Official Rules: HIGH SCHOOL NEXT VOICES (OCTOBER 20 - DeCEMBER 31, 2024)
NO PURCHASE, DONATION, OR PLEDGE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN; A PURCHASE, DONATION, OR PLEDGE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
ELIGIBILITY: You must be a legal U.S. resident between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age physically residing in the 50 United States (includes DC) to enter or win. Residents of New York or Florida are not eligible to enter or win. Employees and their immediate family members (spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those residing in the same household (regardless of whether they are related) of Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc. (“Sun-Times”), and of its parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, prize suppliers, distributors, advertising agencies, promotional agencies, and judging agencies (collectively, the “Contest Parties”) and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, employees, agents, assigns, and all others associated with the development and execution of this Sweepstakes are not eligible to participate or win. This Sweepstakes is intended for viewing in the United States only and will be construed and evaluated only according to United States law. Do not enter this Sweepstake if you are not located in the United States. Void in New York, Florida, and where prohibited by law.
HOW TO ENTER:
The “High School Next Voices” contest is being organized by Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc. (“Sun-Times”). People are encouraged to enter the contest by submitting an original piece of written work at the website located at suntimes.com/chicagovoices and completely filling out the required information. Submissions should be 525-600 words. Submissions should focus on your vision for Chicago’s future in an imaginative column based on the theme “Looking Ahead” that offers a perspective on themes related to the Chicago region and its residents. All submissions must be an entrant’s original work, created solely by the entrant and not previously published. All required fields on the online entry form must be complete and accompanied by a valid email address. If entrant is under 18, the entrant is required to attach an affidavit completed by the entrant’s parent or legal guardian.
For questions on submissions, please contact marketing@suntimes.com.
See below for information on Entry Periods. Sun-Times is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, corrupted, or misdirected entries. The information you provide will be used consistent with Chicago Sun-Times Privacy Policy, accessible at https://chicago.suntimes.com/legal/privacy-notice.
ENTRY PERIODS, ENTRY DEADLINES, AND WINNER SELECTION FOR PRIZES: The contest will take place between 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2024 and 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024. Only one entry per entrant.
PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES:
There will be four (4) total prizes awarded based on entries. Each prize includes a $250 stipend and the publication of the winner’s name and work in a print and/or digital edition of the Chicago Sun-Times on a date chosen by the Sun-Times over the course of one year. Winners may be granted an opportunity to submit for publication a previously unpublished original piece other than that submitted for the contest. If such new piece is submitted, and accepted by the Sun-Times in its sole discretion, winner will not be entitled to any remuneration and will further grant Sun-Times the full license provided for under these rules to the piece. The approximate retail value (ARV) of each prize is $250.
Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Taxes on prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Any and all guarantees and warranties for merchandise prizes are subject to the manufacturer’s and/or service providers terms and conditions, and winners agree to look solely to such manufacturers and/or service providers for any warranty or guarantee claim. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution or cash equivalent is allowed except in Sun-Times’ sole discretion. Sun-Times reserves the right to substitute prizes of the same approximate retail value. For prizes $600 or more in value, winner’s social security number or taxpayer identification number will be required in order to issue a Form 1099-MISC showing prize ARV as income to winner. Prize consists only of items specifically listed as part of the prize. All costs and expenses not specified herein, related to any prize, including but not limited to delivery, installation, service activation fees and other expenses incurred by accepting the prize, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Limit one (1) prize per winner. The stipend portion of the prize will be fulfilled one to four weeks after the publication of the column.
LICENSE: ALL ENTRANTS GRANT SUN-TIMES A WORLDWIDE, NON-EXCLUSIVE, ROYALTY-FREE, SUB-LICENSABLE AND TRANSFERABLE LICENSE TO USE, REPRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE, PREPARE DERIVATIVE WORKS OF, AND/OR DISPLAY THEIR SUBMISSION IN ANY MEDIA FORMATS AND THROUGH ANY MEDIA CHANNELS IN PERPETUITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS OF THE CONTEST, INCLUDING PRINT AND/OR DIGITAL EDITION OF THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES AND ASSOCIATED SOCIAL MEDIA. ALL ENTRANTS FURTHER REPRESENT THAT THEIR SUBMISSION DOES NOT INVOLVE COPYRIGHT-INFRINGING ACTIVITIES OR INFRINGE UPON ANY THIRD-PARTY’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
SELECTION OF THE WINNERS:
During the Contest Period, Sun-Times or its designated judges (whose decisions are final) will determine four (4) Prize winners based on the originality and clarity of content, and artistic merit, all as judged by the Sun-Times in its sole discretion.
