NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO APPLY OR WIN.

1. Program purpose
STAC Skilled Trades Champions (the “Contest”) is sponsored by the Skilled Trades Advisory Council, Inc. (“STAC” or “Sponsor”) to support people and programs creating pathways into skilled trades careers in the United States. Two winners will each receive a $10,000 gift card to a national tool supplier to be selected by STAC to expand their work and reach more future tradespeople.

2. Eligibility
Applicants must support entry into skilled trades careers in the United States and identify a school, business or organization that can receive and use the tools and equipment awarded through the Contest (each, a “Receiving Entity”). Eligible applicants may include teachers, schools, training programs, small businesses, community organizations and individual mentors.

Individuals submitting an Application must be legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia and at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Applications on behalf of a Receiving Entity must be submitted by an individual who is authorized to act on behalf of such Receiving Entity. The Receiving Entity must be physically located in the United States.

STAC officers, directors, council members and employees; program judges; and individuals directly involved in developing, administering or judging the program are not eligible to apply or receive an Award. This exclusion also applies to their immediate family members, including spouses, domestic partners, parents, children and siblings, and anyone living in their households.

Schools, businesses and organizations owned or controlled by an excluded individual are also ineligible. Employees of Promotion Entities (defined below) who are directly involved in administering or judging the program are subject to the same exclusions. A relationship with a participating partner does not otherwise automatically disqualify an applicant, but any relationship with STAC or a judge must be disclosed.
Void where prohibited by law.

3. Application period
Applications open November 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time and close January 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (“Contest Period”). Applications must be received through the official submission system before the deadline to be valid. Incorrect and incomplete Applications are void.

4. How to apply
Complete the application form available through https://skilledtradesadvisorycouncil.com/ (the “Website”) and submit (an “Application”):
A video of 90 seconds or less

The Application must explain the applicant’s work supporting pathways into skilled trades careers and how $10,000 in tools and equipment would expand that impact. Applicants must identify the Receiving Entity that would receive and use the award in the Application.

Limit of one Application per eligible Receiving Entity. Each eligible Receiving Entity is eligible to win a maximum of one (1) Award.

Applications must be accurate and complete. Each Application must be consistent with the image and values of Sponsor and must not include: (a) any third parties, including, but not limited to, minors, celebrities, and friends, who have not expressly authorized entrant to display their image or likeness; (b) any content that violates any third-party rights, including, but not limited to, copyrights or trademark rights or rights of publicity or privacy; (c) defamatory language or threatening language; (d) language or content that is sexually explicit, obscene, or indecent; (e) language or content that promotes the consumption or abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs; (f) any other language or content that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; (g) contain material that is threatening to any person, place, or business group; or (h) contain words or symbols that are widely considered offensive to individuals of a certain race, ethnicity, religion sexual orientation or socioeconomic group or that Sponsor determines is inappropriate in Sponsor’s sole discretion and/or does not otherwise meet the Application requirements. Applications that are not the entrant’s original ideas and/or are illegible or incomplete will not be accepted. Sponsor reserves the right to reject any Applications that it deems, in its sole discretion, violate any of the policies of Sponsor’s customary standards and practices. Further, all Submissions must comply with the respective Receiving Entity’s media-release and FERPA practices. 

5. Representations and Warranties
By submitting an Application, you represent and warrant that: (a) the Application is an original work created by you; (b) you or the Receiving Entity own all rights to the Application; (c) the Application complies with all requirements of these Official Rules; and (d) you understand that other entrants may submit Applications that are very similar to yours and that you shall not have any claim against any other entrant or Sponsor arising out any such similarity or be entitled to any compensation because of any such similarity.

6. Judging and selection
After the Contest Period, a panel of judges selected by STAC will review all eligible Applications and select two prospective winners based on the judging criteria below. Winners will not be selected randomly.

The judging panel will consist of STAC founding advisors Andrew Brown, Sarah Hammond, Mónica Muñoz, Kate Cinnamo, Sara Angus, Julie Starzynski, and Rob Almond.

Demonstrated impact in helping people begin skilled trades careers: 40%.

Clarity and feasibility of the proposed use of tools and equipment: 30%.

Potential to expand the program’s reach and impact: 30%.

In case of a tie, a merit-based tie-breaker shall take place. The tie-breaker shall be based on:

The higher demonstrated impact score, followed by;

The higher feasibility score, then if still tied;

A qualified additional judge will independently review the tied Applications and their score alone will determine the prospective prize winner.

Video production quality will not be scored.

Judges must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from reviewing affected Applications. STAC shall appoint a qualified alternate judge if needed to address a conflict of interest or a judge’s unavailability.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Official Rules, if at any time during the Contest Period, the judging round, or at any time thereafter, the Sponsor determines that no eligible Applications exist from which to determine the Prize Winners, then Sponsor may in its sole and exclusive discretion determine that no eligible contestants exist, and then may either suspend or terminate the Contest or modify it (or any parts thereof) in any equitable manner that Sponsor deems appropriate in its sole and exclusive discretion, including, without limitation, by not awarding any one or more of the Prizes set forth in these Official Rules.

