The MATHCOUNTS Video Contest will have teams each consisting of four students create a video based on one of the problems in the 2011-12 MATHCOUNTS School Handbook.

The teams will select one of 270 problems included in the School Handbook and make a video teaching the problem using a real- world application of the math concept on which the selected problems is based.

The videos will be posted to the contest website where the public will vote on the best videos. The 20 videos with the highest vote totals will advance to the semifinals of the competition. At this point, a panel of MATHCOUNTS judges will review the top 20 videos and select four finalists.

Each of the four finalist teams will win an all-expense paid trip to the 2012 MATHCOUNTS National Competition, where they will present their videos to those participating in that event. The 224 students that are competing in the MATHCOUNTS National Competition will then vote for one of the four videos to be the winner of the MATHCOUNTS Video Contest. Once the winner has been decided and the contest has concluded, the website containing the archive of videos will remain available for public use at no charge.

Since these videos will be cross-referenced with specific MATHCOUNTS problems, and each MATHCOUNTS problem is indexed to specific math concepts and standards, this library of videos will be a powerful teaching tool for teachers and students to utilize for years.

Allows students to hone creativity and communication skills in a math setting. These skills are not typically the focus of most traditional math classroom activities, yet they are essential for success in future STEM careers.

Exposes students to the technology involved in creating and submitting videos. Technological proficiency is a critical skill in the 21st century, yet is not commonly part of the current middle school curriculum.

Provides students who may be hesitant to participate in traditional extracurricular activities involving mathematics with an alternative means to work on a math project with peers.

Thanks to the 28-year history of MATHCOUNTS and its well-earned reputation for educational excellence, teachers can feel confident and secure in recommending that students participate in the organization's latest program.

Teachers get full use of the video archive to help students make the connection between the mathematics being taught and the real-world application of the problem. It is the perfect way for teachers to respond to the question most frequently heard in math classes � "When am I going to use this math in real life?"

By combining math education with a fun activity for middle school students (video making) and exciting prizes (a free trip to the National Competition), teachers have a very enticing method to reach students who typically do not have an interest in math activities.

In order to be eligible to participate in the Reel Math Challenge, an entrant must be a legal resident of one of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, or Guam and must be currently enrolled as a full time student in grades 6 through 8 (or equivalent) at a public, private, or home school. Those U.S. citizens currently enrolled as a full time student in grades 6 through 8 (or equivalent) at U.S. State Department and Defense Department dependant schools located internationally are also eligible.

Any immediate family members or household members of MATHCOUNTS employees, officers, directors, or board members are not eligible. Additionally, any immediate family members or household members of consultants and independent contractors who have, within the past twelve months, performed services for MATHCOUNTS are also not eligible. "Immediate Family Members" shall mean children, stepchildren or similar. "Household Members" shall mean those people who share the same residence at least three months a year.

The Sponsor and Administrator of the Reel Math Challenge contest is MATHCOUNTS Foundation, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

The videos will be posted to the contest website where the public will vote on the best videos. The 20 videos with the highest vote totals will advance to the semifinals of the competition. At this point, a panel of MATHCOUNTS judges will review the top 20 videos and select four finalists. Each of the four finalist team members along with one adult chaperone will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2012 MATHCOUNTS National Competition, where they will present their videos to those participating in that event. Should a video created by a team located outside of the continental United States be selected as one of the top 4 videos, MATHCOUNTS will reimburse said team up to $3,000 per team to attend the event.

Travel costs exceeding $3,000 would be the responsibility of the participants. Teams do not need to appear at the National Competition to have their videos considered for the grand prize. The 224 students that are competing in the MATHCOUNTS National Competition will then vote for one of the four videos to be the winner of the Reel Math Challenge.

Once the winner has been decided and the contest has concluded, the website containing the archive of videos will remain available for public use at no charge.

The finalists will be contacted by phone, letter, and/or e-mail by March 15, 2012. The finalists and title of their entries will be posted on the MATHCOUNTS website, http://www.mathcounts.org.

