The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• The individual submitting the video must be a current student in any university in the US or CANADA, and
• The video must be 1 minute or less and answer the question – How will you use USD $10,000 from MPOWER to achieve your dreams?; and
• The video must be understandable to an English-speaking audience, which means it is either in English, is subtitled into English, and/or uses only images to tell a story in a way that is understandable to an English-speaking audience; and
• Any factual or biographical information contained in the video must be true; and
• The video may not contain:
  • Any branded apparel or other items, or any logos (except MPOWER’s if you wish; this means no sweatshirts with any college names or logos);
  • Any offensive language or content, to include foul language or content that is derogatory towards a group of people of a particular race, religion, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, etc.;
  • Your last name or other personally identifiable information (though we do ask that you provide your first name and it is perfectly acceptable, and encouraged, to appear on camera); or
  • Any material that is subject to copyright, trademark, or belongs to another individual or company.

Simply fill out our brief application form and upload a video meeting the eligibility requirements listed above!

Your submission will be judged by a panel of MPOWER employees. This panel will first remove any ineligible submissions and then review the remaining eligible submissions in accordance with the selection criteria outlined below. The panel will then select up to fifteen finalists and each finalist’s video will be open to public voting. The public will vote for their favorite videos, based on the selection criteria outlined below, and the top vote-getters will be selected as the winners. We expect winners to be notified no later than March 31, 2022. 

The selection criteria are as follows:

1. Overall quality – the quality of the sound, videography, and script/story arc
2. Emotional appeal – the extent to which the video makes a strong emotional connection with the viewer and is inspiring
3. Uniqueness and creativity – the extent to which the video stands out from the competition and showcases unique elements well suited to telling your story. This could include everything from an unusual but effective style (e.g. stop-motion, Claymation, etc.) to innovative camera or story-telling techniques to the use of compelling images of the submitter’s hometown to unique background music. The sky is the limit! 
4. Potential as an MPOWER promotional tool – the extent to which the video is likely to resonate with MPOWER investors, partners, potential borrowers, and other stakeholders across a variety of platforms and in a variety of settings.

A total of 5 winners will receive $10,000, each. 

Videos must be uploaded no later than January 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EST. We expect winners will be notified no later than March 31, 2022.

As described in the terms and conditions below, MPOWER reserves the right to use any submission, in whole or in part, alone or in combination with other submissions (e.g., as a series of clips) in its promotional activities.

No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited. Submitters may submit multiple entries, and each entry will be judged independently by the judging panel. However, an individual can win only for one video entry.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

By entering the “MPOWER Student Video Contest”, you agree to be bound by these official terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”), which include a release and license from you.

1. The Video
   • The individual submitting the video must be a current student at any of MPOWER’s supported schools in the US or CANADA, and
   • The video must be 1 minute or less and answer the question – How will you use USD $10,000 from MPOWER to achieve your dreams?; and
   • The video must be understandable to an English-speaking audience, which means it is either in English, is subtitled into English, and/or uses only images to tell a story in a way that is understandable to an English-speaking audience; and
   • Any factual or biographical information contained in the video must be true; and
   • The video may not contain:
     • Any branded apparel or other items, or any logos (except MPOWER’s if you wish; this means no sweatshirts with any college names or logos);
     • Any offensive language or content, to include foul language or content that is derogatory towards a group of people of a particular race, religion, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, etc.;
     • Your last name or other personally identifiable information (though we do ask that you provide your first name and it is perfectly acceptable, and encouraged, to appear on camera); or
     • Any material that is subject to copyright, trademark, or belongs to another individual or company.
2. All Decisions Are Final
   • MPOWER reserves the right to alter or change the Eligibility Requirements in its sole and absolute discretion and without having to provide prior notice to any contestant. All MPOWER decisions with respect to this contest are final and not subject to appeal or review of any kind. 
     
3. Exclusions
   • Employees (including their immediate family [for e.g., spouse, parents, siblings, and children], and household members) of MPOWER Financing ( “MPOWER”), its affiliates, subsidiaries, and those of any agent, vendor, or supplier of MPOWER, are not eligible. Eligibility is contingent upon agreement to, compliance with, and fulfillment of all requirements set forth herein. Participation in the “MPOWER Empowered Me” Video Contest in any way constitutes an entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to the OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES and MPOWER’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the “MPOWER Empowered Me” Video Contest. Where applicable, the “MPOWER Empowered Me” is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law.

MPOWER Financing, Public Benefit Corporation, 1101 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036.

The Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on November 23, 2021, and ends on January 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Only entries submitted and received during each respective Contest Period will be eligible. MPOWER is both the official timekeeper and final arbiter of eligibility for each Contest. 5 winners will be selected. 

Prize: $10,000 each.  

Total Winners: 5

The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received and the quality of the videos submitted by all Entrants.

During the Contest Period, there is only one method of entry, as described below. Entrants must fully complete and submit the online contest entry form (an “Entry”) found here.

