Contest Rules

What makes a house a HOME?

Sponsored by: Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty in conjunction with The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound

Who is eligible? Any high school student who is either: (1) a resident of Thurston County; or (2) attends a school located in Thurston County, Washington.

When? Essay Submissions accepted April 11 – May 1, 2022

Where? Submissions will be made through whatmakesahouseahome.com

* Judging begins May 2, 2022. 

* Winners announced in May 2022. 

What? All eligible contestants may enter one, no more than 500 word essay (essays with over 500 words will be automatically disqualified) that describes “What makes a house a home?” A home doesn’t have to be a house. A person may live in an apartment, a cabin or a boat – that’s just a shelter. In 500 words or less describe why a house is more than just a shelter and what makes it a home.

Criteria for Judging:

* Organization of thoughts

* Proper grammar and spelling

* Creativity

* Effectiveness of main point

* Independent panel of judges’ subjectivity/opinions

ENTRY: Submission for the contest will take place Monday, April 11, 2022 through Sunday, May 1, 2022. All entries will be submitted through Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Inc., through our website: www.whatmakesahouseahome.com. Participation in this promotion constitutes your full, irrevocable and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and decisions of Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Inc. Many will enter, only one (1) will win for each of the three scholarships. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. No consideration of any kind is required to enter the Contest. The Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty Scholarship Fund is held and managed as a component fund of Scholarship award payments are made from the Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound (the “Foundation”) and its rules regarding scholarship fund management apply. This Contest is null and void in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law. To participate, you must be a high school student who is either: (1) a resident of Thurston County, or (2) attending a school located in Thurston County, Washington. Limit one (1) entry per person. Multiple entries from one person will disqualify all entries. Essays with over 500 words will be automatically disqualified. Obscene, provocative or otherwise questionable content will not be considered and will be disqualified from the promotion. Sponsor and its agents retain sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content. By entering the contest, entrant attests that he/she has the right and permission to use and post the essay. All essay entries, including its copyright, and all related materials become the sole property of Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty upon submission and will not be returned. By entering the contest, entrants/participants agree to have their submitted essay shared with judges and in conjunction with the Contest at Coldwell Banker Olympia Facebook and community Facebook pages, Coldwell Banker Twitter page, Coldwell Banker Instagram, www.whatmakesahouseahome.com or on other Coldwell Banker web pages without any fee or other form of compensation to the entrants. Entry into the promotion will require completion of contact information at: whatmakesahouseahome.com. Entrants also consent to participate in the Inspirational Educator Award (process described in the Prize and Prize restrictions portion stated below). Winners consent to use their name, likeness, and entry for publicity purposes by Sponsor during and after the contest, without further compensation, and agree to cooperate to provide a parent/custodian release. This information must be completed in full. Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty and its agents are not responsible for undelivered, inaccurate or delayed entries, or for technical, hardware, or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions or other errors or problems which may limit or affect a person’s ability to participate in the Promotion whether human, mechanical, typographical, printing, electronic, network or otherwise, relating to or in connection with the Promotion, including, without limitation, errors which may occur in connection with the administration of the Promotion, the processing of entries, the announcement of the finalists or in any Promotion-related materials. In the event of sabotage, acts of God, terrorism or threats thereof, computer virus or other events or causes beyond the Sponsor’s control, which corrupt the integrity, administration, security or proper operation of the Promotion, cancel or suspend the Promotion. All entries must be received by 11:00 p.m. (PDT) Sunday, May 1, 2022. By entering this Contest entrants will not receive future promotional mailing from the Company using the promotion contact provided. These Rules, Terms and Conditions represent the entire agreement between the Company and entrants and nothing shall be deemed to vary these Rules, Terms and Conditions unless issued in writing by the Company.

ELIGIBILITY: No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited by law. Employees, agents and representatives of Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Inc., or another Third Party Application that may be used in connection with this contest, and the immediate family members of such employees, agents and representatives are not eligible to participate.

PRIZE & PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: Essays with over 500 words will be automatically disqualified.  A panel of local, independent judges will select the winners from a valid selection of essays. Winners consent to use their name, likeness, and entry for publicity purposes by Sponsor during and after the contest, without further compensation, and agree to cooperate to provide a parent/custodian release. Inspirational Educator Award: The Grand prize scholarship winner ($1,000 scholarship winner) will be asked to nominate an educator who is actively working/employed as an educator in Thurston County. Family members of the scholarship award winner may not be nominated for the Inspirational Educator Award. The grand prize winner also consents to write a short statement about how the educator has inspired the student. If a selected winner does not meet eligibility requirements, the second place winner in that category will receive the grand prize. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification at the sole discretion of Sponsor and an alternate winner may be selected. Prizes are non-transferable. Winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and any additional fees associated with the prize. All federal, state and local laws apply. All prizes will be awarded.

Scholarship award payments are made from the Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound (the “Foundation”). Payments are subject to the procedures established solely by the Foundation. Scholarship Award payments will be made directly to the post-secondary educational institutional upon receipt of evidence of the award winner’s enrollment at the institution.

Prize Amounts:

1st prize – $1,000

Inspirational Educator Award (for Grand Prize winner to nominate): $500 Grant for that Educator

2nd prize – $750

3rd prize – $500

Total prize money awarded $2,750: $2,250 for the three student scholarships, with an additional $500 for the Inspirational Educator Award.

Details and qualifications for participation in this Contest may apply. Restrictions may be found in all sections of this document. This scholarship program is funded through the Coldwell Banker Olympic Realty Scholarship Fund, which is held and managed by The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound.

PARTICIPANT RELEASE: This promotion is governed by the laws of the state of Washington. By accepting the Prize, winners agree to release Sponsor and all of their agents, affiliates, employees, suppliers, and advertising, promotional, or judging agencies, and any prize-sponsoring agency, from any and all liability whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, or use of the Prize.

WINNERS’ LIST: To be notified of the winners’ names and/or copies of the official rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, 3333 Capitol Blvd., Tumwater, WA 98501