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2021 Grad of the Month Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.  CONTEST IS OPEN TO GED GRADUATES WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTEST CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES.

BINDING AGREEMENT: In order to participate in the 2021 Grad of the Month (the “Contest”), you must agree to these Rules. Therefore, please read these Rules prior to participating to ensure you understand and agree. You agree that participating in the Contest constitutes your agreement to these Rules. You may not participate in the Contest and are not eligible to receive any prize described in these Rules unless you agree to these Rules. These Rules form a binding legal agreement between you and Sponsor with respect to the Contest.

CONTEST ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible to participate in the Contest, you must: (1) be over the age of 18 as of date you earned your GED credential; (2) have earned your GED credential from any of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia (except where prohibited by law); 3) have earned your GED credential no longer than 365 calendar days from the date your entry is submitted; 4) have access to the Internet as of January 1, 2021; 4) Consent to these Official Rules; 5) Consent to the Publicity Release on the Contest webpage; and 6) Consent to the Sponsor’s Terms of Service and Privacy and Cookies policy. The Contest is void where prohibited by law. Employees, interns, contractors, and official office-holders of Sponsor, NCS Pearson, Inc., and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees, advertising and Contest agencies, representatives, and agents (collectively, “Contest Entities”), and members of the Contest Entities immediate families (parents, siblings, children, spouses, and life partners of each, regardless of where they live) and members of the households (whether related or not) of such Contest Entities are ineligible to participate in this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility and to adjudicate on any dispute at any time.

SPONSOR: The Contest is sponsored by GED Testing Service LLC (“Sponsor”), with a principal place of business at

GED Testing Service LLC

5601 Green Valley Drive

Bloomington MN 55437

CONTEST PERIODS: The initial contest period will run from December 7, 2020 (beginning at 12:01 am EST) and will run through January 6, 2021 (ending at 11:59 pm EST) (“Initial Contest Period”). Subsequent contest periods will begin immediately following the Initial Contest Period and will run from the 7th day of the calendar month (beginning at 12:01 am EST) through the 6th day of the following calendar month (ending at 11:59 pm EST) (“Contest Period”). The potential winner from each Contest Period (including the Initial Contest Period) will be determined by the 12th day of the calendar month in which the Contest Period ends. All non-winning entries for each specific Contest Period are void and all non-winning participants who wish to be considered during the next Contest Period will need to submit a new entry in accordance with the contest rules. Contest ends December 6, 2021, at 11:59 pm EST. PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE CORRESPONDING TIME ZONE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST: During the Contest Period, Adult educators and qualifying GED students will submit nominations through an online web form, which will include space to write short essay responses about the student. A webpage has been created to house the entry form which is available at https://ged.com/grad-of-the-month-submissions/

WINNER DETERMINATION: At the conclusion of each Contest Period, one (1) potential winner will be chosen by a contest committee. The potential winner will have demonstrated, as solely decided by the contest committee, that s/he 1) is a positive role model despite significant obstacles in life; 2) has a determination and commitment to further her/his education; 3) was able to use the GED credential to advance her/his career or education; 4) has the ability to be successful in her/his post-secondary pursuits; and 5) has a story that can motivate and inspire others to seek further educational opportunities in their lives.

WINNER NOTIFICATION: On or about 5 PM EST on the business day immediately following confirmation of the potential winner’s eligibility to enter and participate in the Contest, Sponsor will announce the winner. Prior to the potential winner being announced as the winner, the potential winner will be notified via the email address provided during submission – this notification will occur prior to the 16th of the month in which the Contest Period ends. Except where prohibited by law, each potential winner will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Publicity Release (must be notarized) and provide any additional information that may be required by Sponsor. In the event that the potential winner does not respond to the notification email within 48 hours and does not return all required documents within five (5) days of the email notification the potential winner will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and another potential winner may be selected based on the winner procedure described herein. All notification requirements, as well as other requirements within these Rules, will be strictly enforced. In the event that no nominees are received, no prize will be awarded.  Determinations of the Sponsor are final and binding.

PRIZE PACKAGE FOR EACH WINNER.  Estimated total value of $329 (USD).

iPad® 32 GB MSRP $329 (USD). iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion.

PRIZE CONDITIONS: No transfer, substitution or cash equivalent for prizes is allowed, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize, in whole or in part, of equal or greater monetary value if a prize cannot be awarded, in whole or in part, as described for any reason.  Contest Entities have not made, and Contest Entities are not responsible in any manner for any warranties, representations, or guarantees, express or implied, in fact or law, relating to the prize, regarding the use, value or enjoyment of the prize.

