SOS Safety Magazine Teen Scholarship Competition

Rules & Regulations 2026

Last Updated: October 2025

The SOS Safety Magazine Teen Scholarship Competition (the “Competition”) is coordinated by SOS Safety Magazine (“SOS”) and is designed to encourage teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 to learn about and address social issues in their schools and communities. Participants are asked to submit an action plan, either in the form of an essay or a video submission, to tackle social issues in their school or community (the “Submission”).

By entering a Submission into the Competition, all contestants agree to be bound by these official competition rules and regulations:

1. How to enter

• Eligible entrants must submit a completed entry form along with a video submission to the SOS Safety Magazine Teen Scholarship Competition website at https://soskids.ca/youth-projects/5000-scholarship-yearly-bursary.
• Submissions must address a social issue relevant to the entrant’s school or community.
• Limit of one (1) entry per person. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification.
• By entering, contestants grant SOS the right (but not the obligation) to publish any Submission on its website, social media channels, or other promotional material.

2. Eligibility

• Open to legal residents of Canada aged 15–19 at the close of the Competition (March 31st).
• All entries must be the original work of the entrant and suitable for public sharing.
• The Submission must propose a meaningful action plan or raise awareness for a social issue.
• By submitting an entry, applicants grant SOS Safety Magazine a royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, and irrevocable license to use, reproduce, publish, edit, display, or distribute their submission (in whole or in part) in any media for promotional, educational, or editorial purposes.
• Submissions may be featured in print, digital publications, social media, or future marketing campaigns.
• Applicants waive any right to inspect or approve the final use of their work and agree that no further compensation will be provided beyond the scholarship consideration.

3. Submission format

Video Submission:

• Vertical video format encouraged (suitable for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts). 
• Length: 2–3 minutes.
• Creative approaches encouraged: live-action, animation, music, interviews.
• Must respect privacy and intellectual property rights.
• Optional: brief written summary or resource guide (1 paragraph) to accompany the video.

4. Judging

A panel of judges will review submissions and select Finalists based on:

1. Originality – Creativity and uniqueness of the idea. 
2. Impact – Emotional resonance and relevance to the social issue. 
3. Presentation – Visual and narrative quality of the video.
4. Public Voting:
   • Finalists’ videos will be posted on the SOS Safety Magazine website for public voting. 
   • Voting is open to anyone with a Facebook account.

Votes from Canadians will be counted. Family members outside Canada may vote if they email SOS to confirm.

• Limit: one vote per person, per day, during the Voting Period.

5. Competition Timeline

• Competition (Public voting) opens: April 16 at 12:01 A.M. MST
• Competition (Public voting) closes: May 15 at 11:59 P.M. MST
• Entries must be received by March 31 at 11:59 P.M. MST to be eligible.

6. Prizes & Recognition

Scholarship Awards:

• 1st Place: $2,500 CAD
• 2nd Place: $1,500 CAD
• 3rd Place: $1,000 CAD

Optional Honourable Mentions: Recognition for additional outstanding submissions.

• Winners must provide confirmation of their post-secondary enrollment to receive funds. Scholarships are non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and awarded “AS-IS.”
• Winners will be featured in SOS Safety Magazine, on the website, and across social media channels to amplify impact.

7. Engagement Support

• SOS will provide a Social Media Toolkit including: Suggested hashtags (#SOSTeenScholarship, #ActForChange, #SafeSchools)
• Sample captions, graphics and resources.
• Tips for promoting videos to friends, schools, and community networks

8. Rights & Permissions

• By entering, contestants assign all copyright and moral rights in their submission to SOS for use in promotional or educational purposes without additional compensation.
• Winners (or their guardians if under age) must sign a release before receiving awards.

9. Miscellaneous:

• SOS reserves the right to disqualify entries for rule violations, inappropriate conduct, or attempts to manipulate voting.
• SOS may cancel, suspend, or modify the Competition at its discretion.
• Participation constitutes acceptance of these rules and any additional campaign-specific terms.