american institute of cpas 220 leigh farm road · you have to do is gather your team, grab your...

American Institute of CPAs 220 Leigh Farm Road Durham, NC 27707-8110

Dear Students and Educators, Welcome! We are excited to have your participation in the Project Innovation: Start Here, Go Places.® Competition of Creative Excellence. We’re looking for ideas and new features for our website, and we want them to come from you. Our goal is to find that one creative and original idea that will make startheregoplaces.com an even more helpful destination for students to explore the endless possibilities that a career in accounting can lead to. The top three teams will receive a valuable scholarship and funds for their school. Plus, they'll see their idea become a real feature on startheregoplaces.com. Sound good? All you have to do is gather your team, grab your faculty advisor and get those creative juices flowing. But there are a few things to keep in mind as you get started. • Teams must consist of 2–4 students who are between the ages of 15–19. • All teams must have an accounting or business teacher or guidance counselor serve

as their faculty advisor (but don’t worry, advisors can sponsor more than one team). • Teams must submit their entry (idea and supporting visual) by February 6, 2012. • Once submitted, teams also need to be sure to mail all required documents back to

the AICPA so they are received by February 8, 2012 in order to be eligible. This includes parental consent forms as well as a faculty advisor affidavit (only one affidavit required per teacher — even if you’re sponsoring more than one team).

To help you get started, we have included some key items in this packet, including a quick-glance timeline of key dates, the competition Official Rules, parental consent form (be sure to fill out one for each team member) and a faculty advisor affidavit. Good Luck! We look forward to seeing what you have in mind for our site. Regards, Heather L. Bunning Senior Manager, High School & Community College Initiatives American Institute of CPAs

Project Innovation: The Start Here, Go Places.® Competition of Creative Excellence

Key Dates and Checklist

January 18: Competition Opens Have you reviewed the Official Rules to make sure you meet all the eligibility

requirements? Have you formed your team? Have you found a teacher to sponsor your team? Have you gone online and requested your entry packet or downloaded the

necessary forms? Have you had all the required forms signed? Have you mailed back the signed forms to AICPA?

February 6: First Round Entry Submission Closes (11:59pm EST) Have you submitted your idea and supporting visual online and received a

confirmation message? February 23: Finalists Notified Through Faculty Advisor

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The Project Innovation: The Start Here, Go Places.® Competition of Creative

Excellence (“Competition”)

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT

IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Entry for this Competition may only be made in or from the 50 United States, the

District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American

Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and entries originating from any other

jurisdiction are not eligible. This Competition is governed exclusively by the laws of

the United States. You are not authorized to participate in the Competition if you

are not a legal resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands. You

must be at least fifteen (15) years old, but have not yet reached twenty (20) years of

age as of 12:00 a.m. ET on January 18, 2012, and be enrolled as a full-time student

at a high school within the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands to be

eligible to enter. All minors must obtain their parent or legal guardian’s written

consent to be (1) eligible to participate and (2) eligible to win a prize in this

Competition.

1. How to Enter. Form a team of 2–4 students, each of whom meets the eligibility

requirements, and one Faculty Advisor (see ―Faculty Advisor section‖ below). During the

Competition Period (defined in Rule 2 below), visit the Start Here, Go Places. website at

www.startheregoplaces.com (―Website‖); review and agree to these Official Rules; and

(i) follow the online data entry instructions requiring your team to enter complete and

accurate information on all documentation provided and truthfully acknowledge that each

member of the team meets all eligibility requirements as outlined, (ii) agree that you and

your team will abide by the Official Rules of the Competition throughout the course of

the Competition and (iii) complete and submit the online entry form. A complete entry

must include the following items for each team member: student’s name, high school in

which the team member is enrolled at time of entry, email address, mailing address, birth

date, Faculty Advisor’s telephone number, email and mailing address, as well as one

release form per student signed by the student (and, if student is a minor in his/her home

state, signed by the student’s parent or legal guardian). All documentation is to be

submitted to the AICPA by the team’s Faculty Advisor on or before the appropriate entry

deadline. Team entries will not be qualified for the Competition—and participants will

not be eligible to compete in any round of the Competition or have an opportunity to

win—until all signed release forms and entry materials are received for the entire student

team. Team will be disqualified if any student on the team fails to submit necessary

