AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Competition Essay contest, 1/16/2008 — 2/29/2008

AND THE WINNER IS...
After countless hours of pouring over essay submissions, we are pleased to announce the winner of the 2008 AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Competition: 24-year-old Talia Rosenberg! Read Talia's AIDS Walk Africa blog.

In answering the question, What can YOU do as a young person to make a difference in the fight against pediatric AIDS?, Talia wrote about her experiences working as a youth advocate for HIV/AIDS issues in her community, as well as conducting research toward the development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine.

Talia grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Harvard University in 2006 with a degree in applied mathematics. She then moved to New York City, where she worked at Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. She will start her first year at the Yale School of Medicine this fall, but before she hits the medical books, Talia is looking forward to embarking on the journey of a lifetime this summer on AIDS Walk Africa.

If you'd like to follow Talia's adventures on AIDS Walk Africa 2008, please tune in to www.pedaids.org/awa2008 between June 30 and July 4.

Support Talia and AIDS Walk Africa.

►Talia is featured in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
►Talia is featured in POZ Magazine.



Are you passionate about helping others? Do you yearn to experience the beauty of Africa? Are you between the ages of 18 and 25?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Competition could be for you!

What is the AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Competition?

AIDS Walk Africa is one of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s most important fundraising and awareness-building events. Walkers witness the lifesaving Foundation-funded programs that prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies and provide treatment for children and families living with HIV/AIDS, while also experiencing Africa's breathtaking beauty.

AIDS Walk Africa 2008 will take place in Swaziland from June 30 to July 5, 2008. To ensure youth participation in AIDS Walk Africa 2008, and to foster the passion that is vital to eradicating pediatric AIDS worldwide, the Foundation will offer scholarships for walkers aged 18 to 25. Recipients will receive a scholarship for the $15,000 fundraising minimum required to participate in the walk, as well as all travel expenses.

How will the winners be chosen?

Scholarship candidates must submit an essay answering the following question: "What can YOU do as a young person to make a difference in the fight against pediatric AIDS?" Winners will be selected by a qualified panel of judges.

How do I apply?

Visit awa2008.kintera.org/scholarship to apply for the AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Competition. Applications will be accepted from January 16 through February 29, 2008.

What will be my responsibilities as a scholarship recipient?

During the walk, scholarship recipients will be expected to keep a log of their journey detailing the walk and reflecting on their experiences. Following their participation in AIDS Walk Africa, recipients will act as Foundation Youth Ambassadors for one year, sharing their stories and advocating at their schools and in their communities for children affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

For more information:

For more information on the AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Competition, please email AWAscholarships@pedaids.org. For a complete overview of AIDS Walk Africa 2008, please visit awa2008.kintera.org.




More on AIDS Walk Africa 2008: Swaziland

The Foundation’s fifth AIDS Walk Africa will take place in Swaziland from June 30 to July 5, 2008. The HIV epidemic in Swaziland continues to grow at an alarming rate. An estimated 39 percent of the population was living with the virus in Swaziland in 2005 — the most intense HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world.

During AIDS Walk Africa, walkers will follow expert guides on visits to Foundation clinics and hospitals, where they will meet scientists, medical personnel, and children and families living with AIDS, and learn about the various challenges posed by the disease. Through these visits and community interactions, walkers build their own relationships with the many individuals they meet along the way — and learn how they have played a role in helping the Foundation reach more children and families living with HIV/AIDS around the world. Read more about AIDS Walk Africa.

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OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
1. WHO CAN ENTER: The 2008 AIDS Walk Africa Youth Scholarship Contest (“Contest”) is open to legal residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who have Internet access, an active email account, and are between 18 and 25 years of age as of June 30, 2008. Contest applicants who are between the ages of 18 and 21 as of June 30, 2008 must have parental permission to enter the Contest or their entry will be disqualified. Proof of age and, if applicable, parental permission will be required at the time of winner notification.

Employees of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (“Sponsor”) and each of their respective affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising or promotional agencies, and other agents, members of the immediate family, and any persons domiciled with such employees, are not eligible. Void outside the United States and where prohibited by law.

2. HOW TO ENTER: From 12:01 a.m. (P.T.) on January 16, 2008 through 11:59 p.m. (P.T.) on February 29, 2008 (the “Entry Period”), visit http://awa2008.kintera.org/scholarship and download the official entry form. Complete the official entry form, and handprint or type an essay answering the following question: “What can you do as a young person to make a difference in the fight against pediatric AIDS?” Email your completed entry form and essay to awascholarship@pedaids.org no later than 11:59 p.m. (P.T.) on February 29, 2008.

