Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before submitting your application. By submitting an application, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
1. Program Overview
The Chicago Runway Classic Fashion Design Scholarship (the "Scholarship") is administered by the Chicago Runway Classic Foundation (the "Foundation"). The Scholarship is intended to support high school students who demonstrate exceptional talent, creativity, and passion for fashion design.
• Award Amount: Up to $5,000 per recipient, awarded at the Foundation’s discretion.
• Award Cycle: Academic year 2025–2026.
• Application Deadline: July 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time.
• Finalist Notification: On or before August 31st, 2026.
• College Fair & Showcase Event: Friday, September 11, 2026 at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL. Runway date and additional location details to follow.
2. Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Scholarship, each applicant must meet all of the following criteria at the time of application and throughout the award period:
2.1 Academic & Enrollment
• Be currently enrolled as a 12th grade senior (Class of 2027) at an accredited public or private high school in or around Chicago, IL.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) at the time of application and throughout the award period.
• Be in good academic standing with no active disciplinary proceedings.
2.2 Age & Residency
• Be between the ages of 17 and 19 years old at the time of application submission, and a member of the graduating Class of 2027.
2.3 Minors (Applicants Under 18)
Applicants who are under the age of 18 at the time of application are subject to the following additional requirements:
• A parent or legal guardian must be made fully aware of the applicant’s participation in the Scholarship program, including all application materials submitted on the applicant’s behalf.
• If the applicant is selected as a finalist or award recipient, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the applicant and be present in attendance at the Scholarship Showcase Event.
• By submitting the application, the applicant affirms that the above conditions have been or will be met. The Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any minor applicant who cannot confirm guardian awareness and attendance.
2.4 Other Restrictions
• Employees, officers, directors, and contractors of the Foundation, and their immediate family members or household members, are not eligible.
• Previous Chicago Runway Classic Scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply.
3. Application Requirements
A complete application must include all of the following:
• Completed application form with accurate personal and school information.
• A personal statement of no fewer than 100 characters and no more than 1,000 characters describing the applicant’s passion for fashion design, creative vision, and intended use of the scholarship funds.
• Disclosure of design influences and aesthetic sensibilities
• Submission of a 90 second Design Showcase Video demonstrating the applicant’s original design work and creative process, including a personal statement describing the applicant’s passion for fashion design, creative vision, and intended use of the scholarship funds.
• Signed agreement to all Terms and Conditions.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. The Foundation is not responsible for applications that are lost, delayed, corrupted, or otherwise not received due to technical issues.
4. Originality & Intellectual Property
• All submitted work, including portfolio pieces, videos, written statements, and any other creative materials, must be the original, sole work of the applicant.
• Applicants must not submit work that is plagiarized, copied, AI-generated (without material human creative contribution), or that infringes on the intellectual property rights of any third party.
• By submitting an application, the applicant grants the Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, reproduce, and use submitted materials for promotional, educational, and non-commercial purposes, including but not limited to website features, social media, press releases, and event displays.
• The applicant retains ownership of all original creative works submitted.
• The Foundation will credit the applicant when publicly displaying submitted materials.
5. Selection Process
5.1 Review Criteria
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by the Foundation. Judging criteria include, but are not limited to:
• Creativity: Creativity and originality of design work.
• Skill: Technical skill and craftsmanship demonstrated in submitted materials.
• Statement: Clarity and quality of the personal statement.
• Potential: Potential for growth and commitment to fashion design as a discipline.
• Presentation: Overall presentation and professionalism of the application.
5.2 Finalist Selection
The Foundation will select finalists from all eligible applications. Finalists will be notified by September 1, 2026, via the email address provided on the application. Failure to respond to finalist notification within two (2) business days may result in disqualification.
5.3 Showcase Event
All applicants and finalists are required to attend and participate in the Chicago Football Classic College & Career Fair on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL. Finalists will present their work to a live audience and panel of judges. Final award recipients will be announced during the Chicago Football Classic game or other predetermined event. Runway date, time and location details will be communicated to finalists separately.
Finalists who are minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, as stated in Section 2.3. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from the Showcase and forfeiture of any award.
5.4 Final Awards
Award recipients will be selected at the Foundation’s sole discretion. The Foundation’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal. The Foundation reserves the right to award fewer than the stated number of scholarships if, in its judgment, an insufficient number of qualified applicants exist.
6. Award Disbursement
• Scholarship funds, in the amounts of $5,000 (1st place), $2,500 (2nd place), or $1,500 (3rd place), will be disbursed directly to the educational institution of the recipient’s choice upon proof of enrollment in an accredited post-secondary degree program.
• Funds must be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, or other qualified educational expenses.
• Recipients must enroll in an accredited program within 18 months of receiving the award.
• The Foundation is not responsible for any tax obligations arising from the receipt of scholarship funds. Recipients are advised to consult a tax professional.
7. Disqualification & Revocation
The Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any applicant or revoke any award at any time if:
• The applicant provided false, misleading, or inaccurate information on the application.
• Submitted work is found to be plagiarized or in violation of third-party intellectual property rights.
• The applicant engages in conduct that, in the Foundation’s judgment, is inconsistent with the values and mission of the Scholarship program.
• A minor applicant is unable to confirm guardian awareness of participation, and that presence of the guardian is confirmed at both the college fair and runway show/football game.
• The applicant fails to attend and participate in the Chicago Football Classic College & Career Fair on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL.
• The applicant fails to meet any eligibility requirement at any point during the award cycle.
In the event of revocation after disbursement, the Foundation may seek recovery of funds at its discretion.
8. Privacy Policy
8.1 Information Collected
The Foundation collects personal information including, but not limited to, name, email address, phone number, date of birth, school information, and creative works for the purpose of administering the Scholarship.
8.2 Use of Information
Collected information will be used solely for:
• Evaluating and processing Scholarship applications.
• Communicating with applicants regarding their application status.
• Promotional and educational purposes (with applicant consent or as permitted by these Terms).
8.3 Data Sharing
The Foundation will not sell, rent, or trade applicant personal information to third parties. Information may be shared with third-party service providers who assist in administering the Scholarship, subject to confidentiality obligations.
8.4 Minors’ Privacy
The Foundation is committed to protecting the privacy of minors. In compliance with applicable law, the Foundation does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Applicants under the age of 18 must have parental or guardian consent to participate.
8.5 Retention
Application materials will be retained for a period of three (3) years following the close of the applicable award cycle, after which they will be securely destroyed.
9. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Foundation, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and partners shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with: (i) the Scholarship application or selection process; (ii) the use of Scholarship funds; (iii) any reliance on information provided by the Foundation; or (iv) any technical failures or errors affecting application submission.
10. General Provisions
• Governing Law: These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
• Modifications: The Foundation reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on the Foundation’s official website. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of amended Terms.
• Entire Agreement: These Terms and Conditions, together with the application form, constitute the entire agreement between the applicant and the Foundation with respect to the Scholarship.