Competition documentation (signed release form and entry materials) by the submission

deadline, 11:59 p.m. ET on February 6, 2012. No team member changes or substitutions

will be allowed after the uploading of the first round submissions, and any changes or

substitutions after uploading the first round submission will result in disqualification of

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the entire team. Team members must attend the school identified in the first round

submission for the duration of Competition to be eligible to compete and, if any team

member ceases to be enrolled in the school identified in the submission, the entire team is

disqualified. As the point of contact for the team, the Faculty Advisor will receive an

email notification and notification through their Start Here, Go Places. Educators’ Portal

Profile once their sponsored team’s entry is qualified. Faculty Advisor must be a member

of the Start Here, Go Places. Educators’ Portal and provide their User ID / login name on

the team entry form along with the other contact information noted above. Educators’

Portal Profile may be created at no charge through the Website. (No cost is associated

with Faculty Advisor creating an Educators’ Portal Profile.) Eligible teams are challenged

to think creatively and develop the next (educational) feature for the

Startheregoplaces.com website. Each team’s submission shall include a summary of their

proposed idea in 500 words or less that describes the idea and explains why their

proposal is the best way (as measured by the judging criteria below) to engage students

through the Start Here, Go Places. website (the ―Description‖). The submission should

also include a supporting visual component that showcases/describes the idea (the

―Visual‖). The Visual can be submitted in any of the following formats: .jpg, .bmp, .doc,

.ppt, or .pdf. All files must be 4MB or less. (The Description and Visual collectively shall

be referred to as the ―Entry,‖ and the Entry with all entry information collectively shall be

referred to as the ―Submission.‖) All Descriptions submitted must be entered into the

entry form and must be in the English language limited to no more than 500 words, and

must conform with any online instructions on the entry form page as set out above.

Objectives of the Competition: Help the Sponsor spread the message about the vital role a

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) plays in our economy and encourage teenagers and

young adults (the primary target audience) to consider a career as a CPA. Sponsor

reserves the right to cancel or modify this Competition at its sole discretion in the event

the Sponsor determines that an insufficient number of Entries are received that meet the

minimum judging criteria.

By participating, each entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to

their Entry: (a) the entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Entry; (b) the

Entry is entrant’s own creation and is 100% original; (c) the Entry will not infringe

on any rights of any third parties; (d) any third party whose name or property

appears in the Entry has given entrant appropriate written consent (which in turn

requires parental consent if the third party is also a minor and which shall be

provided to Sponsor upon request thereof) for such person or property to be

included and used as permitted herein; (e) the Entry (or any part thereof) has not

been entered in or won previous competitions, whether or not sponsored by

Sponsor; and (f) the Entry (or any part thereof) has not been published previously

in any medium (collectively, the “Entrant Warranties”). The Entry (and all parts

thereof) must be suitable for display and publication online or through other

mediums (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent, including, but not limited to, nudity

or profanity); it must not contain obscene or pornographic material; it must not

contain defamatory or offensive statements or images (including but not limited to

words or symbols that are considered offensive to individuals of a certain race,

ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic group); it must not include

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threats to any person, place, business, group or world peace; it must not in any

other way violate applicable laws, regulations or any media’s advertising standards.

In addition, by participating each entrant agrees to be bound by the terms set out in

these Official Rules.

By entering this Competition and uploading the team Entry, including Description and

Visual, each member of the Entrant Team and Faculty Advisor agrees that: (1) all

members of the team irrevocably assign and transfer to the Sponsor any and all rights,

title and interest in and to the Entry, including, without limitation, all copyrights, and

waive all moral rights therein; (2) Sponsor’s ownership rights in and to the Entry,

including Description and Visual, shall include for Sponsor and its agents the

unconditional and perpetual right to post, display, publish, use, adapt, edit, translate,

modify and/or otherwise exploit such Description and Visual in any way, in any and all

media, for any purpose, without limitation, and without further consideration to entrant,

worldwide and in perpetuity; (3) all members of the team shall execute any

documentation Sponsor deems necessary to effectuate each such assignment of

ownership to Sponsor. All members of the team and Faculty Advisor further agree to

release and indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor and Competition Entities (as

defined below) from any and all claims that any commercial, advertising, presentation,

Web content, mobile or any other material subsequently produced, presented, and/or

prepared by or on behalf of Sponsor infringes on the rights of entrant’s work as contained

in any Entry.