Application materials that have been tampered with or altered are void. If, in the Sponsor’s opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of electronic or non-electronic tampering with any portion of the Contest, or if computer viruses, bugs, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical difficulties or failures compromise or corrupt or affect the administration, integrity, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Application process and void any Applications submitted fraudulently, to modify, suspend, or terminate the Contest, or to conduct a random drawing to award the prizes using all eligible, non-suspect Application received as of the termination date or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, notice will be posted on the Website. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Prize Winner based on an email address, the winning Application will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of Application. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY YOU TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM YOU TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

7. Awards
Two winners will each receive a $10,000 gift card to a national tool supplier to be selected by STAC to expand their work and reach more future tradespeople.

Awards must support the skilled trades work described in the winning application and be received by the identified school, business or organization or legal entity.

Recipients are responsible for applicable taxes associated with accepting an award and must provide any required tax documentation.

8. Winner notification and verification
Potential prize winners will be contacted using the information provided in their Applications on or about Friday, January 29, 2027. They must respond within 5 business days and provide documentation confirming eligibility, authority to accept the Award and the Receiving Entity’s ability to use it. Following such confirmation, each potential prize winner will be deemed a “Prize Winner.”

If a potential prize winner is ineligible, declines the Award or fails to respond or provide required documentation, STAC may select the next highest-scoring eligible applicant.

Awards are expected to be delivered by Friday, Feb. 19, 2027, subject to completion of required documentation.

9. Submission rights and privacy
Applicants retain ownership of their Applications and grant STAC permission to review and share them with judges and program administrators for application evaluation and Award administration.

Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes your consent to Promotion Entities’ use of your name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, Application, and state of residence for promotional purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter devised, worldwide in perpetuity, without further payment or consideration, notification or permission. Personal information will be handled according to STAC’s privacy policy, to be made available through https://skilledtradesadvisorycouncil.com/ before applications open.

10. Program administration
STAC may disqualify applicants who submit fraudulent information, tamper with the application process or violate these rules. If circumstances beyond STAC’s reasonable control materially compromise the Contest, STAC may suspend or modify affected procedures as permitted by law, with notice posted at https://skilledtradesadvisorycouncil.com/.

11. Limitations of Liability
STAC and any other participating entities (collectively with STAC, the “Promotion Entities”) and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent, advertising and promotion agencies, award suppliers and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, and any and all Internet servers and access provider(s) (collectively, “Released Parties”) are not responsible for: any incorrect or inaccurate Application information; human error; technical malfunctions; failures, omissions, interruptions, deletions, or defects of any telephone network, computer online systems, computer equipment, server providers, or software, including any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in this Contest; theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of Application; transactions that are processed late or incorrectly or are incomplete or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site; printing or human or other errors; and any Applications which are late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, illegible, or any combination thereof. Sponsor reserves the right to conduct a background check on any prospective Prize Winner and reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any person based on such background check if Sponsor determines in its sole discretion that awarding the Award to such prospective Prize Winner might reflect negatively on Sponsor or any of the Promotion Entities. Failure by prospective Prize Winner to agree to a background check may also result in disqualification. By entering, you agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against all claims and damages or liability arising in connection with your participation and/or entry in the Contest and/or your receipt or use of any Award awarded in this Contest or due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any Award or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in this Contest. Any and all warranties and guarantees are subject to the respective manufacturer’s terms. If by reason of a printing or other error, more prizes are claimed than the number set forth in these rules, all persons making purportedly valid claims will be included in a random drawing to award the advertised number of Awards available in the Award category in question. No more than the advertised number of Awards will be awarded. You further understand and agree that all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of California (“Section 1542”) and any similar law of any state or territory of the United States that may be applicable with respect to the foregoing release are hereby expressly and forever waived. You acknowledge that Section 1542 provides that: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.” The releases hereunder are intended to apply to all claims not known or suspected to exist with the intent of waiving the effect of laws requiring the intent to release future unknown claims.

12. Disputes/Governing Law
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these rules, or the rights and obligations of any entrant or the Promotion Entities in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions which would cause the application or the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Florida. Any action or litigation concerning this Agreement shall take place exclusively in the federal or state courts sitting in Lee County, Florida, and you expressly consent to the jurisdiction of and venue in such courts and waive all defenses of lack of jurisdiction and inconvenient forum with respect to such courts. Any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Conest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. You agree to service of process by mail or other method acceptable under the laws of the State of New Jersey. 

ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND/OR AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERING THIS CONTEST. YOU HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS OR CLAIMS TO ATTORNEY’S FEES, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ENTRANT, IDENTIFIABLE PERSONS, OR THIRD PARTY PARTICIPANTS, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR NOT AND WHETHER BASED ON NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE.

13. Severability
If any provision of these Official Rules shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and the Sponsor’s fundamental intentions hereunder, and the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired, provided, however, that in such cases the parties oblige themselves to use their best efforts to achieve the purpose of the invalid provision by a new legally valid stipulation

14. Questions and winner information
For questions about the program or to request the Prize Winners’ names after selection is complete, contact info@skilledtradesadvisorycouncil.com.