Share Your DREAMer Story, be Selected for DC Rally
PRESS RELEASE
NEA DREAMer STUDENT CONTEST RULES
The Inspiring DREAMer Student Voice: One Dream
· Write a story that describes your pursuit of the American dream, the role an educator has played in your life, and how your personal story underlines the urgent need to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.
· The story must be written and submitted by a student or former student whose education has been impacted by the broken U.S. immigration system.
· The story should be no longer than 300 words.
Story Selection Criteria
A panel of at least three judges employed by NEA whose expertise includes education, immigration and communications will select an “Inspiring DREAMer Student Voice” from among the stories submitted online by the DEADLINE of 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 27.The stories will be judged on:
· How compelling and well written they are.
· Their relevance to the theme of “Common Sense Immigration Reform Now.”
· The top three finalists will be contacted by NEA staff prior to selection for a brief interview. The “Inspiring DREAMer Student Voice” will be selected from among the three finalists on the basis of the criteria above as well as his or her ability to communicate the story and the urgency of common sense immigration reform for students.
Selected Story
· The writer of the selected story shall agree to attend the National Immigration Reform Rally and Day of Action on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Washington, D.C.
· The selected writer will be notified by phone no later than Monday, April 1, 2013.
· The writer of the selected story shall agree to be interviewed by NEA staff for use in communications to NEA members and members of the public.
· The writer of the selected story will be provided transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and two nights lodging (April 8 and 9). Student writers under the age of 18 may have a parent or legal guardian submit a story on their behalf, in which case the parent or guardian and the Student Voice will receive transportation and two nights lodging.
· If applicable, NEA shall reimburse the student’s or parent/guardian’s employer for the three days (April 8, 9 and 10) of its employee’s work time.
Deadline
· Stories must be submitted online at www.educationvotes.org/
Rules
· Participants must be at least 18 years old and reside in the United States. Student writers under the age of 18 may have a parent or legal guardian submit a story on their behalf, in which case the parent or guardian will be the legal winner of the contest.
· Do not use profanity or personal attacks.
· Submissions shall not expressly identify student or students other than the Student Voice.
· Submissions must be true.
· Submissions shall not promote or demean a political party, school official, or elected official.
· Stories should represent the original ideas of the entrant.
· No story shall portray NEA or its affiliates in a negative light.
· There will be only one round of judging to select three finalists and one round of interviews to
select the final Student Voice.
· Odds of selection depend on the number of stories received.
· There is no cost to participate. Stories may be mailed or delivered to the sponsor at the address below, “Attention: Inspiring Student Voice,” if online submission is not possible. All entries must be received by the deadline.
· The retail value of the travel and employer reimbursement provided will be determined on the basis of the actual transportation and salary costs of the Student Voice and, if applicable, his or her parent or guardian. These reimbursements are non-transferable.
· By submitting a story, the writer certifies that he or she meets all eligibility requirements and agrees to serve as NEA’s “Inspiring Student Voice” and to accept and be bound by the decision of the judges and all terms of these official rules. Where a parent or guardian submits a story on behalf of a minor, by submitting a story, the submitter certifies that he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the student writer, consents to the student writer serving as NEA’s “Inspiring Student Voice,” the student writer agrees to serve as the Student Voice, and both to agree to accept and be bound by the decision of the judges and all terms of these official rules.
· By submitting a story, the submitter agrees to release, discharge, and hold harmless NEA and its partners and affiliates, and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives, from any claims, losses, and damages arising from or related to his or her, and if applicable his or her minor child’s, participation.
· NEA is not responsible for technical problems that result in the inability to submit a story or a lost entry.
· Employees, officers, directors, and agents of NEA, and the parents, spouses, and children of the foregoing, are not eligible to participate.
· NEA will publicly release the selected Student Voice’s name, and if applicable the parent or guardian who submitted the story on behalf of the student, no later than April 10, 2013.
· Void where prohibited by law.
Sponsor
“Inspiring DREAMers Student Voice: One Dream” is sponsored by the National Education Association, 1201 16th Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, D.C. 20036. Telephone 202-833-4000, Delia Garcia, NEA Staff.