Each of the four members of team that created the winning video will receive a $1,000 college scholarship.

MATHCOUNTS reserves the right not to award any prizes.

If applicable, all prize recipients are responsible for any and all federal, state and/or local taxes resulting from acceptance of the prize. Prizes are nontransferable. If a prize cannot be awarded due to circumstances beyond MATHCOUNTS' control, a substitute prize of equal or greater retail value will be awarded; provided, however, that if prizes are awarded but unclaimed/forfeited by recipient, the prize will be deemed forfeit and void and will not be awarded, except in MATHCOUNTS' sole discretion. MATHCOUNTS reserves the right not to award any prizes.

As Reel Math Challenge video contest is one of skill, the odds of winning depend on the quality of the entries and the number of eligible entries received.

1) Teams do not need an official coach or teacher in charge of their video project; however, the parents/guardians of all four students must give permission for their child to participate in the contest. As a precondition of participation in the Reel Math Challenge contest, parents will be required to execute a Release Form on behalf of each team participant.

2) By entering the contest, each entrant accepts and agrees to be bound by these Rules. Non-compliance with any of these Rules may result in, at MATHCOUNTS' sole discretion, disqualification and awarding of a prize to an alternate winner.

3) MATHCOUNTS assumes no responsibility for lost, incomplete, misdirected, illegible, late, malfunctioning or non-functioning entries, or for failed computer transmissions or any other technical failures.

4) If for any reason the Reel Math Challenge contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the contest, MATHCOUNTS reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the contest, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest.

5) Upon entry into the contest, each entrant hereby assigns and forever transfers all right, title, and interest, including the copyright and publications rights, in the video to MATHCOUNTS and its successors and assigns. The entrant also agrees that MATHCOUNTS shall be the sole owner throughout the universe and in perpetuity of any and all rights in and to the video and any written or recorded works derived therefrom for all purposes whatsoever and in any manner or media including, without limitation, videocassette, DVD, computer on line services and any and all media now known or hereafter developed in the future. The entrant shall have no rights or interest thereunder whatsoever.

6) Upon entry into the contest, each entrant gives and grants to MATHCOUNTS, its agents and their respective licensees, successors and assigns the irrevocable right to use, publish and copyright their name, voice, photograph, video images, likeness, and biographical data as set forth in their video entry, in whole or in part, in any and all media now known or hereafter developed throughout the world in perpetuity.

7) Upon entry into the contest, each entrant gives and grants to MATHCOUNTS the right to use their name, voice, likeness, biographical data, city, state and country of residence in promotions and other publications, both print and online.

8) Each entrant warrants and represents that the video is original with the entrant and that the use of the video by MATHCOUNTS, its agents, and their respective licensees, successors or assigns will not violate the rights of any third parties. In the event of any claim that the video does violate the rights of any third party, the entrant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless MATHCOUNTS, its officers, directors, employees, agents and their respective licensees, successors and assigns, from any and all such claims, demands, actions, damages, costs and expenses (including attorney's fees).

9) Upon entry into the contest, each entrant releases MATHCOUNTS, its agents, and their respective licensees, successors or assigns from any and all liability with respect to or in any way arising from this contest and/or acceptance or use/misuse of the prizes, including but not limited to liability for personal injury, bodily injury including wrongful death or disability, damage to property, and damage or loss of any other kind.

10) MATHCOUNTS shall not responsible for cheating or fraud by any of the entrants. Any activities intended to disrupt or interfere with the contest, or defraud MATHCOUNTS in any way will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Entrants who engage in any of the foregoing activities will be disqualified and will forfeit any prize won.

11) Any and all disputes that cannot be resolved with MATHCOUNTS, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, before a court of competent jurisdiction located in Alexandria, Virginia, which court shall apply the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard for rules of conflicts of law. IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE, ENTRANTS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ATTORNEYS' FEES, OR ANY DAMAGES OTHER THAN ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES (IF ANY) ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST. ENTRANTS HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR INCREASED.