TAXES: RECEIPT OF PRIZES TO POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SUBMIT TO SPONSOR ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED BY SPONSOR TO PERMIT IT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, PROVINCIAL, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX REPORTING AND WITHHOLDING REQUIREMENTS. ALL PRIZES WILL BE NET OF ANY TAXES SPONSOR IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO WITHHOLD. ALL TAXES IMPOSED ON PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. In order to receive a prize, potential winners may be required to submit the tax documentation requested by Sponsor or otherwise required by applicable law, to Sponsor or the relevant tax authority, all as determined by applicable law, including, where relevant, the law of the potential winner’s country of residence. The potential winners are responsible for ensuring that (s)he complies with all the applicable tax laws and filing requirements. If a potential winner fails to provide such documentation or comply with such laws, the prize may be forfeited and Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate potential winner.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:  All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any participant from the Contest if, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, it reasonably believes that the participant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other participants, viewers, Sponsor, or the Judges.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: As between the Sponsor and the participant, the participant retains ownership of all intellectual and industrial property rights (including moral rights) in and to their exam. As a condition of exam, participant grants Sponsor, its subsidiaries, agents and partner companies, a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, publish, distribute, publicly perform, create a derivative work from, and publicly display their participation in the Contest in connection with advertising and Contest via communication to the public or other groups.

PRIVACY: Participant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor may collect, store, share and otherwise use any personally identifiable information provided to Sponsor throughout the Contest, including, but not limited to, name, mailing address, date of birth, email address, and any financial information collected to facilitate awarding any applicable prize. Sponsor will use this information in accordance with its Privacy Policy https://www.ged.com/privacy_policy, including for administering the Contest and verifying a participant’s identity, postal address and email address in the event a participant qualifies for a prize. Participant’s information may also be transferred to countries outside the country of participant’s residence, including the United States. Such other countries may not have privacy laws and regulations similar to those of the country of participant’s residence. Participant has the right to request access, review, rectification or deletion of any personal data held by Sponsor in connection with the Contest by writing to Sponsor at this email address; [email protected].

PUBLICITY.  By submitting a response and entering this Contest, participant must provide consent for Sponsor and its agencies to use participant’s name, likeness, photo (if applicable), and story for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, as agreed to in the Publicity Release, unless prohibited by law.

CONSENT TO BE CONTACTED. By submitting your email address in connection with this contest, you agree that Sponsor and its agencies may use your email address to contact you about the status of your submission and for other administrative purposes.

WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY: To the maximum extent permitted by law, each participant indemnifies and agrees to keep indemnified Contest Entities at all times from and against any liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses resulting from any act, default or omission of the participant and/or a breach of any warranty set forth herein. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each participant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Contest Entities 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 attorney’s fees) arising out of or accruing from (a) any exam or other material uploaded or otherwise provided by the participant 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, (b) any misrepresentation made by the participant in connection with the Contest; (c) any non-compliance by the participant with these Rules; (d) claims brought by persons or entities other than the parties to these Rules arising from or related to the participant’s involvement with the Contest; (e) acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in this Contest; (f) any malfunction or other problem with the Contest Site; (g) any error in the collection, processing, or retention of exam information; or (h) any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any prize or winners.

ELIMINATION: Any false information provided within the context of the Contest by any participant concerning identity, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of right or non-compliance with these Rules or the like may result in the immediate elimination of the participant from the Contest.

INTERNET: Contest Entities are not responsible for any malfunction or for any late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, undeliverable, or destroyed exams due to system errors, failed, incomplete or garbled computer or other telecommunication transmission malfunctions, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, typographical or system/human errors and failures, technical malfunction(s) of any telephone network or lines, cable connections, satellite transmissions, servers or providers, or computer equipment, traffic congestion on the Internet or at the Contest Site, or any combination thereof, including other telecommunication, cable, digital or satellite malfunctions which may limit an participant’s ability to participate.

RIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY OR DISQUALIFY.  If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including, without limitation, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and if terminated, Sponsor will determine the potential winners for the Contest from among all eligible exams received prior to action taken using the judging criteria specified above. Sponsor further reserves the right to disqualify any participant who tampers with the submission process or any other part of the Contest or Contest Site.  Any attempt by any participant to deliberately damage any web site, including the Contest Site, or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek any and all remedies available from any such participant to the fullest extent of the applicable law.

NOT AN OFFER OR CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT: Under no circumstances shall the submission of an exam into the Contest, the awarding of a prize, or anything in these Rules be construed as an offer or contract of employment with either Sponsor, or the Contest Entities. You acknowledge that you have submitted your exam voluntarily and not in confidence or in trust. You acknowledge that no confidential, fiduciary, agency or other relationship or implied-in-fact contract now exists between you and Sponsor or the Contest Entities and that no such relationship is established by your submission of an exam under these Rules.

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 Minnesota, 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 all participants expressly waive any and all such rights.

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 Sponsor 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 Minnesota, before one arbitrator to be mutually agreed upon by both parties. The parties agree to share equally in the arbitration costs incurred.

WINNERS’ LIST: You may request a list of Contest winners for all previous Contest Periods by sending an email with the subject line “Request- 2021 Grad of the Month” to [email protected] or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below. The list of winners will only include the names of Contest winners announced prior to the receipt of the request. Individuals seeking a complete list of winners should wait to submit their request until 45 calendar days after the final Contest Period, as determined herein, is complete.

2021 Graduate of the Month

GED Testing Service LLC

1850 M St. NW, Suite 540

Washington, DC 20036