As a responsible member of the Caribbean community, the organizers, of the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest, firmly believe and recognize that knowledge is power. We are committed to educating our audience about issues that affect our communities in the Diaspora and our Caribbean island homes.

 As a community driven, family-oriented event, the Chitown JerkFest understands the vital role that the arts and entertainment play in education. Research has shown that study of the arts develop critical thinking, self-disciplinary skills, improved cognitive development, basic math and reading abilities, self-esteem, SAT scores, team-work, spatial reasoning skills and increased school attendance in children.

 With this as the basis for our Kidz Fun Zone, we are “Passing On the Traditions” of our forefathers and mothers through hands on demonstrations, readings from the past, storytelling and craft making at the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest.

Not wanting this to be a learning experience for a day, the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest has launched the “I Am A Winner” Scholarship contest for children enrolled in 5^th through 9^th grades.

Finalists will be chosen largely on their essay and to some extent on their general writing skills.   Those who work hard, and ask their parents to edit their work (not write it, but check for grammar and spelling), may be rewarded by being chosen a finalist.

SCHOLARSHIP RULES: 

A.  HOW TO ENTER

 1. Individual students in grades 5^th – 9^th as of 2/5/08 may enter the contest by writing and submitting an original essay supporting their choice of someone past or present, in the Caribbean Islands who have made an impact on the world, that he/she would like to meet, who would that person be and why?

2.  The essay must explain whether the impact was positive or negative on society. Essay must be legible and is limited to 1000 words or less (including I, a, etc.). Each entry must include the student's name, complete address, zip code, telephone number, age, grade, essay word count, parent or legal guardian's name, name of teacher, school, school address, and principal’s name. Students may send entries to: PROMOTE CARIBBEAN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE 7545 N. ROGERS AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60626.

3.   Students may enter as often as they wish, but each entry must be a different essay about a different person and mailed in a separate postage-paid envelope. Contest ends 04/29/08 and entries must be received no later than 05/15/08. Mechanically reproduced entries are void.

 B.  PRIZES:

1. One Grand Prize winner and One First Prize winner will be selected for the 5th-9th grade level. Each student winner receives a prize, and a lucky student in the Caribbean will also be the recipient of a scholarship and computer equal to his/her JerkFest Scholarship winner.

5th-9th Grade level

 GRAND PRIZE (1): Student: $500.00 (awarded in the form of a CD)  and a computer

FIRST PRIZE (1): Student: $250.00 (awarded in the form of a CD)

CD = Certificate of Deposit – a written acknowledgment of a bank that it has received from the person named a specified sum of money as a deposit, often for a fixed term at a specified interest rate.

2.  Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: Persuasiveness (1/3); Creativity (1/3); Suitability (1/3). Essays that contain more than 1000 words and/or are not legible are not eligible. Winners will be selected by a panel of educators selected by Sponsor whose decisions are final on all matters relating to this contest. In the event of a tie, tied entries will be re-judged based solely on creativity. All Prizes will be awarded. Winners will be notified by overnight mail by 5/15/08.

3.  All Prizes are not transferable; no substitutions are allowed, except by the sponsor who reserves the right to award a prize of equal or greater value if advertised prize is unavailable. Student prizes will be awarded in the name of a parent or legal guardian. All parent/legal guardians of student winners will be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, authenticity, liability/publicity release and assignment of rights within 10 days of notification attempt or the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner determined.

4.  Taxes, if any, related to the prize are the responsibility of the individual winners. No responsibility or liability is assumed for damages, losses or injury resulting from acceptance or use of any prize.

5. All entries must be the sole, original work of the entrant. Judges may disqualify previously published essays, those that have won previous awards or competitions or those that are deemed lewd or offensive. Entries become the property of the Caribbean Association of Midwest America (CAMA) and the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants/winners acknowledge and agree that their entries become the property of CAMA & the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest, which thereby has the right to edit, adapt, modify, reproduce, publish, promote and otherwise use entries in any way it sees fit. Acceptance of prize by winners and prize recipients constitutes permission to use the winners' and prize recipients' names and likenesses without further compensation, except where prohibited by law. No responsibility is assumed for lost, misdirected, illegible, damaged, postage due or late entries or mail. No information regarding entries or judging will be disclosed.

C. ELIGIBLITY:

The contest is open to students grades 5^th -9^th, as of 2/5/08, who are legal residents of the U.S., except the BOD and their immediate families of CAMA & the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest.  This offer is void in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and wherever prohibited and subject to all federal, state and local laws.

D. WINNERS:

THE WINNER MUST ATTEND THE CHICAGO CARIBBEAN JERKFEST TO ACCEPT SCHOLARSHIP.

In the event, winner is unable to attend, then...

1) WINNER MUST SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO ACCEPT ON HIS/HER BEHALF.

2) IF WINNER FAILS TO APPEAR OR SEND A REPRESENTATIVE, THEN WINNER'S FAILURE WILL FORFEIT SCHOLARSHIP AND A ANOTHER WINNER CHOSEN.

For a list of winners, available after 6/07/08, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope by 6/21/08 to: PROMOTE CARIBBEAN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE, 7545 N. ROGERS AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60626.

E. SPONSOR:

The sponsor of this promotion is the Caribbean Association of Midwest America, the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest and the proud financial sponsors of the Chicago Caribbean JerkFest Kidz Fun Zone: Washington Mutual Bank,

 Click on the “I AM A WINNER” Link below to access the cover application for the Promote Caribbean Education Scholarship Challenge.

 I AM A WINNER

Mail Application and Essay to:

 Chicago Caribbean JerkFest

PROMOTE CARIBBEAN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE

7545 N. ROGERS AVENUE,

CHICAGO, IL 60626

MAJOR

EVENT INSURANCE

DOMINO TOURNAMENT

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