CODEHOUSE SCHOLARS INITIATIVE
Terms and Conditions of Participation
BACKGROUND:
The technology sector suffers from a lack of diversity, specifically regarding race and gender, where women, Black, Latinx, and Native American individuals remain severely underrepresented. In part, this is a pipeline issue. Students of color are not being exposed to these highly paid and impactful careers early enough. Those who are do not always have the necessary support to succeed in the field. The CodeHouse Scholars Initiative (the “Program”) is designed to address this issue by mentoring and preparing college students of color for a career in the tech industry. The CodeHouse Scholars Initiative continues to support young diverse high school seniors as they aspire to reach their educational goals.
This agreement applies to all Codehouse Scholars and those 18 and over. It also applies to the parents and/or legal guardians of individuals (Scholars) who are at least 16, but have not yet reached 18 years of age, who are legally permitted to agree on said Recipient’s behalf. The minimum participant age is 16. By submitting a Program Application and participating in the Program, you, or parent or guardian for those under 18, agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) and by the decisions of CodeHouse (“CodeHouse”), which are final and binding in all matters involving and relating to the Program. If you do not agree, please do not participate in the Program. By participating in the Program, you agree to the Terms.
ELIGIBILITY:
No purchase or payment is necessary to apply for this program. To be considered for this program, you must:
be an enrolled and matriculating high school senior scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2023;
have accepted an offer of enrollment to attend Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Morehouse College, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, or Spelman College (“Eligible School”);
have demonstrated financial and unmet need as measured by your college or university;
have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or equivalent;
show evidence of readiness for and commitment to pursue a major or minor in computer science (as also evidenced by enrollment and successful completion of such required computer science classes during your freshman year in college);
show evidence of academic ambition, leadership, service, and interest in the technology sector;
identify as Black/African American, Latinx, or Native American;
must be a legal resident of the 50 U.S. states, D.C., or any U.S. territory; and \
must be at least the age of 16 to apply. If you are under the age of 18, you must have the consent of a parent or guardian to apply (and accept this scholarship).
Applicants who are immediate relatives or affiliated with Program sponsors and partners, or CodeHouse (including any of their respective employees, officers, directors, affiliates, subsidiaries, respective promotion entities, and/or family/household members of any of the foregoing) are not eligible to participate in the Program. This offer is void where prohibited and subject to all applicable federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations.
RECIPIENT REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants who receive the Program award (“Recipients”) are expected to comply with the requirements below (collectively, “Recipient Requirements”):
commit to participate in the mandatory four week Summer Bridge Program July 2023 (on campus at Morehouse College – Atlanta, Georgia);
participate in all Program-related activities throughout the academic year;
work collaboratively with his/her/their assigned mentors, timely complete all assigned modules, and provide mentorship to mentees assigned through the Program in subsequent years;
remain in good academic standing (3.0 GPA and above);
maintain no disciplinary infractions on his/her/their academic and/or student record;
remain in compliance with his/her/their respective school’s code of conduct or ethics (or such similar rules or regulations of his/her/their respective school);
provide supporting documentation requested, including during the financial need and eligibility verification process: and
support the CodeHouse mission “to expose students of color to tech” by fully taking advantage of every opportunity to learn, develop, and foster relationships with other individuals in the field, including—but not limited to—mentors, classmates, and colleagues.
At all times you are expected and required to be a model, moral, ethical and positive exemplar of a promising and future leader.
If you are unable and/or unwilling to commit to the Recipient Requirements, you are not eligible for this scholarship and Program. Continued receipt of the scholarship is contingent upon fulfilling the Recipient Requirements.
SCHOLARSHIP MORALITY CLAUSE:
All Recipients are subject to this morality clause. Recipients are to remain in good standing at their chosen institutions. Recipients are to refrain from any serious act of misconduct including—but not limited to—an act of dishonesty, theft, or misappropriation of college property, moral turpitude, insubordination, or any act injuring, abusing, or endangering others. Recipients also must not commit any act or do anything which might tend to bring himself/herself, the respective higher education institution of attendance, or the CodeHouse Program into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule. Failure to comply with this morality clause and any other provisions set forth in this document could result in prompt termination from the Program.
SPONSORSHIP:
The Program is sponsored by CodeHouse. The Program is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Morehouse College, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, or Spelman College. Please direct all questions or concerns related to the Program to CodeHouse.
HOW TO ENTER:
To participate, you must complete the Program Application at [https://codehouse.submittable.com/submit], and submit a series of short essay questions, 2 letters of recommendation, an official transcript, a letter of acceptance to an Eligible School, a video response, a recent photo, and answer a few background questions (collectively, “Application”). Incomplete applications will not be considered. One (1) Application per person. Duplicate applications will not be considered.