Any Entry that does not comply with these Terms and Conditions is void. All Entries become the property of MPOWER and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entry constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use the entrant’s first name, state, country of origin, and/or video response for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval. Any entry found to contain erroneous, expired, canceled, fraudulent, or fake information is void. Only the actual eligible submitter may participate in the “MPOWER Student Video Contest”, and the completion of the online entry form by any family member or other individual or entity will disqualify such Entry from this Contest. By submitting an Entry, you agree that MPOWER may, from time to time, communicate with you regarding products and services that it believes may be of interest to you.

Prizes will only be awarded to the person submitting the Entry and may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred (“Transfer”). Any Transfer or attempted Transfer shall be automatically null and void. Any prize details not specified above will be determined by MPOWER at its sole discretion.

For each Contest, all entries will be judged based on the quality and public voting of the video. MPOWER shall select at least three representatives of the MPOWER (the “Judges”). The Judges will first remove any ineligible submissions and then review the remaining eligible submissions in accordance with the selection criteria outlined below. The Judges will then select up to fifteen finalists and each finalist’s video will be open to public voting. The public (your friends, family members, or anyone else) will vote for their favorite videos, and the top vote-getters will be selected as the winners. We expect winners to be notified no later than March 31, 2022. 

The selection criteria are as follows:

• Overall quality – the quality of the sound, videography, and script/story arc
• Emotional appeal – the extent to which the video makes a strong emotional connection with the viewer and is inspiring
• Uniqueness and creativity – the extent to which the video stands out from the competition and showcases unique elements well suited to telling your story. This could include everything from an unusual but effective style (e.g. stop-motion, Claymation, etc.) to innovative camera or story-telling techniques to the use of compelling images of the submitter’s hometown to unique background music. The sky is the limit! 
• Potential as an MPOWER promotional tool – the extent to which the video is likely to resonate with MPOWER investors, partners, potential borrowers, and other stakeholders across a variety of platforms and in a variety of settings

Prior to any decision, MPOWER reserves the right to conduct interviews and/or request additional information from any Entrants related to their Entry. All decisions are final, binding, and non-appealable.

Winners will be notified no later than March 31, 2022. All decisions (including but not limited to eligibility determinations) will be final and binding and are not subject to challenge or appeal. Prize awards are subject to MPOWER’s verification of winners’ eligibility. All winners will be required to submit (without alteration and in the form provided by MPOWER) a completed and signed Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability & Publicity Release (the “Release”). The winner’s failure to timely return an executed Release within the required time period to MPOWER will void a winner’s Prize award and MPOWER shall award such Prize to an alternate entrant. Winners are solely responsible for the payment of any applicable federal, state, and local taxes associated with their acceptance and receipt of any Prize. Winners acknowledge that their Prize may be subject to U.S. or Canadian withholding and that they may be required to execute and return to MPOWER the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or applicable Canadian form.

All winners will be notified by telephone, email, and/or regular mail using the contact information provided on their Entry. MPOWER shall have no liability for any winner notification that is lost, intercepted, or not received by the potential winner for any reason. If any potential winner does not respond within the time required by MPOWER, or if any winner notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to a potential winner, or fails to timely return the Release to MPOWER, the Prize for that Contest will be awarded to an alternative winner selected by the Judges.

Following MPOWER’s verification of the winner’s eligibility and receipt of the executed Release from a winner, MPOWER shall pay the Prize directly to the Winner.

Except where prohibited by law, Entrant agrees that: (1) all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with a Contest or any prize awarded will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate federal or local court sitting in the District of Columbia; (2) all claims, judgments, and awards will be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering a Contest, but in no event will include attorneys’ fees; and (3) Entrant will not be permitted to obtain awards for indirect, punitive incidental and consequential damage and any rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Terms and Conditions, or the rights or obligations of Entrant or MPOWER in connection with a Contest, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, no matter what jurisdiction, that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than as stated.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Terms and Conditions will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, these Terms and Conditions will otherwise remain in effect in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was never included. MPOWER’s failure to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions does not constitute a waiver of that provision. MPOWER may cancel, suspend, and/or modify a Contest or any part of it, in any way, if MPOWER determines in its sole discretion that a Contest is not capable of executing as MPOWER intended, or that any mistake, clerical, or typographical error, omission, fraud, technical failure, tampering, computer virus, or other factors, technical or otherwise, beyond MPOWER’s reasonable control, impairs or may impair MPOWER’s ability to properly conduct the Contest, subject to any applicable law or regulation.

Information collected from Entrants in connection with a Contest is subject to the MPOWER’s Privacy Policy. However, we will not release Winner’s last names.

The list of winners, identified by first name, university, and country of origin only, will be available to view on the MPOWER website.

Though a Contest may be promoted via social media websites, such websites are not affiliated with MPOWER or any Contest. No Contest is in any way empowered, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or any other site or medium that might host content where information about a Contest is posted or published (collectively “Content Hosts”). Entrant is providing information only to MPOWER and not to any Content Hosts.