection, do not apply to this rule. If you choose to submit an alternative entry without notice of rejection, the entrant must clearly indicate which is to be used in the contest. If no indication is made by the entrant before the deadline, contest officials will either (a) disqualify the entrant or (b) use their discretion to select the qualifying submission. This decision stands and may not be refuted. 

7. VOTING. The virtual voting window will be open from May 4, 2020 08:00 AM EST to May 8, 2020 11:59 EST. Duplicate votes are prohibited. 

8. JUDGING. Winners for each category will be chosen based on a combination of (1) number of votes, (2) consideration of prompt, (3) creativity and originality, and (4) adherence to contest rules and requirements.  

9. NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS. Becoming a contest winner is subject to verification of eligibility as well as compliance with all terms and conditions set forth in these contest rules. The winners of each category will be announced at the end of the exhibit event. The winners will be contacted after the event via phone to coordinate the receipt of the prize. If the winner does not respond to the first notification attempt within three (3) days, he or she may be disqualified, and the next-highest scorer will take his or her place as the winner. 

10. PRIZES. Prizes are nonnegotiable and will be given at the discretion of Contest judges and organizers. 

11. PRIVACY. By submitting an entry, entrants and parents/guardians agree to the use of only the entrant’s first name, school name, and submission piece in the exhibit. Entrants and parents/guardians also agree to the use of the entrant’s name and phone number for private contact by contest officials. Names, phone numbers, and other identification information will not be viewed or possessed by anyone other than contest officials, nor used for any purposes other than the administration of this contest. 

12. PUBLICITY. By entering the contest, entrants agree to participate in any media or promotional activity resulting from the contest as reasonably requested by the 2020 Census Count Committee and its counterparts. Contest submissions may be used for press and media purposes. Upon submission, the Entrant/parent/guardian waives any ability to bring forth legal action against the 2020 Census Count Committee, its counterparts, contest officials and organizers, contest vendors, or media organizations representing the contest in press-related manners. 

13. INDEMNIFICATION. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Entrant indemnifies and agrees to keep indemnified Sponsor at all times from and against any liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses resulting from any act, default or omission of the Entrant and/or a breach of any warranty set forth herein. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Entrant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor from and against any and all claims, actions, suits or proceedings, as well as any and all losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) arising out of or accruing from: (i) any submission or other material uploaded or otherwise provided by Entrant that infringes any copyright, trademark, trade secret, trade dress, patent or other intellectual property right of any person or defames any person or violates their rights of publicity or privacy; (ii) any misrepresentation made by Entrant in connection with the Contest; (iii) any non-compliance by Entrant with these Rules; (iv) claims brought by persons or entities other than the parties to these Rules arising from or related to Entrant's involvement with the Contest; (v) acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in the Contest; (vi) any malfunction or other problem with the Contest Site in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant; (vii) any error in the collection, processing, or retention of entry or voting information in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant and in the voting process by consumers; or (viii) any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any prize or winners in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant.

14. INTERNET AND DISCLAIMER. The 2020 Census Count Committee and Contest Officials are not responsible for any internet-related malfunction, including damage, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, undeliverable, or destroyed submissions or votes due to a failed computer or communications transmissions. The 2020 Census Count Committee and Contest Officials are not responsible for policies, actions, or inactions of others which might prevent the entrant from entering, participating, or claiming a prize in this contest. 

15. RIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY OR DISQUALIFY. The 2020 Census Count Committee and Contest Officials reserve the right to cancel or reschedule the Contest at any point in time due to unforeseen circumstances. Any attempt to deliberately damage any aspect of the submission and contest process is a violation of criminal and civil law. The 2020 Census Count Committee and Contest Officials reserve the right to seek damages from such an individual to the fullest extent of the law should this event occur. 

16. FORUM AND RECOURSE TO JUDICIAL PROCEDURES. These Rules shall be governed by, subject to, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina, United States of America, excluding all conflict of law rules. If any provision(s) of these Rules are held to be invalid or unenforceable, all remaining provisions hereof will remain in full force and effect. To the extent permitted by law, the rights to litigate, seek injunctive relief or make any other recourse to judicial or any other procedure in case of disputes or claims resulting from or in connection with this Contest are hereby excluded, and Entrants expressly waive any and all such rights.

17. ARBITRATION. By entering the Contest, you agree that exclusive jurisdiction for any dispute, claim, or demand related in any way to the Contest will be decided by binding arbitration. All disputes between you and Google of whatsoever kind or nature arising out of these Rules, shall be submitted to Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. ("JAMS") for binding arbitration under its rules then in effect in the Columbia, South Carolina, USA area, before one arbitrator to be mutually agreed upon by both parties. The parties agree to share equally in the arbitration costs incurred.