Sun-Times’ decisions on all matters related to the contest are binding and final. Winners will be notified by e-mail at the e-mail address provided on or about February 28, 2025, and will be required to respond within five (5) days, or the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be chosen. Winners will need to provide identification (e.g., via valid state-issued driver’s license, passport or other government-issued I.D. containing the person’s name, date of birth, and photograph), Affidavit of Eligibility and Release if applicable, as well as an IRS Form W-9 within reasonable specified time or prize will be forfeited and alternate winner chosen.
For a list of winners, check Chicago Sun-Times website at suntimes.com/chicagovoices between February 28, 2025 to March 7, 2025.
PARTICIPATION AND USE OF PRIZE: By entering this contest and accepting a prize, each winner agrees to maintain his or her behavior in accordance with all applicable laws and generally accepted social practices in connection with participation in any contest activity, including use of a prize. Winner understands and agrees that Sun-Times has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and remove any winner from use of a prize at any time for any reason or no reason, including but not limited to if a winner’s behavior at any point is disruptive or may or does cause damage to person, property or the reputation of Sun-Times or otherwise violates the policies of a prize provider.
PUBLICITY RELEASE: Except where prohibited, acceptance of a prize constitutes winner’s consent that his or her name, likeness, voice and/or biographical data may be used for advertising and promotional purposes without limitation and without additional notice, compensation, or consent. Tennessee residents need not so consent.
RELEASE: BY ENTERING, PARTICIPANT AGREES TO ACCEPT AND ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THIS CONTEST AND AGREES THAT ANY DISPUTE WITH REGARD TO THE CONDUCT OF THIS CONTEST, RULE INTERPRETATION, OR AWARD OF PRIZE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO SUN-TIMES, WHOSE DECISION SHALL BE BINDING AND FINAL. BY PARTICIPATING, PARTICIPANT AGREES TO RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS THE CONTEST PARTIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PERSON, INCLUDING DEATH, OR PROPERTY DUE IN-WHOLE OR IN-PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO THE ACCEPTANCE OR USE/MISUSE OF A PRIZE, PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED ACTIVITY, OR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING, ENTRANT AGREES TO FULLY RELEASE FACEBOOK AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PROMOTION IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM.
Sun-Times is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of these Official Rules, administration of the contest or in the announcement of prizes, including erroneous appearance of qualification for a prize, and under no circumstances will more than the stated number of prizes be awarded. If for any reason Sun-Times is prevented from continuing with this contest, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the contest is severely undermined by any event including but not limited to fire, flood, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, or any federal, state or local government law, order or regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, Sun-Times shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel or terminate the contest without further obligation. If Sun-Times in their discretion elect to so abbreviate the contest, Sun-Times reserves the right, but not the obligation, to award the prize from among all eligible entries received to date. All entries are the property of Sun-Times and are not returnable.
Sun-Times reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest; violates the Official Rules; acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner; or acts in an annoying, abusive, threatening, or harassing manner. If a dispute arises regarding compliance with these Official Rules, Sun-Times may consider, in its sole discretion, data reasonably available to Sun-Times through information technology systems in Sun-Times’ control, but Sun-Times will not be obligated to consider any data or other information collected from any other source. Any failure by Sun-Times to enforce any of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of such Official Rules. If there is a conflict between any term of these Official Rules and any marketing or other materials used in connection with the Contest, the terms of these Official Rules will govern. The Released Parties are not responsible for technical, hardware or software malfunctions, telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled or delayed electronic communications, whether caused by the sender, by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in the Contest that may limit the ability to participate, or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in the Contest.
This contest is intended for viewing in the United States only and shall be construed and evaluated only according to United States law. Do not enter this contest if you are not located in the United States. The use of any automated devices in connection with this contest is prohibited. Sun-Times assumes no responsibility for computer system, hardware, software or program malfunctions or other errors, failures, delayed computer transactions or network connections, whether human, technical or otherwise in nature. Sun-Times reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this contest should virus, bugs or other causes beyond their control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of this contest. Sun-Times is not responsible for any injury or damage to any person’s computer or related equipment resulting from or relating to participation in this contest or downloading any material related to this contest. Entries will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. In the event of a dispute, the potential winner may be required to provide proof that they are the authorized holder of the identified e-mail account. If entrant is under the age of 18, the potential winner may be required to provide proof that his or her parent or legal guardian is the authorized holder of the identified e-mail account.
DISPUTES/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, each participant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by state or federal courts situated in Chicago, Illinois, (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including without limitation, lost profits, may be awarded (collectively, “Special Damages”), and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased. Illinois law, without reference to choice of law rules, governs the contest and all aspects related thereto.
PRIVACY: Personally identifiable information that is submitted by entrants will be used to administer the contest, select prize winner, and fulfill prize, and will be treated in accordance with Chicago Sun-Times Privacy Notice, accessible at https://chicago.suntimes.com/legal/privacy-notice.
SPONSORS: Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc., Navy Pier 848 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