Each member of the team must have a valid email address, and all email addresses must

be included on the entry form. Limit one (1) Submission per team/email address. Each

entrant may be listed/participate on one team only. This does not apply to Faculty

Advisors. Faculty Advisors may participate with multiple teams. No automated entry

devices and/or programs permitted. All Submissions, including the Entry, become the

sole and exclusive property of the Sponsor and receipt of Submission, or any part thereof,

will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible,

stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled

entries, which will be disqualified, or for entry or submission problems of any kind

whether mechanical, human or electronic. Only fully completed Submissions are eligible.

Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.

Faculty Advisor: Each team must have one Faculty Advisor. Faculty Advisor must be an

accounting or business teacher or guidance counselor at the high school attended by his

or her team and must agree to sponsor the team. This Faculty Advisor can help guide or

give feedback on responses, but he or she may not provide any of the final deliverable

work included in any Submission. This Faculty Advisor specifically waives all of his or

her rights to ownership to each and all Submissions and every part thereof and shall not

restrict use of any of the guidance or feedback provided in connection with this

Competition including, but not limited to, any Submission. A Faculty Advisor can advise

more than one team. By participating as a Faculty Advisor, you agree to all the terms and

conditions set forth in these Official Rules. Faculty Advisors are not team members and

are not eligible for any prize.

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2. Start/End Dates: The Competition begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on January 18, 2012,

and the first round submission period ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 6, 2012

(―Competition Period‖). Submissions must be made during the Competition Period. First

round judging to select Finalists takes place between 12:00 a.m. ET on February 10,

2012, and 10:00 a.m. ET on February 20. Finalists will be notified of their position by

11:59 a.m. ET on February 23, 2012. The public vote segment of the Competition begins

at NOON ET on March 1, 2012, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 12, 2012

(―Public Vote Period‖). The computer clock of Sponsor’s webmaster is the official

timekeeping device of the Competition. Final round judging takes place between 9:00

a.m. ET on March 15, 2012, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 20, 2012. Winners

will be announced on or about April 2, 2012, on the Start Here, Go Places website.

3. Eligibility: Only legal permanent residents of the fifty United States, District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or the U.S.

Virgin Islands (the ―Eligible Jurisdictions‖), who are at least fifteen (15) years old and

have not yet reached twenty (20) years of age as of 12:00 a.m. ET on January18, 2012,

who are enrolled full-time as a student at a high school within the Eligible Jurisdictions

are eligible to enter. Void outside of the Eligible Jurisdictions, and void where prohibited,

taxed or restricted by law. Employees, officers and directors of Sponsor and its parent

companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, dealers, interactive and promotion agencies

(including, without limitation, KROBE Interactive, LLC), manufacturers or distributors

of Competition materials and their immediate families (parents, children, siblings,

spouse) or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such individuals or

entities are not eligible to enter. You are not authorized to enter the Competition if you

are not located within the Eligible Jurisdictions. All federal, state and local laws and

regulations, as applicable, apply. Entrants must have Internet access (including, without

limitation, the ability to upload content) to enter and to Skype or other comparable video

sharing function (as described in Final Round Judging below) to participate. All minors

must obtain their parent or legal guardian’s written consent to be eligible for a Finalist

position and to win a prize in this Competition.

4. Judging/Judging Criteria: Judges reserve the right, in their sole and absolute

discretion, to disqualify any Entries that are inappropriate for any reason, including

without limitation, for depicting or mentioning sex, violence, drugs, alcohol and/or

inappropriate language or images. Judges are affiliated with the Sponsor and will have

the applicable skill and expertise to evaluate the Entries based on the stated and

applicable judging criteria.

First Round: For the First Round, all Entries will be judged by a panel of judges who

have the required knowledge and experience to apply the judging criteria (awarding

points to eligible Entries not to exceed a combined points total of 115 points), which shall

include: (a) Originality when compared to other entries (0–5 points); (b) Is the entry’s

proposal consistent with the objectives of the Competition as outlined in the ―How to

Enter‖ section of the Official Rules? (0–5 points); (c) If implemented, does the entry have

the ability to appeal to high school students nationwide? Does the entry seem appealing

on a local and national level? (0–5 points); (d) Does the Entry exhibit a creativity that

will achieve results with the primary target audience through an online medium? (0–25

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points); (e) Does the Entry reach the primary and secondary target audiences? (primary =

teenagers, young adults/community college students; secondary = educators, guidance

counselors) (0–25 points); (f) Does the Entry exhibit the ability to engage students, draw

them in and make them want to learn more about the CPA profession? (0–25 points); (g)

Can the entry be developed within a commercially reasonable budget (as assessed by

judges) and does it have the ability to become a sustainable feature in an electronic

medium for students? (0–25 points) (collectively, the ―First Round Judging Criteria‖).

