Official Rules

Eligibility

• Entrants must be a member of Vassar College’s class of 2029. 
• To be eligible for any category, the photo must have been shot by the entrant. 
• Cropped photos are eligible in all categories. Minor adjustments, including the removal of sensor dust or scratches on scans of negatives, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast, toning, slight color adjustment and conversion to grayscale are acceptable for all categories. If the judges determine that a photographer has altered his or her photo beyond normal photojournalism best practices, they reserve the right to disqualify it. Images generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.
• Photos that contain sexually explicit, nude, obscene, violent or other objectionable or inappropriate content, as determined by Vassar, in its sole discretion, are ineligible for all categories of this contest.

Licenses and Releases Required for Entry

• By entering this Contest, Entrants agree to the photo release language below and allows Vassar to use the photos and videos on all promotional materials. Promotional materials include, but are not limited to, social media platforms, the college’s website, and in print publications.

By submitting materials for entering the Contest, each Entrant grants to Vassar a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-terminable and irrevocable right and license to publish, print, and otherwise use the Entrant’s submitted entry, in whole or in part, for any purpose and in any manner or media now known or hereinafter developed throughout the world in perpetuity, in compliance with Vassar’s mission, all without limitation or compensation. Vassar may use Entrant’s name, class year, and picture/photograph likeness, for advertising and promotional purposes without further consideration to Entrant in connection with Entrant’s entry in this Contest.

• Entrants consent to allow Vassar to utilize their name and class year, along with photos and videos, for promotional and voting purposes.
• Entrant certifies that they are the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph.
• For a photo in which a person is recognizable, Entrant must be prepared to provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian, to Vassar upon request. 
• Entrants whose photos depict other people’s work (such as sculptures, statues, paintings, and other copyrightable works) must be prepared to provide a release from the rights holder to Vassar upon request. When photographing or creating a video of the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close-up of another person’s creation. 
• If the entrant is unable to provide all required releases, Vassar, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify the submission, seek to secure the required releases, or permit the submission to remain in the Contest.
• Photos must be taken in accordance with federal, state and local laws. Photos or videos that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not limited to copyright, are not eligible.

Time Period

• Entries will be accepted beginning August 25 at 9:00am EST and ending on Sept. 2, 2025 at 12:00pm EST. Winners will be chosen on or before Sept. 10. 

Methods and Number of Entries

• Entrants may enter the contest up four times by completing an Application form, which can be found at the following URL: https://go.vassar.edu/2508
• Entrants must submit their name, class year, and email address. 

The Contest’s categories are as follows

1. New friends 
2. My favorite place on campus
3. Arlington Amble
4. Serenading
5. Moving In
6. Dorm Pride
7. My favorite Place (Show us your favorite place on campus.)

• Any questions regarding the number of entries submitted or the eligibility of an Entrant shall be determined by Vassar in its sole discretion, and Vassar reserves the right to disqualify any entries by persons determined to be tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Contest.
• Vassar will not be responsible for incomplete, lost, late, misdirected or illegible entries or for failure to receive entries for any reason, including but not limited to transmission or technical failures or malfunctioning of any network, hardware or software or weather-related events, even if under the control of the College. 

Prizes

The prizes for first, second, and third place in each category will be Vassar merchandise.

• Vassar reserves the right to substitute for prizes of equal or greater value.
• Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Selection and Notification of Winners

• This is not a game of chance. Vassar will select Winners based on consideration and evaluation of the photos submitted.  
• Winners will be notified via phone and/or email.  
• Prizes not won and claimed by eligible winners in accordance with these Official Rules will not be awarded.
• If a potential Winner does not respond to notification within ten (10) days, such potential winner will be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected. Forfeiture of prize and the selection of an alternate (provided sufficient eligible entries are received) winner may result from any of the following: Entrant: (1) fails to respond to a notification; or (2) is deemed ineligible or is otherwise not in compliance with the Official Rules.

Disqualification and Contest Termination

• By participating, Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Vassar. Vassar reserves the right to disqualify persons found tampering with or otherwise abusing any aspect of this Contest as solely determined by Vassar. In the event the Contest is compromised by a virus, non-authorized human intervention, tampering or other causes beyond the reasonable control of Vassar, which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper operation of the Contest, Vassar reserve the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, Vassar reserves the right to award prizes based on the entries received before the termination date.

Indemnification and Legal Liability and Restrictions

• By entering the Contest, Entrant agrees that any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and under no circumstances will any Entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and Entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses. 
• By accepting a prize, the winner agrees that vassar, will have no liability whatsoever for, and will be held harmless by winner for any liability for any injury, loss or damages of any kind to persons, including death, and property, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prize or participation in this contest or participation in any contest or prize related activity.
• All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of any Entrant and Vassar, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. If any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the valid or enforceable provision was not contained therein.
• By entering the Contest, Entrants release Vassar, for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light).