MICROSOFT® & USO 2007 “Microsoft Above and Beyond AWARDS”
Contest details and rules

Purpose

To honor and thank the outstanding commitment, exceptional service, sacrifice and achievements of individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication in brightening the lives of the United States troops in 2007. Awards will be given to five individuals who help serve as a link between our troops and the American people through their selfless commitment to providing comfort and lifting the spirits of our troops, and their families, wherever they serve. 

Nomination Requirements

1. You must be 13 years of age or older to submit a nomination.
2. You may submit as many nominations in as many categories as are applicable.
3. You may submit nominations for yourself or others.
4. If your nominee is under the age of 13, your nomination will require approval and consent from the parent or legal guardian of the nominee. Once you hit submit, we will email the parent/legal guardian contact that you provided us to request consent. Such consent must be provided to us in writing within 10 business days from the date of the initial request.  If the parent/legal guardian does not give consent within 10 business days, we will delete the record entirely.
5. All entries must be submitted electronically via the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards Web site submission tool at www.Microsoft.com/federal/AboveandBeyondAwards
6. Each nomination entry must be submitted in English.
7. Each nomination entry must be complete. Complete nomination will require inclusion of all of the following information:
   1. Nominator (13 or older)
      1. First Name:           
      2. Last Name:           
      3. Phone Number:
      4. Email Address:
      5. Address:
      6. City:
      7. State:
      8. Zip:
      9. Organization Affiliation: (if applicable)
      10. Relationship to Nominee:
      11. Do you agree to participate in the press release and any other media events associated with the program, including signing a Microsoft release form for participation?
      12. Are you13 years of age or older today? Yes/No
   2. Nominee
      1. Which award is this person being nominated for?
      2. First Name:           
      3. Last Name:           
      4. Phone Number:
      5. Email Address:
      6. Address:
      7. City:
      8. State:
      9. Zip:
      10. Organization Affiliation: (if applicable)
      11. Is the nominee under the age of 13 today? Yes/No
          • If yes:
          • First name of nominee's parent or legal guardian:           
          • Last name of nominee's parent or legal guardian:           
          • Phone Number of nominee's parent or legal guardian:    
          • Email Address of nominee's parent or legal guardian:      
      12. Does your nominee know he/she is being nominated
   3. Nomination: Please describe in a brief essay (600 words max):
      1. Explain why you believe your nominee should win an Microsoft Above and Beyond Award
      2. Provide a detailed description of your nominee’s service to the troops and its impact
      3. Include any personal or professional background information on your nominee that you think the Award Committee should know about
8. Complete nomination forms must be submitted to Microsoft’s Web nomination site no later than October 15, 2007.

Nomination Categories and Criteria

1. The Microsoft Above and Beyond Effort Award
   Recognizes an individual who:
• Offers outstanding support and comfort to our troops.
• Helps enhance morale and personal welfare of our troops.
• Through their mentorship, inspires other groups/individuals to create new and unique ways to show their support of the troops.
• Has impacted the lives of many through their leadership and guidance.
2. The Microsoft Above and Beyond Medical Attention Award
   Recognizes an individual who:
   • Is dedicated to providing superior medical attention to the wounded and injured.
   • Makes a broad impact across multiple communities.
   • Provides guidance, mentorship and resources to better the lives of the wounded.
   • Inspires others to be even better.
   • Impacts the lives of many through their actions.
3. The Microsoft Above and Beyond USO Promotion and Success Award
   Recognizes an individual who:
   • Has made an outstanding impact and success in generating promotional support of the USO.
   • Provides selfless commitment to promote and create awareness of the USO.
   • Helps to enhance morale and personal welfare of our troops.
4. The Microsoft Above and Beyond Everyday Difference Award
   Recognizes an individual who:
   • Is making a difference in a seemingly small, but significant way to improve the quality of life of service members.
   • Is an unsung hero who makes the most of their personal resources (non financial).
   • Is impacting basic need or way of life.
5. The Microsoft Above and Beyond Youth Leadership Award
   Recognizes an individual who:
   • Is a youth leader who champions and represents outstanding support of our troops.
   • Is age 17 or younger.
   • Has self generated/motivated individuals or groups that provide genuine support to the troops.
   • Shows his or her support of the troops through innovative and unique ways.

Finalist Requirements

1. Three finalists per category will be selected by a judging panel consisting of members of the USO, Microsoft, the United States Department of Defense and others.  The finalist selections will be based on who, in the judging panel’s sole discretion, best meets the eligibility criteria set forth in each of the five award categories.
2. Nominees may be selected as a finalist only in one of the award categories. Microsoft, the USO, and the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards judging panel retain all rights to determine in which categories entrants may be chosen as a semi-finalist
3. All finalists will be contacted to request completion of a Microsoft release form.  All finalist entries MUST be accompanied by a signed Microsoft release form, which will be emailed to nominators and nominees following submission of a complete nomination. The signed Microsoft release form must be scanned and faxed to 425-708-1165 or emailed to Above@microsoft.com within 5 business days of the date notification was provided to the finalist (or parent/legal guardian) of the nominee’s finalist status, or no later than October 20th, 2007, whichever occurs first.
4. Finalists (or their parent/legal guardian) must agree to (1) participate in any press coverage of the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards, along with any other media events organized promoting the awards and/or the USO Salute to the Troop program, and (2) sign a Microsoft release form prior to such participation.  If the finalist (or parent/legal guardian) is not available or unable to submit the release form by October 20, 2007, the Awards administrator will notify the next runner-up and give the next runner-up the opportunity to be a finalist of the category.
5. Top three finalists for each category will be announced to the public and winners will be selected by a public online vote made available to the public no later than October 22, 2007 and conclude on October 27, 2007.

Winner Requirements

1. One award will be given per category, even if two or more individuals were involved in the outstanding commitment, service, sacrifice, or achievement for that award category.
2. Winners (or their parent/legal guardian) will be contacted no later than November 4, 2007.  As part of the release form, winners have already agreed to participate as a recipient in the Microsoft Above and Beyond Award program to be held on November 12, 2007 at the Rainbow Room in New York City, New York.  However, if the winner (or parent/legal guardian) is not available or unable to commit to participation after 3 contact attempts, the Awards administrator will notify the next runner-up and give the next runner-up the opportunity to be a winner of the category.
3. Each winner and up to one guest per winner, who commit to participate and attend the Microsoft Above and Beyond Award ceremony will have round trip air travel within the United States, transportation to/from from an airport (located in the New York City area) to hotel, and lodging expenses for up to three nights provided by and paid for by Microsoft; provided that:
   1. Such travel, transportation, and lodging are selected and provided solely at the discretion of Microsoft, and solely for the purpose of the Winner and his/her guest to attend the Microsoft Above and Beyond Award program and following Radio City Christmas Spectacular on November 12, 2007;
   2. Winners who are government employees (including public education and military) must provide a Microsoft “gift letter” signed by their ethics officer or responsible attorney prior to receiving any such paid expenses; and
   3. Winners who are under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
4. Each winner may bring a maximum of four guests to the Microsoft Above and Beyond Award ceremony at the Rainbow Room in New York City, New York.
5. Each winner and his/her guests will also be invited to attend the Salute to the Troops program showing of the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City on November 12, 2007, immediately following the Awards Ceremony.

Ineligible Entrants
Microsoft employees, the members of the judging panel, and their families are not eligible to be nominated for the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards.

Microsoft, the USO, and the judging panel reserve the right to withdraw the award nomination, finalist entry, or the award if it is discovered that the nominee, finalist, or award winner has been convicted of any illegal act.