The total score for each Entry by each Judge will be the score attributable to the Entry for

ranking (described below).

In addition to the points attributed by each Judge according to the First Round Judging

Criteria, each Judge will assign his/her top ten scoring entries a ranking from 1 to 10

points as set forth below:

Ranking 1 = 10 points









Ranking 10 = 1 point

In the event of a tie in total points awarded by the Judge, the ranking will be determined

based on the Entry’s ability to achieve results with the primary target audience through a

print medium, with the Entry that exhibits greater ability receiving the higher ranking.

The total of averaged points from the Judges shall be added to the total points value

awarded as outlined in the rankings above to determine the total First Round score (the

―First Round Score‖).

Subject to verification and compliance with these Official Rules, up to ten (10) Entries

with the highest First Round Scores shall be deemed ―Finalists‖ and proceed to the Public

Voting Round. The First Round Score will make up 45% of each Finalist’s Total Score

(as defined below).

Public Vote Round: Sponsor will post the Finalists’ Entries to the Website for public

viewing and voting from on or about March 1, 2012, to March 12, 2012 (the ―Public Vote

Period‖). Visitors to the Website may vote for one (1) Finalist Entry per person/email

address during the Public Vote Period. Finalists agree and acknowledge that their Entry

and their team name, school and state shall be publicly available on the World Wide Web

for the Public Vote Period and grant Sponsor and its designees all right and license to use

their Submissions, including their Entry, in connection with the Competition. Visitors

shall vote for the Entry they judge to best meet the following criteria: (a) Originality

when compared to other Finalists; (b) Would the Entry draw readers in and make them

want to learn more about the CPA profession?; (c) Would the Entry encourage a deeper

ongoing interaction with the students?; (d) Does the Entry exhibit creativity?; (e) Does

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the Entry have both local and national outreach through its message? Based on total

number of public votes received at the conclusion of the Public Vote Period, each

Finalist’s Entry shall be assigned a ranking and a corresponding point value (the ―Public

Vote Score‖) as follows:











In the event that two or more Entries receive the same number of public votes, such

Entries shall receive the same number of points as associated with that ranking, and point

totals of other entries will be adjusted accordingly if necessary (e.g., if two Entries are

ranked #5, then the Entry with the next highest votes will be #3). The Public Vote Score

will consist exclusively of the points attributable to the assigned ranking. The Public Vote

Score will equal 25% of the Finalist’s Total Score (as defined below).

Final Round Judging: The Public Vote Score will not be the outcome that determines the

Winners; rather, each Finalist’s Public Vote Score will be included as one factor (25%) of

the total score which determines the winners (the ―Total Score‖). The other factors

included in the Total Score are the First Round Score (45%) and the Final Round Score

(as defined below, 30%). For the Final Round the top ten ranking teams, based on

combined scores from the First and Public Vote Rounds, will present their idea via Skype

or other comparable video sharing function. Time of presentation is not to exceed 10

minutes with 5 minutes available for a question and answer session after the formal

presentation. The Final Round Judging will be conducted by a member of the American

Institute of CPAs currently serving in a leadership position through an AICPA

committee, board, task force or similar group who will have the applicable skill and

expertise to evaluate the Entries based on the stated and applicable judging criteria. The

Final Round Judging will be judged based on the following equally weighted judging

criteria (awarding points to Finalists not to exceed a combined points total of 110 points):

(a) Did all members of the team participate in the presentation? (0–5 points); (b) Through

the live presentation, is the team able to appropriately articulate the Entry idea itself, as

well as their rationale for creating the Entry? (0–25 points); (c) Will the Entry draw

attention to the CPA profession and encourage student exploration of the profession? (0–

25 points); (d) Does the Entry reach the primary and secondary target audiences?

