The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly essay contest is supported by The University of Arizona’s Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research and its Consumer Jungle program. Consumer Jungle is a website designed to motivate young adults to practice healthy money habits in a fresh and interactive way.

Individuals, ages 12-25, are encouraged to write an essay (400 words or more) describing their money mess-up. Don’t let your friends fall into the same traps! Share your story today. The essay must be submitted electronically (see “Essay Creation”). The essay should illustrate what happened to you, what you learned and how to avoid the financial mess-up next time. It doesn’t have to be all negative – we also want the good! If you have a story about your financial success, share it! Essays should cover a financial topic of at least one (or more) of the topics outlined below:

Savings
Spending
Money Management
Financial Institutions

All essays must be uploaded to the Consumer Jungle website (see “Essay Submission”) by Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 4:00 pm PT to be eligible to enter the contest. A review committee will evaluate each essay in a blind review and will select one Grand Prize winner and three Runners-Up based on the essay’s ability to outline a money mess-up and educate others on at least one of the topics outlined above and accuracy of the message (see “Selection of Winners”). The Grand Prize winner (winning a $100 Amazon gift card) and up to three Runners-Up (each winning a $50 Amazon gift card) will be notified by December 9th via email and will be featured on the Consumer Jungle website (see “Prizes”).

Congratulations to Chad Crossley and his story “NSF” for winning the grand prize!

Contest Flyer
Rules

Eligibility

The contest is open to all individuals aged 12-25.
The essay should be the work of one individual.
1. No group submissions will be accepted.
2. Individuals may not contract with or pay for any outside consulting firm, agency, or other service for any assistance or guidance in the creation of the essay. All information on the entry form and/or essay file must consist solely of the original work of the individual that submits the entry.
The essay must be at least 400 words (or more).
The essay must cover at least one of the following topics:
1. Savings
2. Spending
3. Money Management
4. Financial Institutions
Contest limited to one entry per person with a free Consumer Jungle account.
1. An account can be created at the registration page.

Essay Creation

Your essay must be submitted digitally or by hand.
1. The following file types will be accepted (this is not a finite list):
  1. DOC
  2. DOCX
  3. PDF
The essay should be at least 400 words.
The essay may not contain profanity.
All work on the essay must be that of the individual submitting the work. Individuals may not contract with or pay for any outside consulting firm, agency, or other service for any assistance or guidance in the creation of the Essay.
If University of Arizona, Take Charge America Institute, Consumer Jungle, or contest review committee staff deems the content of the essay is inappropriate, the essay may be disqualified from the contest.

Contest Entry and Essay Submission

Visit the contest entry form to upload a digital file of your essay.
1. Must be signed in to your Consumer Jungle account in order to submit a contest entry form.
2. Only on entry is allowed per person with a free Consumer Jungle Account.
Essays must be submitted between September 3, 2013 and November 27, 2013 4:00 pm PT
Acceptable file formats: DOC, DOCX, and PDF
1. The essay cannot be submitted as a URL. URL’s will need to be converted into a file to upload in the online entry form.
Verify email address on entry form prior to submitting. Consumer Jungle will use this email address to contact you.
The contest entry will have been officially submitted when a confirmation page appears. Questions concerning submission can be emailed to consumerjungle@cals.arizona.edu

Selection of Winners

A committee of judges from Consumer Jungle will evaluate essays in a blind review based on the essay’s ability to educate others on at least one of the topics outlined above, creativity, and accuracy of the message. The committee will select one Grand Prize winner and up to 3 Runners-Up.
Winners will be notified on Monday, December 9, 2013 via email (using the email provided in contest entry).
Winners will be featured on the Consumer Jungle website after January 1, 2014.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded as follows:
1. One Grand Prize winner will be selected to receive:
  1. A $100 Amazon Gift Card
  2. Will be featured as the contest winner on the Consumer Jungle website homepage and on the “Contest Winners” webpage.
  3. Bio and picture will be featured as a Consumer Jungle Student Editor.
2. Up to three Runners-Up will be selected to receive:
  1. $50 iTunes gift card
  2. Will be featured on the Consumer Jungle “Contest Winners” webpage.
The Grand Prize winner and Runners-Up must submit required contest documentation forms before prizes can be officially awarded. These forms will be emailed to the winners in the winner notification email. Forms include:
1. A W-9 form requiring a Social Security number.
2. A Release Form giving the Take Charge America Institute the permission to use the individuals name on their websites (including Consumer Jungle).
3. All forms must be received by January 1, 2014 or the individual will be disqualified from the contest and an alternate poster will be chosen.
The prizes will be distributed 4-6 weeks after the required documents are received (the required documentation will be provided to the finalists).
The University of Arizona and the Take Charge America Institute distributes the prizes and reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event any prize cannot be awarded as stated. Prizes are non-transferable and may be subject to IRS tax reporting.

Contest Timeline

September 3, 2013: Contest begins!
November 27, 2013, 4:00pm PT: Contest ends, deadline to submit essay on the Consumer Jungle website (see “Essay Submission”).
December 9, 2013: Contest winners notified by email.
Grand Prize winner featured on the Consumer Jungle website homepage, Contest Winners webpage, and listed as Student Editor. Up to 3 Runners-Up featured on the Consumer Jungle website under the Contest Winners webpage.

General Terms and Conditions

The University of Arizona, the Take Charge America Institute (TCAI), and Consumer Jungle reserve the right to cancel The Good, The Bad and The Ugly contest for any reason at any time during the contest duration.
The University of Arizona, TCAI, and Consumer Jungle reserve the right to amend these rules and policies at any time and without notice. Any changes will be posted online to this page.
Winners of any prize are solely responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Each individual agrees that The University of Arizona, TCAI, Consumer Jungle and their respective affiliates, employees, or funding agency shall not be responsible or liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of or resulting from entry in this contest, acceptance or use of a prize or any other matter related to the contest, including, without limitation, claims based on property damage, personal injury and/or death, publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy.
By entering the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly essay contest, each individual agrees to abide by and are bound by all decisions from the Consumer Jungle committee relating to the determination winners.
Upon submission of essay, the individual agrees that TCAI owns the rights of the posters and may use them in any way deemed necessary.

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