The American Association of Orthodontists is sponsoring the “How Orthodontics Changed My Life” video contest. There will be two winners; each winner will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship.  

The “How Orthodontics Changed My Life” video contest is open to students who are age 18 or under as of July 15, 2010 and who are legal residents of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and Canada.  Contest participants must have completed active orthodontic treatment (braces must have been removed) and be in the active retention phase of treatment or have completed active retention. Contest entrants must have received orthodontic treatment from a member of the American Association of Orthodontists.

All entries must be postmarked by July 15, 2010. Videos submitted should be two minutes in length or less. Entries are limited to one per person. There is no fee to enter.   Contest entrants should tell their stories on video, answering questions such as:

•  What were you like before you had orthodontic treatment?
•  How have you changed?
•  How proud are you of your new smile?
•  When did you notice changes in yourself? 
•  What kinds of changes have you noticed?
•  What does your new smile mean to you?
•  What would you say to others whose smiles make them self-conscious?  

•  Burn your video file onto a DVD or save it onto a USB flash drive

•  Complete the “How Orthodontics Changed My Life” Video Scholarship  - Contest Submission Agreement including all contact information and the signature requested at the end of the agreement form.

•  Sign the form if you are 18.  If you are under 18, the form must be signed by your parent or guardian

•  Mail your DVD or USB drive and your signed submission agreement form, postmarked by July 15, 2010 to:  
                     
  Linda Gladden
  Director of Communications and Marketing
  American Association of Orthodontists
  401 N. Lindbergh Blvd.                        

  St. Louis, MO  63141

  
  You will receive a confirmation email message indicating that your submission has been received. Judging The 10 finalists and two scholarship winners will be selected by AAO communications staff and a team of AAO members serving on the Association’s Council on Communications.

  
  The judges will evaluate entries based on:

  •  Clarity of the entrant’s personal story
  •  Creativity in the approach of conveying the story
  •  Use of attractive and interesting visual elements
  •  Clear and comprehensible audio
  •  Effective and tasteful use of humor, if applicable
  •  Enthusiasm and positive perspective on orthodontic treatment

  
  Reporting of Results

  By August 15, 2010 all 10 finalist videos will be posted on the American Association of Orthodontists Web site, Braces.org, and on the AAO members’ site, AAOinfo.org.  By August 15, 2010 the two winners will be announced.  Finalists will be notified by phone or email before August 1 and winners will be notified by phone or email before August 15.
  
  Terms and Conditions

  • All videos submitted become the property of the American Association of Orthodontists and may be posted in multiple online outlets by the AAO, shown at orthodontic specialty meetings or used in advertising materials related to orthodontic treatment without compensation of the entrant
  • Winners agree to participate in public relations announcements by the AAO, including their names, contest video link information and photographs.
    
    
  • Each of the two winners will receive a $2,500 scholarship to be used toward their post-high school educational expenses at a college, university, vocational training or technical school.
    
    
  • All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the contest winners.
    
    
  • Decisions of the judges are final.
    
    
  • Submissions will be voided if discovered to have been obtained through fraud, or if they contain inappropriate content such as vulgarity, obscenity, lewd comments, pornographic images or violent images; or if they promote violence or disparage any person or entity; or if they contain trademarked or copyrighted material.
    
    
  • Submissions may not include video or audio content of any individuals other than the entrant.
    
    
  • Children of members of the American Association of Orthodontists, children of employees of AAO member offices and children of AAO employees are not eligible to enter the contest.
    
    
  • Patients and former patients of members of the panel of orthodontists designated to select the two winners are not eligible to enter the contest.