(primary = teenagers, young adults/community college students; secondary = educators,

guidance counselors) (0–25 points); (e) Does the Entry exhibit the ability to achieve

results with the primary target audience through a digital medium (i.e., Will the Entry

work digitally)? (0–25 points); (f) Did the team stay within the time allotted without

going over? (0–5 points) (―Final Round Judging Criteria‖). The total of points granted to

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each Entry by the Final Round Judge per criteria category above will be combined

together to determine the ranking of the Finalists. In addition to the points awarded by the

Final Round Judge according to the Final Round Judging Criteria above, the Finalist

Entries will each receive a ranking value consisting of 1–10 points by the Final Round

Judge as follows:











Ranking value is assigned based on total points awarded per Finalist. In the event of a tie

in the total points awarded by the Final Round Judge above, the tie will be broken in

favor of the Entry determined by the Final Round Judge based on originality, with the

Entry that shows greater originality receiving the higher ranking points value. The points

from the Final Round Judge and from the Final Round ranking will be added together to

total each Finalist’s Entry’s full Final Round score (―Final Round Score‖). The Final

Round Score will equate to 30% of each Entry’s Total Score.

The winners will be determined based on the total combined value of the above noted

judging components (the ―Total Score‖). The Total Score shall include the Finalist’s First

Round Score (45%), the Public Vote Score (25%), and the Final Round Score (30%). The

three (3) highest Final Scores, based on the Total Score and subject to verification, will

be deemed the First, Second, and Third place winners, respectively.

By participating in the Competition, entrants and Faculty Advisors fully and

unconditionally agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges

and Sponsor, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Competition.

All finalist Entries, whether selected as the winner or other, become the property of the

Sponsor.

5. No Odds: There are no odds of winning the Competition, as winning is not based on

chance. Rather, winning is based upon the entrants’ relative skill demonstrated in the

Entry and the First Round, Public Vote Round, and Final Round judging based on the

stated criteria.

6. Prizes: Three (3) monetary prizes and three (3) monetary contributions will be offered

in the Competition. The First, Second and Third place teams will be offered a team

scholarship. Each member of each respective team will receive an equal share of the

scholarship amount awarded to the team. The First place team will be offered a $3,000

USD scholarship and will have the opportunity to have their entry brought to life by

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AICPA. The Second place team will be offered a $2,000 USD scholarship, and the Third

place winner will be offered a $1,000 USD scholarship. Prizes will be awarded in the

form of a scholarship check made payable to each student entrant on the respective

winning team. Winners must be verified and all required documentation received before

prizes are awarded.

Additionally, the First place team, if reasonably practicable as determined in the sole

discretion of Sponsor, will have their proposed idea developed into the next feature on

StartHereGoPlaces.com. Nothing in these Official Rules obligates Sponsor to implement

any winner’s or entrant’s Entry.

Additional Contributions to First, Second and Third Place Winning Team’s High

Schools: In addition to the prizes offered to the winning teams, the following

contributions shall be offered. The high school in which the first place winning team is

enrolled by and on the date of the team’s submission of the Entry shall receive a

contribution of $3,000 USD, with such contribution to be made in the name of the first-

place winning team. The high school which enrolled the second place winning team on

the date of the team’s submission of the Entry shall receive a contribution of $2,000

USD, with such contribution to be made in the name of the second-place winning team.

The high school which enrolled the third place winning team on the date of the team’s

submission of the Entry shall receive a contribution of $1,000 USD, with such

contribution to be made in the name of the third-place winning team. These contributions

for the first, second and third place winning teams’ respective high schools shall be

limited to use on one or more of the following: clubs/organizations of an academic nature

within the school; the school’s media center, library, or computer lab; the school’s

purchase of materials, books, or resources; the school’s sponsorship of enrolled student(s)

at a national conference (e.g., Business Professionals of America (BPA), Future Business

Leaders of America (FBLA), Academy of Finance (AOF); or the school’s newspaper or

yearbook organization. The contributions may not be used to purchase equipment or

clothing and must only be used for educational purposes.

Taxes and any other expenses not specifically listed herein are solely the responsibility of

each winner. Winners will not receive the difference between actual and approximate

retail value. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitutions or cash redemptions; provided

that, in the case of unavailability of any prize, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a

prize of equal or greater value.

