FAQ
Q: When does the America’s Greenest SchoolSM contest begin and end?
A: The contest submission phase begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on January 18, 2010 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 8, 2010. The finalists’ submissions will be posted in an online gallery for public voting at http://www.americasgreenestschool.com from March 22, 2010 through April 2, 2010 (the “Voting Phase”). Potential contest prize winners will be notified by mail, email or phone on or around April 6, 2010.
Q: Who can enter the America’s Greenest School contest?
A: The America's Greenest School contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade at the time of entry. A teacher may submit an entry on behalf of a student or group of students.
Q: How can a teacher submit an entry for a student?
A: A teacher may enter a submission on behalf of a student or a group of students. If a teacher enters a submission on behalf of a student or group of students under the age of 13 (or under the age of 18 if the student is a resident of Maine), the teacher MUST have permission from the child or children who created the submission and each child’s parent/legal guardian. The teacher must provide his or her contact information at the time of entry, along with the first name(s) of the child or children responsible for the submission.
Q: Does my contest entry need to be an essay?
A: Your submission may be in the form of an essay (not to exceed 500 words), artwork, video (not to exceed three minutes), music (not to exceed three minutes), model, diorama or photograph. Essays must be submitted in English. All entries must be submitted electronically by visiting the contest microsite (americasgreenestschool.com). See the official rules for specific requirements for each media format.
Q: Why can't I see the vote tally on each entry?
A: At the halfway point in the voting period, the vote tally will be removed to maintain the highest element of surprise when we announce the winner of America’s Greenest School around Earth Day 2010! But don’t stop voting, we will continue to track votes until the period ends on April 2. Good luck!
Q: Can I submit more than one type of entry (e.g., video plus essay)?
A: No, each contestant is limited to one entry per email address. Several students may contribute entries for the same school; however, they will be treated as competing entries for the grand prize.
Q: What topic should I address in my entry?
A: Your submission should demonstrate creative thinking on how to make your elementary or secondary education school (grades K – 12) more eco-friendly, and must demonstrate commitment to school bus ridership as part of making the school experience greener.
Q: How many times can I visit the AGS website and vote for a contest entry?
A: Each voter may vote one time per day during the voting phase.
Q: What is the total prize package?
A: The winning contest entry will be rewarded: one author prize of $3,000; one entrant/sponsor prize of $500, which is intended to be used towards supplies for the author’s classroom; one school prize: an IC Bus™ CE Series hybrid electric bus (approximate retail value of $150,000); a LEED certified “green” school audit and environmental upgrade (approximate retail value of $20,000), as well as a free concert by The Maine, the official band of America’s Greenest School.
Q: Does the winning entry earn a bus for the school itself or that school’s district?
A: The winning entry will win an IC Bus hybrid school bus for that student or group’s specific school.
Q: How will the prize be split if multiple students submit one entry?
A: The individual prize of $3,000 will be split equally among all submitting contestants. The school prize is unaffected by the number of entrants.