All essays must be the sole, original work of the entrant, must be typewritten in English in 12 point font, must be double-spaced, and must be limited to 500 words or less. Entries that are deemed lewd or obscene or disparage the Sponsor or any third party may be disqualified at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Judges may disqualify previously published essays or those that have won previous awards or competitions. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address.

Normal Internet access, phone/usage charges imposed by your online/phone service will apply. All entries become property of Sponsor and will not be returned. By participating, entrants agree to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges.

No illegible, incomplete, forged or altered entries or mechanically-reproduced entries will be accepted. Sponsor and judges are not responsible for late, lost, stolen, damaged, garbled, incomplete or misdirected entries. Further, Sponsor and judges are not responsible for errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects or delays in operations or transmission of information, in each case whether arising by way of technical or other failures or malfunctions of computer hardware, software, communications devices, or transmission lines or data corruption, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alteration of entry materials, loss or otherwise. Sponsor disclaims any liability for damage to any computer system resulting from participation in, or accessing or downloading information in connection with this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate or suspend this Contest and award all prizes from among eligible entries received as of the time of such action should any virus bug, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In the event the Contest is terminated for any reason, Sponsor may award all prizes by judging all eligible entries received prior to the termination date. Each on-line entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the record holder of the e-mail account from which the entry originated.

ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR TAMPER WITH WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION; AND IF SUCH INDIVIDUAL ENTERS THE CONTEST HE/SHE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

3. DETERMINATION OF WINNERS. All eligible entries received will be judged by a panel of judges selected by Sponsor to determine one or more winners based on inspirational value, creativity, and grammar and spelling. Judges’ decisions are final and binding on all matters relating to judging of the entries. Winner will be notified by April 11, 2008, and announced during the week of May 2, 2008.

4. PRIZE: One Winner’s Prize: (1) Prize: A trip for winner to Swaziland on June 30, 2008, including round-trip coach class air transportation for one from major airport nearest winner’s residence. The scholarship will cover the winner’s lodging, meals and in-country transportation. Additionally, the scholarship encompasses the $15,000 fundraising requirement required of all participants.

All other expenses and costs not expressly listed above, including, but not limited to, passport fees, visa fees, vaccines/medical expenses, insurance, taxes, tips, entertainment, and transportation to airport to and from home residence are the winner's sole responsibility.

Sponsor assumes no responsibility or liability for damages, losses or injury resulting from acceptance or use of any prize. The Contest (and the awarding of contest prizes) is expressly contingent upon a sufficient number of eligible entries being received by the Sponsor. The prize is not transferable; no substitutions or cash equivalents are allowed, except by the Sponsor who reserves the right to award prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize (or portion of prize) is unavailable or if, for any reason the stated prize is unable to be awarded as is.

Airline carrier's regulations and conditions apply. Trip may not be combined with any other offer and travel may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Winner must travel on the itinerary and dates specified or prize will be forfeited. Winner must possess valid travel documents (such as valid photo ID, passport and any required visa) in order to travel. Seat selection and timing of trip subject to availability and confirmation of reservations. No refunds or credit for changes will be allowed. Return of prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and alternate winner determination. Taxes, if any, related to the prizes are the sole responsibility of the individual winners. Sponsor assumes no responsibility or liability, for damages, losses or injury resulting from acceptance or use of any prize.

5. WINNER NOTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE: Winner will be notified by April 11, 2008, and announced during the week of May 2, 2008. Potential winners will be required to execute and return proof of age, an affidavit of eligibility, assignment of rights, and liability/publicity release (where legal), within two (2) weeks of first notification attempt or the prize will be forfeited and alternate potential winner(s) determined, within the Sponsor’s sole discretion.

Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes entrant’s consent to the publication of his or her name, biographical information and likeness in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose, without limitation or further compensation. A prize not won and claimed by an eligible winner in accordance with these Official Rules will not be awarded and will remain the property of Sponsor. For prize winner list (available on or around May 2, 2008), visit www.pedaids.org.

6. COPYRIGHT. By entering the Contest, each contestant grants to Sponsor an exclusive, royalty-free and irrevocable right and license to publish, print, edit or otherwise use the contestant’s submitted entry, in whole or in part, for any purpose and in any manner or media (including, without limitation, the Internet) throughout the world in perpetuity, and to license others to do so, all without limitation or further compensation. Each contestant further agrees that if his/her entry is selected by Sponsor as the winning entry, he/she will sign any additional license or release that Sponsor may require, and will not publicly perform or display his or her submission without the express permission of Sponsors.

7. SPONSOR. The Contest is sponsored by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, whose decisions regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of the Contest shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Contest. If you have any questions regarding this Contest, please contact Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, ATTN: Maisie Cunningham at 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036 or (202)296-9165.

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