Tax Gross-Up: In addition to the prize offered to each winning team and the additional

contributions offered to the three (3) high schools, each winner may also be offered a

single cash payment in the form of a corporate check which is intended to assist with any

federal, state, or other tax obligations related to the prize and the contributions (the ―Tax

Gross-Up Payment‖); provided that such winner shall first remit proof of such tax

liability to Sponsor in documentary form that is satisfactory to Sponsor. The amount of

Tax Gross-Up Payment will be computed based upon the actual retail value of the

applicable prize, taking into account any charitable contribution deduction the winner

may be entitled to claim in connection with the contributions given to the high school,

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and upon the combined tax rate for all federal, state, and other tax obligations related to

such prize, and the amount of the Tax Gross-Up Payment shall be determined in the sole

discretion of the Sponsor. The Tax Gross-Up Payment is intended solely to assist with

any federal, state, or other tax obligations of the winners related to the applicable prize.

Sponsor specifically disclaims any additional tax liability that each such winner,

respectively, may incur including without limitation interest payments or late payment

penalties. The Tax Gross-Up Payment may not be sufficient to cover each winner's entire

tax liability related to winning the applicable prize. Winners’ reportable winnings and the

Tax Gross-Up Payment will be included on each winner’s Forms 1099-MISC that will be

issued to the winners in satisfaction of the Sponsor’s reporting obligations.

7. Notification to Finalists: Prospective Finalists will be notified through the Faculty

Advisor that they are prospective Finalists by email as well as express overnight courier

on or about February 23, 2012. (Delivery may be delayed if Prospective Finalist is

resident in one of the US territories.) Prospective Finalists (or if any member of the

prospective Finalist team is a minor in his/her home state, prospective Finalist’s parent or

legal guardian must sign, return all documentation, accept any prize, if and as applicable,

and agree to these Official Rules) will be required to sign and return an Affidavit or

Declaration of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release (where permitted by law) and W-9

form, including entrant’s Social Security or other tax identification number, to be sent by

mail and received by Sponsor no later than 3:00 p.m. ET, February 28, 2012.

Additionally, any Prospective Finalist may be required to obtain releases from any and all

third parties whose names or likenesses appear in their respective Submissions, as

requested by Sponsor. If any Prospective Finalist cannot be contacted within four (4)

calendar days of first notification attempt by email, or if any prize or prize notification is

returned as undeliverable, or Sponsor does not receive required documentation outlined

herein from any Prospective Finalist by the due date, or if any Prospective Finalist rejects

his/her opportunity to progress in the Competition or any prize, as and if applicable, or in

the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules, such position and/or prize will be

forfeited. Upon such position or prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.

8. How and When Prizes Are Delivered: Winners will be announced on or about April

2, 2012, on the Website. Sponsor will attempt to coordinate award presentation at

winning school with Faculty Advisor where prize checks for winning teams and school

will be awarded. 1099-MISC tax forms and checks will be sent by certified mail (or other

traceable mechanism) for the presentations to the Faculty Advisor. If presentations are

not able to be coordinated earlier than May 2, prize checks will be sent to Faculty

Advisor by overnight mail by May 2, 2012, for distribution to winning team and

school. Winners will be responsible for all taxes associated with the prize, subject to the

Tax Gross-Up Payment described above. Tax Gross-Up Payment will be sent by certified

mail (or other traceable delivery mechanism) within 30 days of Sponsor’s receipt of

documentation of tax liability satisfactory to Sponsor. Prize may be considered income,

and taxes on said prize are solely the responsibility of the winners. Compliance with all

regulations is the responsibility of the winners.

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9. Conditions: Sponsor shall not be liable or responsible in the event any Entry is not

used for any reason. Entries may be cut, edited, reformatted, combined with other

materials and/or otherwise modified, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion for use in

the Public Vote or otherwise. Participation in Competition and acceptance of Finalist

position by submitting the applicable documentation as required constitutes each

Finalist’s permission for Sponsor to use team member’s name, address (city and state),

likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, Submission,

and/or any statements made by each Finalist regarding the Competition or Sponsor for

advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation, except

where prohibited by law. By participating, all entrants and winners, as applicable, agree

to release and hold harmless Sponsor, its affiliates, partners, promotion and interactive

agencies (including KROBE Interactive LLC), judges, and any other entities which are

involved in administering this Competition (collectively, the ―Competition Entities‖) and

their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives,

agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability,

for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation,

property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with,

preparation for, travel to, or participation in Competition, or possession, acceptance

and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Competition-related or prize-related

activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy,

copyright infringement (including claims under state law moral rights provisions, as

applicable), trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of

action. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules, or attempt to interfere with

this Competition in any way, shall be disqualified. Sponsor is not responsible if

Competition cannot take place or if any prize cannot be awarded due to cancellations,

delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather or acts

of terrorism or any other reason beyond Sponsor’s control.

