2026 Kenmore Porchfest Scholarship Contest — Official Rules
Sponsor: Kenmore Porchfest, Inc., 119 Knowlton Ave, Kenmore, NY 14217 (the “Sponsor”).
No purchase or payment of any kind is required to enter or win.
1. Entry Period
The 2026 Kenmore Porchfest Scholarship Contest (the “Contest”) begins on March 27, 2026 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 29, 2026 (the “Entry Period”).
Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Contest.
2. Eligibility
The Contest is open to legal residents of New York State who, as of the date of entry:
- Are one of the following:
- A high school senior committed to attending an accredited college, university, trade school, or music conservatory, or
- A current student enrolled in an accredited college, university, trade school, or music conservatory who will be returning for the upcoming fall semester.
- Have participated in Kenmore Porchfest by either:
- Performing at Kenmore Porchfest in any prior year, either as a solo act or as a member of a band, or
- Being registered to perform at Kenmore Porchfest 2026 and not having withdrawn.
- Are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old; those under 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate.
Changes in band membership from year to year are acceptable.
Employees, officers, and board members of Kenmore Porchfest, Inc., as well as their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, and their respective spouses) or members of the same household, are not eligible.
The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.
3. How to Enter
During the Entry Period, entrants must submit the following through the official scholarship application form:
- A completed application form
- A short written response to the provided prompt
- A video submission via YouTube link
- Proof of school enrollment or intent to enroll
These materials collectively constitute the “Submission.”
Limit one entry per person.
Entries must be received before the end of the Entry Period to be eligible. Incomplete submissions may be disqualified.
4. Submission Requirements
Video submissions must meet the following requirements:
- Video length must be between 2 and 5 minutes
- At least one minute must show the entrant performing music (instrumental and/or vocal)
- Performances may be recorded at Porchfest, school, home, rehearsal space, or another informal setting
- Videos may be public or unlisted on YouTube
Entrants are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights to perform and record any music included in their submission. Kenmore Porchfest is not responsible for copyright permissions related to musical works performed in submitted videos.
Submissions must not:
- Infringe any third-party rights
- Contain unlawful, defamatory, obscene, or hateful content
- Promote violence or illegal activity
Band Performances
If a submission includes a performance by a band or group, the applicant must clearly identify which performer they are within the group.
Only one scholarship entry may be submitted per recorded performance. If multiple entries are submitted using the same performance recording, the Sponsor may, at its discretion, accept only the first submission received.
Authenticity of Submissions
The musical performance shown in the video must represent the applicant’s own performance or creative work. Submissions that consist primarily of AI-generated music, synthetic performances, or music created entirely by automated systems without meaningful human performance by the applicant are not eligible.
Use of basic recording tools, editing software, or backing tracks is permitted, provided the applicant is clearly performing the music.
Sponsor reserves the right to request clarification regarding authorship or performance if questions arise about the originality or authenticity of a submission, and may disqualify any submission that violates these Official Rules or is otherwise deemed inappropriate.
5. Judging
Eligible submissions will be evaluated by a review committee selected by the Sponsor.
Entries will be scored using the following criteria:
| Criteria | Weight |
| Video submission | 50% |
| Written response | 30% |
| Connection to Kenmore Porchfest and the spirit of community music | 20% |
In the event of a tie, the entrant with the higher video score will be selected.
Judging is expected to be completed on or about June 12, 2026. Final approval of winners is made by the Kenmore Porchfest Board of Directors.
Any reviewer or board member with a conflict of interest will abstain from voting.
Kenmore Porchfest reserves the right not to award more scholarships than the number of qualified applications received.
6. Prizes
Two scholarships will be awarded.
Prize:
Two one-time scholarships of $300 each will be awarded for the 2026 contest. Scholarships are not renewable and apply only to the current contest year.
Total approximate retail value of all prizes: $600
Scholarships will be issued as a check payable to the recipient.
Awards will be presented at the Kenmore Porchfest Preview Party on June 21, 2026. Attendance is encouraged but not required. If a recipient cannot attend, the scholarship will be mailed to the address provided in the application.
Prizes are not transferable and cannot be substituted, except at the Sponsor’s discretion.
7. Odds
Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received.
8. Winner Notification and Verification
Potential winners will be notified by email and/or phone by June 12, 2026.
Winners may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within 7 days of notification.
If a selected entrant cannot be contacted, fails to respond within the required timeframe, or is determined to be ineligible, Sponsor may select an alternate winner based on the judging scores.
9. Publicity
Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Contest constitutes the winner’s consent for the Sponsor to use their name, likeness, photograph, hometown, school, and portions of their submission for promotional or educational purposes without additional compensation.
If the winner is under 18, parental or guardian consent may be required.
10. Taxes
Winners are solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with receiving the scholarship.
11. YouTube Platform Disclaimer
This Contest may require entrants to submit a video hosted on YouTube.
This Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with YouTube.
By entering, participants acknowledge that they are providing their information to the Sponsor and not to YouTube, and they release YouTube from any liability related to this Contest.
Entrants must comply with YouTube’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines when creating and submitting their video. Any submission that violates YouTube policies is subject to disqualification.
12. General Conditions
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.
Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process, violates these rules, or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.
Sponsor also reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest if technical failures, fraud, or other factors compromise the integrity of the Contest.
13. Release and Limitation of Liability
By participating, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor and its officers, directors, volunteers, and agents from any claims or causes of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- technical failures
- unauthorized human intervention
- errors in Contest administration
- injury or damage resulting from participation
14. Privacy
Information collected from entrants will be used solely for the administration of this Contest and communication regarding scholarship results.
Sponsor will not sell entrants’ personal information. Information may be shared with service providers assisting with Contest administration or as required by law.
15. Disputes; Governing Law
All issues concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. Any dispute must be brought in the state or federal courts located in Erie County, New York, and entrants consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.
16. Winners List
To request the names of scholarship recipients, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Kenmore Porchfest Scholarship Winners List
Kenmore Porchfest, Inc.
119 Knowlton Ave
Kenmore, NY 14217
Requests must be received by July 31, 2026.