Legal

Official Rules

Hariom Impact Engine Scholarship Challenge · Last updated July 27, 2026

Notice: These rules describe a skill-based scholarship challenge, not a sweepstakes. No purchase and no donation is required to enter or win. The Hariom Helps Foundation reserves the right to update these rules prior to the applications-open date; changes will be posted here with a new "last updated" date.

1. Sponsor

Hariom Helps Foundation, a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit ("Foundation"). Contact: support@hariomhelps.com.

2. Eligibility

Open to legal US residents currently in grade 12 (or homeschool equivalent) with an expected high-school graduation on or before June 30, 2027, who intend to enroll at an accredited US college or university in Fall 2027. Applicants must complete a verified student profile on hariomhelps.com. Applicants under 18 must have a signed parent/guardian consent form on file. Employees, directors, judges, contractors, and their immediate family members are not eligible.

3. How to enter

Complete the entry form at hariomhelps.com/challenge/apply. Entry requires: a 90-second video (YouTube/Vimeo link), a 750-word Impact Engine Blueprint, a one-page infographic, evidence of a first step, an academic/service profile, an AI-use disclosure, and originality attestations. One entry per person.

4. Judging

Entries are scored 0–80 by an independent judging panel across six categories: Humanitarian Impact (20), Feasibility (20), Originality (15), Academic & Service Profile (10), Evidence of First Step (10), Communication (5). Up to ten finalists advance to community voting. Community votes add up to 20 bonus points (20 for the top-voted finalist, then 18, 16, 14, 14, 14, 12, 12, 12, 12). A minimum 50 judge points is required to be eligible for the Grand Prize or Runner-Up. Tie-breaks go to higher Humanitarian score, then Feasibility. Decisions of the Foundation are final.

5. Community voting

Community voting requires an email address and CAPTCHA. Each verified email may cast one vote total (not per finalist). Votes from disposable email domains are rejected. Votes must be confirmed via an email link to count. Suspicious voting activity (bots, coordinated inauthentic behavior) will be invalidated. Vote tallies are not shown publicly until the Foundation publishes results.

6. Prizes

Grand Prize: $4,000 college scholarship.
Runner-Up: $2,000 college scholarship.
Community Choice: $1,000 college scholarship.

All scholarships are paid directly by the Foundation to the accredited US college or university the winner enrolls in for tuition, mandatory fees, or books. No cash equivalent. If a winner does not enroll and provide payment instructions by September 30, 2027, the award is forfeit and returned to the Foundation's general scholarship fund.

7. Publicity & content release

Finalists agree that the Foundation may publish their submitted video, blueprint, infographic, and first name on hariomhelps.com and in Foundation communications. Finalists under 18 require a signed publicity release from a parent/guardian before public display.

8. Originality & AI

The core idea, video performance, and blueprint text must be substantially your own. AI tools may be used for grammar, translation, or brainstorming; you must disclose material AI use. Deepfakes, fabricated testimonials, and plagiarism disqualify the entry.

9. Privacy

Entry information is stored securely and shared only with Foundation admins and the judging panel. Public finalists' submissions are shown on hariomhelps.com during the voting window. See our privacy statement for details.

10. Disqualification

The Foundation may disqualify entries at any time for false information, plagiarism, undisclosed AI use of substantial content, vote manipulation, insider participation, or violation of these rules.

Questions? Email support@hariomhelps.com.