10. Additional Terms: Any attempted form of entry other than as set forth herein these

Official Rules is prohibited; no automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of

participation are permitted. The Sponsor and Competition Entities are not responsible for

technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or

failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, website, Internet, or ISP

availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or

inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete,

garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to

participate in the Competition, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any

other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Competition or

downloading any materials in this Competition. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole

discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Competition should (in its

sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes

beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper

conduct of the Competition. In such case, Sponsor may select the winners from all

eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor.

Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual and/or team

it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the participation process or the

11

operation of the Competition or Website. Sponsor may prohibit participant from

participating in the Competition or receiving any prize if, in its sole discretion, it

determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the

Competition by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair practices (including the use

of automated programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other

participant or Sponsor representatives. Sponsor reserves the right to change the

Competition rules at any time to ensure the fair administration of the contest and

compliance with applicable laws.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT, INCLUDING A TEAM

MEMBER, FACULTY ADVISOR OR PARTICIPATING TEAM TO DELIBERATELY

DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF

THE COMPETITION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS

AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE

RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST

EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

11. Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties: IN NO EVENT WILL THE

SPONSOR, COMPETITION ENTITIES AND/OR THEIR RESPECTIVE PARENT

COMPANIES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES,

AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS,

BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND,

INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR

PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE

SERVICE AND/OR THE COMPETITION, DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR

PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY WEBSITES ASSOCIATED

WITH THE COMPETITION. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SPONSOR’S AND/OR

COMPETITION ENTITIES’ TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES,

LOSSES, OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED ONE DOLLAR ($1.00).

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS COMPETITION AND ALL PRIZES

ARE PROVIDED ―AS IS‖ WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER

EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED

WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR

PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW

THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO

SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO

YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR

LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

12. Disputes; Governing Law: The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or

proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without

limitation, the Competition. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these

Official Rules and/or the Competition shall be settled by binding arbitration in

accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration

Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and

shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other

party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of New York, City of New York.

12

THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL

BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF

THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS

RULES. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official

Rules and/or in connection with the participation of any judgment on an arbitration award

in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Competition, the parties irrevocably

submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts

located in or closest to the County of New York in the State of New York. The parties

agree not to raise the defense of forum non conveniens.

If any provision of these Official Rules (or portion thereof) is held invalid, illegal, void,

or unenforceable by reason of any law or public policy, all other provisions shall

nevertheless remain in full force and effect to the extent such remaining provisions

accurately reflect the intent of the parties.

13. Use of Data: Sponsor will be collecting personal data about participants online, in

accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy at

http://www.startheregoplaces.com/about/privacy/. By participating in the Competition,

participants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage and release of their personal

information as described in Sponsor’s privacy policy and acknowledge that they have

read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.

14. Official Rules and List of Prize Winners: Official rules are available at

www.startheregoplaces.com and 220 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707-8110.

Official Rules supersede all other published editions. Winners will be posted to the

Website by team name and school name for one year from the date the winner is

announced. For any questions or for a copy of these Official Rules or a list of Winner’s

names, send a self-addressed stamped envelope by June 1, 2012, to: AICPA, c/o Start

Here, Go Places. Project Innovation Competition, 220 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC

27707-8110; or by email to [email protected].

15. Sponsor: AICPA: 220 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707-8110.

http://www.startheregoplaces.com/

PARENTAL/GUARDIAN CONSENT

I, as parent/legal guardian of _______________________________ (“Minor”), in consideration

for Minor being permitted to enter and participate in the Competition described below, hereby

consent to Minor’s entry and participation in the “Project Innovation: Start Here, Go Places.®

Competition of Creative Excellence” (the “Competition”) sponsored by the AICPA (“Sponsor”). I

understand and agree that Minor will be submitting his/her name, age, high school and contact

information as part of his/her Team entry, a Submission to Sponsor in connection with this

Competition, which will be made public in accordance with the Official Rules and Privacy

Policy.

