What are the rules?

  • Public schools (including public charter and public alternative schools) in the United States that educate students in grades 9 through 12, ages 13 and older, are eligible to participate and receive project awards for Project Ignition. Void where prohibited by law.
  • Students must have a teacher/advisor and school permission to participate in this project.
  • The Student Waiver Form must be signed by each student participating in Project Ignition. Each form must have a valid parent/guardian signature before the project begins. The teacher or advisor working with the group should keep one copy and one copy should be faxed prior to check presentation to Project Coordinator Michael VanKeulen , along with a list of participating students' names. Failure to submit completed forms by Oct. 1 may result in disqualification.
  • Grantees must agree to receive the $2,000 grant check in early September, and agree to complete and implement the project by Dec. 11, 2009. The final project must be received in NYLC offices no later than Dec. 18, 2009. (Again: Projects must be COMPLETED by Dec. 11 and RECEIVED no later than Dec. 18.)            
  • Grantees agree to allow State Farm® and NYLC to make a formal presentation of the check to the school in early September, and also to contact the local media in your market to inform them of your selection.
  • All projects must contain acknowledgement of State Farm as the funder for the project, either in print or as a voiceover using the phrase: "Funding for this project has been provided by State Farm and coordinated by NYLC." The State Farm and NYLC logo must be a part of any print program elements.
  • Entrants must be the sole author and copyright owner of entry, or entrant must have permission (via license or otherwise) to use or incorporate those entry portions authored or owned by third parties. Use of images, music, and other works in the public domain may be incorporated into entries; however, materials that infringe on the rights of any third party may not be used. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, or unintelligible entries. Incomplete or illegible entries are not eligible.
  • Any student under age 18 who appears in print or video must have written parental permission. A release form will be provided for you if you do not have an existing format.
  • In addition, entrant and school/organization must grant to Sponsor a nonexclusive license to copy, reproduce, display, or distribute the entry, and to make derivative works based upon the entry or a substantial portion of the entry without attribution or prior permission.
  • Entrant must present their project to another school in their community and provide proof of said presentation in their final materials.
  • No matter what the project is, it must stay in line with the following creative criteria: No sexual content, violence, or profanity. No positive representations or references to underage drinking or illegal drug usage.
  • Grantee agrees to allow NYLC/State Farm to list school name, project name, and completed project description on sfprojectignition.com.

If grantee doesn’t follow above criteria and rules, the Project Ignition management team of State Farm and NYLC reserve the right to withhold or revoke the grant monies.
Project Ignition participant’s final project must meet the following requirements. Projects must be received in the NYLC offices NO LATER THAN Dec. 18, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. CST and.  Please note: Materials arriving later than this time will not be entered into the Top 10 Competition. No exceptions.

  • Feasibility: The idea is feasible to implement, given the timing and budget parameters. (10%)
  • Overall Impact of Project (measurable results): Demonstrates ability to educate and impact real change among the target audience and the community. This section also takes into account the reach of the project. (25%)
  • Learning Objectives: Meets clear learning objectives and is effectively integrated into the curriculum. (25%)
  • Content of Message: Shows good insight and clarity of execution. Shows that the communication is clear, concise, relevant, and delivered in an effective manner. (20%)
  • Originality: Project is innovative in idea and execution, and memorable in its presentation or message. (20%)

All decisions by the judges are final. NYLC and State Farm reserve the right to disqualify and remove from participation any entry that is, in the judging panel’s discretion, inappropriate, offensive, defamatory, or demeaning to the reputation or goodwill of NYLC or State Farm.

In January 2010, up to 10 finalists will be notified and will receive an award of up to $5,000 for travel to The National Service-Learning Conference in San Jose, Calif., March 24 - 27.

 At the Conference, the projects will be presented to an audience of peers and a single Best of the Best award of $10,000 will be given to a selected school.
Agreement to and Acceptance of these Official Rules

PROJECT IGNITION 2009-2010 COMMENCES AT 12:01 A.M. PDT ON SEPT. 1, 2009. PROJECT IS SPONSORED AND COORDINATED BY THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, A NONPROFIT HEADQUARTERED AT 1667 SNELLING AVENUE NORTH, ST. PAUL, MINN., 55108  WWW.NYLC.ORG AND STATE FARM INSURANCE, HEADQUARTERED IN BLOOMINGTON, ILL.  WWW.STATEFARM.COM.

Privacy Policy

Project Ignition treats all contact information as private and confidential.
We will not provide the information we collect to any other organization except Project Ignition.