HONOR CODE:
By submitting an Application, you represent and warrant that the Application materials submitted are true, your own original work, not plagiarized, and that the Application materials do not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy. Although information that you provide may be verified, CodeHouse is not under any obligation to verify any of the information that you provide, and you hereby warrant that all information that you provide in your application and otherwise in connection with the scholarship and Program is complete and accurate.
DEADLINE:
The application process will be open beginning on or about Monday, April 3, 2023 at 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time. Completed applications must be received no later than Sunday April 16, 2023 by 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time to be eligible. CodeHouse’s computer is the official timekeeping device for this Program, and the awarding of the Program award is subject to the eligibility and forfeiture provisions set forth herein. The dates and times set forth herein are subject to change at the sole discretion of CodeHouse. In the event of any change, a notice of the revised date or time will be posted on the CodeHouse website at https://www.thecodehouse.org.
PRIVACY POLICY:
You and CodeHouse each agree that information obtained under these Terms is governed by the CodeHouse Privacy Policy (https://www.thecodehouse.org/privacy-policy).
SELECTION OF PROGRAM RECIPIENTS:
A panel of judges composed of CodeHouse representatives and Program sponsors will evaluate the applications and select up to 30 Recipients. The Recipients will be notified by CodeHouse on or about Sunday, April 30, 2023 via e-mail. Applications will be judged using the following approximated percentages and criteria: Application materials, including responsiveness to essay prompts (20%), video response (10%), academic performance (7.5%), leadership (20%), letters of recommendation (10%), community engagement (15%), overcoming hardship (2.5%), and commitment to service (15%). Please note that the foregoing percentages are not to be construed as exact, but only used for a very general overall guide. CodeHouse and its selection judges have the absolute final say in the selection process and judging.
RECIPIENT BENEFITS:
Recipients will be invited to participate in the Program and be eligible for up to $20,000 in scholarship funding, which will be distributed as follows: following confirmation of eligibility and acceptance, each Recipient will receive (up to) a $20,000 scholarship to be distributed in eight increments of $2,500 per academic semester for four years, paid directly to the Recipient’s academic institution, and all subject to the Recipient continuing to meet the Recipient Requirements.
All details related to the Program shall be within the sole discretion of CodeHouse. Scholarships must be used for the benefit of the Recipient’s education to cover, e.g., any unmet tuition, room, or board costs. Scholarships are not assignable, not transferable, and may not be substituted. Recipients are solely responsible for any federal, state, and/or local taxes resulting from the Program. CodeHouse is not providing any tax or accounting advice. Applicants are advised to consult independent advisors as to the tax consequences of receiving a Program award.
CodeHouse has no obligation to deduct or cause to be deducted or withheld from the Program any taxes, withholdings, or other amounts. Improper use of scholarship funds, as determined by CodeHouse in its sole discretion, may result in a breach of contract and CodeHouse may request a return of the funds awarded. Scholarship Recipients may be required to submit documentation or other proof in response to a request on behalf of CodeHouse to confirm the appropriate use of the funds.
CodeHouse will not be liable under any circumstances for any lapse or late payment or fees with respect to a Recipient’s tuition/fees or student loans. If a potential Recipient declines or forfeits the scholarship or is determined by CodeHouse to be ineligible or non-compliant under these Terms, an alternate Recipient may be selected and substituted at CodeHouse’s discretion.
NOTIFICATION, RECIPIENTS, AND DISQUALIFICATION:
A list of Recipients may be requested at contact@thecodehouse.org after all Recipients have been notified. At the sole discretion of CodeHouse, disqualification and the selection of an alternate Recipient may result from any of the following, without limitation: (i) a potential Recipient’s failure to respond to email notification within seventy-two (72) hours after its transmission; (ii) the return of an email notification as undeliverable after two (2) attempts; (iii) a potential Recipient’s failure to provide CodeHouse with satisfactory proof of eligibility and any other information requested by CodeHouse; (iv) a potential Recipient’s failure to execute and return by email or fax all CodeHouse-requested documents including without limitation, if requested by CodeHouse, an affidavit/grant of rights/release of liability/publicity release (“Affidavit“) within five (5) business days after transmission; and/or (v) any other non-compliance with these Terms. In the event of a disqualification or Program forfeiture, the CodeHouse may, in its sole discretion, select or not select an alternate Recipient, and award or not award the forfeited (or disqualified) Program award.