By my signature, I give my permission to allow the above named Minor to enter and participate

in the Competition, and I hereby release, discharge and absolve Sponsor and its agencies, and

each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, assigns, officers and employees, from

any and all actions, suits, claims and demands, of any kind whatsoever, which I, my heirs,

executors, administrators and assigns, had, now have or hereafter may have, by reason of any

matter connected in any way with the above named Minor’s entry and participation in the

Competition.

I sign this document to signify my agreement and that of minor to the terms hereto and to the

terms of the Official Rules, located at http://www.startheregoplaces.com/projectinnovation and

Privacy Policy, located at [http://www.startheregoplaces.com/about/privacy]. I will accept, as

applicable, any award attributable to Minor’s entry (see Section 6 Award of Official Rules) and I

hereby agree to execute any additional form(s) that may be required with regard to Minor’s

participation in the Competition and understand and agree that any failure to do so will result in

disqualification of Minor and Minor’s Team in the Competition.

I have read this entire Parental Consent and fully understand its contents.

Signature: __________________________________________________

Print Name: _________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________

Instructions for submission:

1. Make a copy of your completed Parental/Guardian consent form.

2. Scan the original document into an electronic format so that you can add it to your first

round proposal submission.

3. Mail the original, completed form to:

School & Community College Initiative Team

Attn: Heather Bunning

220 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707

4. The form must be received by the AICPA no later than February 8, 2012, at 11:59 a.m.

AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY/PUBLICITY RELEASE — Faculty Advisor (“Affidavit”) Please sign, notarize and return this Affidavit so that it is received by Sponsor no later than 11:59 a.m. EST on February 8, 2012, to: AICPA c/o Start Here, Go Places. Project Innovation, 220 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707-8110. I, _____________________________________, being duly sworn, depose and say: I am submitting this Affidavit to AICPA (“Sponsor”) with the understanding that it will be relied upon in connection with my student team’s entry in Project Innovation: The Start Here, Go Places.® Competition of Creative Excellence (“Competition”). I represent that I have read and advised the students on my team concerning the Official Rules of this Competition, attached hereto as Exhibit A. Any terms that are capitalized herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Official Rules. I represent and warrant that I am a legal permanent resident of the fifty United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands (the “Eligible Jurisdictions”); I am an accounting or business teacher or guidance counselor at the high school attended by each student on my team; and I have agreed to advise my student team for purposes of the Competition. Employees, officers and directors of Sponsor or its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, dealers, interactive and promotion agencies (including Krobe Interactive, LLC), manufacturers or distributors of Competition materials and their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, spouse) or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such individuals or entities are not eligible to enter or participate. You are not authorized to enter or participate in the Competition if you are not located within the Eligible Jurisdictions. All federal, state and local laws and regulations, as applicable, apply. I certify that I am neither an employee, officer or director of Sponsor or its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, dealers, interactive and promotion agencies (including Krobe Interactive, LLC), manufacturers or distributors of Competition materials, nor an immediate family member (parents, children, siblings, spouse) nor member of the same household (whether related or not) of such individuals or entities. In addition, I certify that I am over the age of 18 and competent to execute this Affidavit. I understand and agree that: (1) I have no rights, title and/or interest in or to the team’s Entry/Submission or any part thereof, including, without limitation, any copyright and/or moral rights therein; (2) I am not entitled to win or share in any portion of any prize awarded during the Competition; and (3) I have and/or will act only in an advisory capacity to my team and have not and will not provide Competition-related answers or solutions to my team, other than answers concerning the Official Rules. I also certify that I have perpetrated no fraud or deception in connection with my student team’s Submission. As an advisor to a potential Finalist team, I further agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, its affiliates, partners, interactive and advertising agencies (including Krobe Interactive LLC), judges, and any other entities which are involved in administering this Competition (collectively, the “Competition Entities”) and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with my preparation for, travel to, or participation in Competition, or my participation in any Competition-related or prize-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement (including claims under state law moral rights provisions, as applicable), trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action. I hereby grant permission for Sponsor to use my name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, and/or any statements made by me regarding the Competition or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law. I understand that I shall not have the right to inspect and/or approve such uses.

I AM OF FULL AGE AND HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS AFFIDAVIT AND HEREBY SIGN IT VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY. _____________________________ PRINT FULL NAME SIGNATURE DATE Sworn to and subscribed before me this ______ day of _______________, 2012. _________________________________ NOTARY PUBLIC NOTARY SEAL:

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