TERMS AND CONDITIONS
THE CONTEST: The University of Massachusetts Amherst, by and through its department of Auxiliary Enterprises (the “University”) is hosting an essay writing contest (the “Contest”). Eligible participants (the “Participants”) must submit an essay consisting of no more than 250 words (the “Entry”). The University will select the winning Entry, and the Participant who submits the winning Entry (the “Winner”) shall, subject to these Official Rules, be awarded a wedding package from the University. (the “Wedding”)
THE ENTRY: Couples interested in getting married at the University of Massachusetts during the year 2024 are encouraged to submit Entries to the Contest. Entries must describe the ties between the couple and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and how the University of Massachusetts Amherst played a role in their relationship. Entries will be judged by the University based on strength of writing, and the depth of the connection between the couple and the University. A Winner will be selected in the sole and absolute discretion of the University. All Entries must be submitted to https://umasshospitality.com/contest no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on 08/01/2023. The University will announce the Winner on https://umasshospitality.com/contest and UMass Wedding Instagram page on 09/01/2023.
THE WEDDING: The Wedding will be organized and held through University of Massachusetts Amherst Hospitality Services. The Wedding will include a venue for reception, catering, floral centerpieces, wedding cake, and a photographer. The ceremony location and hotel accommodations for the couple will be included in the Wedding package, subject to availability. The fair market value of the Wedding will be up to $25,000. The Wedding must be held during the year 2024. Should the Winner be unable or unwilling to hold the Wedding at a time and place agreeable to the University, or should the Wedding not take place by 12/31/2024 for any reason, the Winner has forfeited the Wedding, the University shall not provide the Wedding to the Winner, and University shall not have any further liability or obligation to the Winner.
ELIGIBILITY: NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER; Contest is open to legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years old and over. Employees of the University of Massachusetts are not eligible to participate, enter, or win. Current contracted weddings with the University of Massachusetts are not eligible to participate, enter, or win.
II. GENERAL PRIZE INFORMATION: One Winner will be chosen. The Winner must present valid identification and proof of age to claim the Wedding. Winner is solely responsible for state, local, and federal taxes where applicable. If for any reason the Winner is unable to have the Wedding on the available dates given, the University may, in its sole and absolute discretion, select a new Winner. The Wedding is non-transferable, and no substitute prizes will be awarded under any circumstances. The Wedding cannot be substituted or redeemed for cash. The Wedding must be claimed by the Winner within ten (10) days of being notified, or a substitute Winner may be selected by the University in its sole and absolute discretion. The Winner must call 413-577-8100 or email [email protected] to claim the Wedding. In the event of any disagreement regarding contestants, winners or qualification of winners, or adequacy or value of the Wedding, the decision of the University shall remain final. Winner must sign a hold harmless and indemnity agreement, agreeing to hold the University, its Trustees, Officers, servants, and employees, and affiliated companies, the prize suppliers and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Contest, and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, harmless against any and all claims of liability arising directly or indirectly from the Wedding, Entries, or Contest. Void where prohibited. The Winner must have the Wedding during the year 2024. Wedding must be booked at least two (2) months in advance of desired date to ensure contributing vendors are able to work together to find a date that is available for all of them and works for the Winner. Anything additional needed for the Wedding will be the responsibility of the Winner. Winner has the option of purchasing additional products & services from the University at Winner’s sole expense.
III. RELEASE: By entering the Contest, each Participant, including all Winners, acknowledge, authorize and give permission to the University of Massachusetts, its agents, employees and owners, their sponsors and corporate sponsors, their successors, licensees, and assigns the irrevocable right to use, modify, and distribute in any form, for any purpose whatsoever and without compensation, any writings, essays, Entries, photographs, videotapes, audiotapes, or other recordings that arise out of, either directly, indirectly, or incidentally, the Contest or the Wedding.
IV. CONTEST-SPECIFIC RULES: The decision of the University with regard to rules, specifications, qualifiers, winners, and prizes, is final.
V. VERIFICATION OF POTENTIAL WINNER: The Winner must comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules. If, in the sole and absolute judgment of the University, the Winner has not complied with, or does not meet the requirements of, these Official Rules, the Winner shall forfeit the Wedding, and University shall have no further liability or obligation to such Winner. The Winner will be required to sign and return to the University, within ten (10) days of the date notice is sent via email, an affidavit of eligibility, and liability/publicity release & Hold-Harmless Agreement (except where prohibited) in order to claim the Wedding. If the Winner of the Wedding cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release and Hold-Harmless Agreement within the required time period, or the prize notification is returned undeliverable, the Winner forfeits the Wedding and an alternate Winner will be selected. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Winner forfeits the Wedding, the University shall not provide such Winner with the Wedding, and the University shall have no further liability or responsibility with respect to such Winner.
VI. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. All Participants, including any Winner, agree to release and hold harmless the University, its Trustees, Officers, servants, and employees, and affiliated companies, Meta, Facebook, the prize suppliers and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Contest, and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, against any and all claims of liability arising directly or indirectly from the Contest, the Entries, or the Wedding. For the avoidance of doubt, this Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Meta and Facebook.
VII. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The Winner and each Participant expressly agree that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Contest, or the Wedding, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and any judicial proceeding shall take place in state court within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (2) any and all 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 attorney’s fees; and (3) under no circumstances will a Participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and each Participant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages other than actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues concerning or arising out of the Contest or the Wedding shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These are the official contest rules of the Contest. These rules may be subject to change without notice.