PUBLICITY:
Except where prohibited by law, by accepting a scholarship, the Recipient consents to permitting CodeHouse and its respective affiliates, sponsors, partners, parent company and/or subsidiaries, to use the scholarship Recipient’s likenesses, images, photographs, Application materials, including video and/or audio submissions, and statements (whether oral or written) (collectively, “Materials”) for advertising and publicity purposes in any and all media worldwide (including Program Recipients lists) without additional compensation or notification.
COPYRIGHT:
Recipient (participant) acknowledges and agrees that CodeHouse owns the copyright (and any other such related rights) in and to the Materials, which CodeHouse may reproduce, distribute, transmit, broadcast, adapt, publicly perform, publicly display and otherwise use worldwide, in any form or format now known (including, without limitation, on television, websites, and social media) or yet to be developed and for any purpose (including, without limitation, publicity, promotion, and advertising). Recipient further acknowledges that CodeHouse may modify, alter, reproduce in any media, and use the Materials, in whole or in part, without restriction, for any purposes whatsoever, and forever, without prior approval by the Recipient. The Recipient understands that CodeHouse will not provide nor be required to provide the participant with the opportunity to pre-approve the use of any Materials prior to their use. The Recipient hereby irrevocably releases CodeHouse and its affiliates, sponsors, partners, employees, members, officers, agents, licensees, successors and assigns, from and against any liability whatsoever in connection with or related to the reproduction, distribution, transmission, broadcast, publication, public display, public performance, adaptation, modification, or any other use of the Materials, including, without limitation, claims under copyright law or any other federal or state law, including laws relating to the right to privacy or the right of publicity.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:
By participating, participants release CodeHouse and its respective affiliates; sponsors; partners; parent and subsidiary companies and their respective employees, agents and officers, judges; advertising and promotion agencies; all individuals and entities associated with the development and execution of the Program; and Eligible Schools (collectively, the “Released Parties”), from and against any and all liability for any loss, harm, damages, cost or expense arising out of participation in the Program, or participating in any Program-related activity or the acceptance, use or misuse of any scholarship, including without limitation costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation, or portrayal in a false light, or from any and all claims of third parties arising there from, and with respect to or in any way arising from the Program, the scholarship, or in any activities related to the Program and/or the scholarship. CodeHouse reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any organization or participant, at any time during the Program, that engages in conduct that is obnoxious, threatening, or illegal, or that could undermine the legitimate operation of the Program.
CONDITIONS:
By entering this Program, applying for a Program award, and/or accepting a Program award, you agree that:
you have all rights, permissions, and consents necessary to grant the rights to CodeHouse as expressed herein;
you will abide by and be bound by these Terms and all other decisions of CodeHouse, which are final and binding;
THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose);
a Recipient’s acceptance of a Program award constitutes the grant to CodeHouse and assigns an unconditional right to use Recipient’s name, address (city and state), voice, likeness, image, photograph, biographical and application information and/or statements to and about the Program for any programming, publicity, advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law;
in the event of viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, pandemic, Acts of God, acts or regulations of any governmental or supranational authority, war, national emergency, pandemic, accident, fire, riot, strikes, lock-outs, industrial disputes, acts of terrorism or other matters beyond the reasonable control of CodeHouse and in the event that these acts corrupt, prevent, or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Program so that it cannot be conducted as originally planned, except where prohibited by law, CodeHouse has the right, in its sole discretion, to modify the Terms or to cancel, modify, terminate, or suspend the Program. In such event, CodeHouse has the right to select any potential Recipient by such method as CodeHouse in its sole discretion shall consider equitable;
CodeHouse is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of this Program—including, but not limited to: human error, errors in the advertising, Terms and selection and announcement of the Recipients;
any portion of a Program award not accepted or used by any Recipient will be forfeited;
CodeHouse has the right, at any time and at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual per the “Selection of Program Recipients” section above (along with any other applicable provisions herein); and
CodeHouse has the right to modify any Program award procedures or to terminate the Program at its sole discretion.
SCHOLARSHIP ACCEPTANCE / PUBLICITY & LIABILITY DECLARATION & RELEASE:
Participants hereby state and certify that all of the information provided by the Recipient (including all application materials) and listed in this Scholarship Acceptance / Publicity & Liability Declaration & Release (“Release”) is true and correct and that the participant agrees to this Release with the understanding that it will be relied upon to determine whether the Recipient is entitled to receive the scholarship set forth above which he/she has been selected to receive as a result of his/her/their participation in the Program.
By accepting a Program Award, in addition to anything elsewhere in this agreement, you also agree and/or accept or confirm the following:
a) You are the Recipient. You are at least 18 years of age at the time of signing this document. Or, you are the parent and/or legal guardian of the Recipient named above who is at least 16 but not yet 18 years of age, and you are legally permitted to enter into this agreement on said Recipient’s behalf.
