Submit Entry

The purpose of the Images of Aging Photo Contest is to give students the opportunity to find beauty in aging and to build relationships with older adults! 

Please read the full Photo Contest Rules below, then submit your entries for the 2024-2025 Images of Aging Photo Contest using this Google Form:

Images of Aging 2024-2025 Submission Form

Remember that a Model Release form is required for each individual pictured.

Deadline to submit an entry is February 21, 2025.

Photo Contest Rules

Updated October 2024

SPONSORS

Pruett Gerontology Center, Abilene Christian University, located in the Sherrod Building, Room 129, ACU Box 27793, Abilene, Texas  79699.

TERM

The 2024-2025 Photography Contest “Images of Aging” begins October 7, 2024 and ends February 21, 2025. By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and warrants that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules. This is a skilled-based contest and chance plays no part in the determination of winners.

WHO MAY ENTER

Students of Abilene Christian University who are actively enrolled during the 2024-2025 school year are eligible to participate.  Faculty, staff, and the general public are not eligible.

WHAT TO ENTER

The theme of the contest is “Images of Aging”.  Photographs must include at least one person 60 years old or older.   Only photographs taken by the student who submits the photo are eligible. Students may submit one photograph per category.

The categories are:
Black and White  –  black and white photos may be submitted as taken or digitally enhanced
Color  –  color photos may be submitted as taken or digitally enhanced

HOW TO ENTER

Photographs must be in digital format.  Only online entries will be eligible.  No print or film submissions will be accepted for entry into this Contest. The photograph need not be taken with a digital camera; high-quality scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographic prints are acceptable. Digital photographs should be taken with the highest resolution possible; however, files submitted may not be larger than 1 GB.  Photographs must be in a .jpeg, .jpg or .png format.

If an eligible student wants to participate but does not have access to a camera or needs technical assistance, they are encouraged to contact The Learning Studio for help or for a ‘check-out’ camera.

Entrants must use the provided Google Form to submit entries and fill in every field. Entrants will use their own ACU email user ID to submit their photographs.  (This determines who receives credit as the photographer.)  A Model Release Form must be included with each submission, and each person photographed must sign a model release. Any questions about the Google Form or issues submitting via the Google Form should be directed to Pruett Gerontology Center via email: gero@acu.edu or by calling 325-674-2350.

The photograph, in its entirety, must be a single work of original material taken by the Contest entrant.  By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, and warrants that the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by the entrant, that the photograph does not infringe the rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the photograph.  Entries are void if the Sponsor determines the photograph not to be an original, or for any other reason Sponsor deems valid including, but not limited to, objectionable or inappropriate content.

The entries in each Category will be judged separately.  Proof of submission is not proof of receipt. Pruett Gerontology Center and Abilene Christian University reserve the right to display winning and non-winning photos and use all photos submitted in any way deemed appropriate to sponsors at no cost and without any additional permission from entrant.  Entrants retain all other rights to their own photographs.

RELEASES

If the photograph contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the photograph, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the photograph, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the photograph in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any person appearing in any photograph is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.

All releases must be submitted using the Images of Aging 2024-2025 Submission Form Google Form when entering their photo into the contest. All releases must be in the form provided by Sponsor. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification at any time during the Contest.
Similarly, upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must provide within two (2) calendar days, but no later than the last day of the contest, a signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork, or other copyrighted material that appears in the photograph entry, authorizing any Authorized Party to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the entry in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest, in any media now or hereafter known. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

LICENSE
By entering the Contest, all entrants grant an irrevocable perpetual, non exclusive license to Authorized Parties, to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest, in any media now or hereafter known, including, but not limited to: display at Pruett Gerontology Center, conferences, or any other location deemed suitable by Sponsors; publication in any print or online media associated with Abilene Christian University and/or the Sponsors.  Entrants consent to the Sponsors doing or omitting to do any act that would otherwise infringe the entrant’s “moral rights” in their entries. Display or publication of any entry on an Authorized Party’s website does not indicate the entrant will be selected as a winner. Authorized Parties will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use.  Additionally, by entering, each entrant grants to Authorized Parties the unrestricted right to use all statements made in connection with the Contest, and pictures or likenesses of Contest entrants, or choose not to do so, at their sole discretion.  Authorized Parties will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use.

CONTEST WINNERS

A First Place and Second Place acknowledgement will be awarded in each category. Honorable mentions will be named at the judges’ sole discretion.

JUDGING

A panel of judges selected by the Sponsors will determine the winners.  All winning photographs will be featured online, as well as in other publications and events as deemed appropriate by Sponsors. Pruett Gerontology Center will select photographs to be displayed at the Center’s location.

All winners will be announced and photos will be displayed on the Pruett Gerontology Center website.

Sponsors reserve the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion.  All decisions made will be final.

DATA PRIVACY

Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and address, may be processed, shared, and otherwise used for the purpose and within the context of the Contest and any other purpose outlined in these Official Rules.  The data may also be used by Sponsors to verify the participant’s identity, postal address and telephone number or to otherwise verify the participant’s eligibility to participate in the Contest.  Participants have the right to access, review, rectify or cancel any personal information held by PGC in writing to Pruett Gerontology Center, ACU Box 27793, Abilene, Texas  79699.  Personal data will be used by Sponsors exclusively for the purpose of this contest.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By entering this Contest, all entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless Abilene Christian University and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest or any Contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any voucher awarded hereunder.

Abilene Christian University assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to Contest entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms.  ACU is not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrants’ or any other persons’ computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading or downloading of any materials related to in this Contest.

By entering, entrants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the Contest; and (c) if the entrant wins that Sponsor may use the winning photographs and each winner’s name, photograph, likeness, and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Contest or future promotions without compensation or approval (except where prohibited by law). All federal, state/provincial/territorial, and local taxes, fees and surcharges and taxes (whether foreign or domestic, and including income, sales, and import taxes) on vouchers are the sole responsibility of the winners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any voucher is/are ineligible, cannot be traced or does/do not respond within ten (10) days to a winner notification as required by the “Contest Acknowledgement” Rules above, or refuses the voucher, the voucher will be forfeited and Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may choose whether to award the voucher to another entrant.