CHICAGO RUNWAY CLASSIC
Fashion Design Scholarship
Privacy Policy
2026 – 2027 Award Cycle
Effective Date: January 1, 2026 · Last Updated: January 1, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how the Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship Foundation collects, uses, and protects your personal information. Please read it carefully before submitting an application.
1. Introduction
The Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship Foundation ("we," "us," or "the Foundation") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of all applicants, finalists, and participants in the Chicago Runway Classic Fashion Design Scholarship program (the "Scholarship"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and how we protect it.
By submitting an application to the Scholarship, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described herein.
If you are under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must review this Privacy Policy on your behalf and their consent is required for you to participate in the Scholarship program.
2. Information We Collect
We collect personal information that you provide directly to us through the Scholarship application process. This may include:
2.1 Personal Identification Information
2.2 Educational Information
Name and location of your high school
Current grade level and graduation year (Class of 2027)
Weighted GPA
Art and design courses completed
School counselor name and contact information
2.3 Creative & Portfolio Information
Personal statement describing your design background and goals
Design influences and aesthetic preferences
Video submissions (90-second design showcase videos)
Any other creative materials submitted as part of the application
2.4 Parent or Guardian Information (Minors Only)
Parent or legal guardian’s full name
Relationship to applicant
Parent or guardian’s phone number and email address
2.5 Agreement & Certification Records
2.6 Automatically Collected Information
If you interact with our website at www.chicagorunwayclassic.org, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, and time spent on the site. This information is used for analytics and to improve the user experience and does not identify you personally.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect solely for the following purposes:
To receive, process, and evaluate Scholarship applications
To communicate with applicants regarding application status, next steps, and program updates
To notify finalists and award recipients of their selection
To coordinate participation in the Chicago Football Classic College & Career Fair on September 11, 2026 at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
To coordinate the Scholarship runway showcase event
To contact parents or guardians of minor applicants as required by our program policies
To promote the Scholarship program and celebrate recipients through our website, social media, and event materials (with appropriate consent — see Section 5)
To comply with applicable legal obligations
To improve and administer the Scholarship program
We will not use your personal information for any purpose not described in this Privacy Policy without first notifying you and, where required, obtaining your consent.
4. How We Share Your Information
4.1 We Do Not Sell Your Information
The Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship Foundation will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes. Your information is not a product.
4.2 Sharing With Program Partners
We may share limited applicant information with trusted third-party partners who assist in administering the Scholarship, including:
Event coordinators for the Chicago Football Classic College & Career Fair
Colleges, universities, and educational institutions participating in the College & Career Fair, for the purpose of connecting applicants with educational opportunities
Judges, mentors, and industry experts involved in the evaluation process
Technology platforms used to collect and manage applications
All such partners are required to handle your information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and are prohibited from using it for any other purpose.
4.3 Sharing With Colleges & Universities
A core purpose of the Chicago Runway Classic is to connect talented young designers with colleges, universities, and fashion design programs that can support their education and career growth. With your consent (obtained during the application process), we may share your name, school, grade level, and contact information with participating educational institutions at the College & Career Fair so they may reach out to you with information about their programs. You may opt out of this sharing at any time by contacting us at scholarship@chicagorunwayclassic.org.
4.4 Legally Required Disclosures
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Foundation, our participants, or others.
5. Promotional Use & Media Consent
By participating in the Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship, finalists and award recipients grant the Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use their name, likeness, photograph, video submissions, and quotes for promotional, educational, and non-commercial purposes, including but not limited to:
The Foundation’s official website and social media channels
Press releases and media coverage
Scholarship event promotions and recap materials
Future scholarship program marketing
We will always credit participants when displaying their creative work publicly. Participants retain full ownership and copyright of all original works submitted.
If you wish to withdraw your consent for promotional use at any time, please contact us at scholarship@chicagorunwayclassic.org. Withdrawal of consent will not affect any use that occurred prior to your request.
6. Children’s Privacy & COPPA Compliance
The Foundation is committed to protecting the privacy of minors. We comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and applicable state laws regarding the collection of personal information from children.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are under 13, you may not apply for this Scholarship.
Applicants between the ages of 13 and 17 must have verifiable parental or guardian consent prior to submitting an application. By checking the minor consent checkbox on the application, you confirm that your parent or guardian is aware of your participation and has consented on your behalf.
Parents or guardians of minor applicants have the right to review, modify, or request deletion of their child’s personal information at any time by contacting scholarship@chicagorunwayclassic.org.
Minor applicants’ information will not be shared with colleges, universities, or third parties for promotional purposes without explicit parental or guardian consent.
7. Data Security
The Foundation takes the security of your personal information seriously. We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
Secure, access-controlled storage of application data
Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
Use of reputable, secure third-party platforms for application collection
Regular review of our data handling practices
While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to promptly addressing any known breach and notifying affected individuals as required by law.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal information submitted through the Scholarship application for a period of three (3) years following the close of the applicable award cycle. After this period, application records will be securely deleted or anonymized.
Award recipient records, including name, award amount, and school, may be retained indefinitely for the Foundation’s historical records and reporting purposes. These records will not be shared publicly without consent.
You may request earlier deletion of your personal information by contacting us at scholarship@chicagorunwayclassic.org. Note that certain records may need to be retained to fulfill legal or regulatory obligations.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights with respect to your personal information:
Access: The right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: The right to request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion: The right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
Opt-Out of Communications: The right to unsubscribe from email communications at any time by clicking “Unsubscribe” in any email or by contacting us directly.
Opt-Out of College/University Sharing: The right to opt out of having your information shared with participating colleges and universities.
Parental Access (Minors): The right of parents or guardians to access, review, or request deletion of their minor child’s personal information.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at scholarship@chicagorunwayclassic.org. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.
10. Website Cookies & Analytics
Our website at www.chicagorunwayclassic.org may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and collect analytics data. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us understand how visitors interact with our site.
We use cookies for the following purposes:
You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our website.
We do not use cookies to track you across other websites or to serve targeted advertising.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website and application materials may contain links to third-party websites, including college and university websites, social media platforms, and event pages. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. The Foundation is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
The Foundation reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we make material changes, we will post the updated Policy on our website at www.chicagorunwayclassic.org and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this document.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued participation in the Scholarship program following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of those changes.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship Foundation
Email: scholarships@chicagorunwayclassic.org
Website: www.chicagorunwayclassic.org
By submitting an application to the Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy in its entirety.
© 2026 Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship Foundation. All rights reserved.