The recipient is a legal citizen or resident of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, or any U.S. territory.
Neither you nor your child is an employee of, or immediate family or household member of, or Sponsor of any of its related companies, parents, subsidiaries, or affiliates.
You represent that you have not perpetrated any fraud or deception in participating in the Program or in claiming the scholarship. Or, you represent that your child has not perpetrated any fraud or deception in participating in the Program or in claiming the scholarship. Furthermore, you agree to return to the Sponsor of the Program, which may be awarded to the recipient named above, if any statement made in this Release (or in obtaining the scholarship) is false or materially incorrect.
You understand and acknowledge that all details of Program delivery and fulfillment, including method(s) to receive the scholarship, timing, and number of scholarship(s), are subject to Sponsor’s sole discretion.
You understand that if you/your child meet/meets eligibility requirements and are/is deemed a Recipient, you/your child are/is entitled to receive only the benefits of the Program as they are described herein. You understand and acknowledge that the Sponsor has no obligation to award any fees, costs, or items outside of the scholarship that is described above.
You understand and acknowledge that the Program will be awarded for the benefit of Recipient.
You understand and acknowledge that the Program is nontransferable.
You acknowledge and agree that you/your child are/is responsible for any taxes or other expenses that may become due if we accept the Program.
You hereby grant to the Sponsor (CodeHouse) the absolute right and permission for Sponsor and Sponsor’s designees to use scholarship Recipient’s name, city, state, likeness, images, photo, entry, scholarship application materials, including video submissions, and statements (whether oral, digital, video or written) and/or scholarship information (“Personal Rights”) in connection with the scholarship and Summer Bridge Program (and all such future CodeHouse related events, activities and programs) for promotional, advertising or other purposes, worldwide, in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, including the Internet, without limitation and without further payment, notification, permission or other consideration, except where prohibited by law. You shall have no right of approval, no claim to any compensation, and no claim arising out of the use, alteration, distortion or illusionary effect or use in any composite form of Personal Rights.
You understand and acknowledge and hereby waive and release any and all rights, demands, losses, liabilities, claims and causes of action whatsoever which we may now or hereafter be entitled to assert against Sponsor and its respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and scholarship suppliers, and each of such companies’ officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the scholarship or receipt or use or misuse of the scholarship. You further understand that you may be required to sign further documentation to claim the scholarship.
It is understood and agreed that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all claims and rights of the undersigned against the Released Parties and that no action will be taken by or on behalf of the undersigned with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, and administrators of the undersigned.
You hereby certify that you have read and understand all the foregoing provisions (including the Terms) of this Release and agree to be bound by them.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND GOVERNING LAW:
Except where prohibited, all applicants and scholarship Recipients agree that in the event of any controversy, claim, action, or dispute arising out of or related to this Program, any related award, or the breach, enforcement, interpretation, or validity of these Terms or any part of it (“Dispute”), both parties shall first try in good faith to settle such Dispute by providing written notice to the other party describing the facts and circumstances of the Dispute and allowing the receiving party thirty (30) days in which to respond to or settle the Dispute.
Notice shall be sent:
to CodeHouse at: CodeHouse, 949 Oak St. S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30310; or
to you at: the contact information on file with CodeHouse.
Both you and CodeHouse agree that this dispute resolution procedure is a condition precedent that must be satisfied before initiating any litigation or filing any claim against the other party.
IF ANY DISPUTE CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY THE ABOVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE, YOU AGREE THAT THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR SUCH DISPUTE WILL BE DECIDED BY BINDING ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE, AND YOU WAIVE, THE RIGHT FOR A JUDGE OR JURY TO DECIDE YOUR CLAIMS, AND THAT YOU MAY NOT PROCEED IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY. Other rights that you and we would have in court will not be available or will be more limited in arbitration, including discovery and appeal rights. All such Disputes shall be exclusively submitted to JAMS (www.jamsadr.com) for binding arbitration under its rules then in effect, before one arbitrator to be mutually agreed upon by both parties.
The arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute arising under or relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of these Terms, including any claim that all or any part of this Program or these Terms is void or voidable.
In no event are any damages – direct, consequential or otherwise, including any fees and or costs – to exceed the maximum scholarship amount ($20,000), or any remaining scholarship balance, whichever is less.
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Terms, or the rights and obligations of the applicant, or CodeHouse in connection with the Program, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Georgia. The Program is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and is void where prohibited.
The headings under these Terms are meant to assist in legibility and not necessarily encompassing all provisions of any topic, issue or requirement.
© Copyright CodeHouse 2023 - All Rights Reserved [CodeHouse is a 501(c)(3) Organization EIN 84-2963319]
Last Updated: March 26, 2023