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12 Days of Gifting Sweepstakes Rules

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OFFICIAL RULES

VIRGINIA TECH 12 DAYS OF GIFTING SWEEPSTAKES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. THIS PROMOTION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

1. ELIGIBILITY

The 12 Days of Gifting Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") is open only to legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees, officers, directors, and representatives of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ("Virginia Tech"), and members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, children, and siblings, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and persons living in the same household, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win. This Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.

2. SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD

The Sweepstakes begins on December 13, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST") and ends on December 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the "Sweepstakes Period"). All entries must be received during the Sweepstakes Period to be eligible.

3. HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Sweepstakes, participants must complete the following steps during the Sweepstakes Period:

  1. Like the giveaway post
  2. Follow both the official @virginiatech and @hokiegear Instagram accounts; and
  3. Comment on the giveaway post by tagging at least one (1) friend in the comments section of the post.

Entry Allocation:

  • Each comment containing a unique tagged friend counts as one (1) entry.
  • There is no limit on the number of entries a participant may submit.
  • Each tagged friend must be unique across all comments submitted by a single participant. No duplicate tags within a single participant's comment thread will be permitted or counted as additional entries.

Entry Requirements:

  • Instagram account must be public for entry to be valid.
  • Entrant must maintain their follow of @virginiatech and @hokiegear accounts through the winner selection and notification period for entry to remain valid.

4. PRIZE

Participants will have the chance to win one of six (6) curated Virginia Tech merchandise boxes featured in the influencer unboxing content. Each giveaway post owned by @hokiegear corresponds to the items showcased by a specific influencer the prior day.

Prize is awarded "as is" with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. No substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent of prize is permitted, except at the sole discretion of Virginia Tech, which reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.

5. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION

One (1) winner will be selected for each of the six (6) Sweepstakes posts in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The drawing will be conducted on or about December 26, 2025, by Virginia Tech or its designated representatives, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Participants will only have the chance to win the curated box(es) in which they like and commented on, but can only receive a maximum of one (1) box.

The potential winner will be notified via Instagram Direct Message to the account used to enter within approximately three (3) business days following the drawing. The potential winner must respond to the notification within seventy-two (72) hours of the date/time that the notification message is sent. Failure to respond within this time period may result in forfeiture of the prize, and an alternate winner may be selected from among all remaining eligible entries.

Before being declared the official winner, the potential winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, and (where legal) Publicity Release within the time period specified in the notification. Noncompliance within the specified time period may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be selected.

6. GENERAL CONDITIONS

By entering, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Virginia Tech, which are final and binding in all respects. Virginia Tech reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual found to be: (a) tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes; (b) acting in violation of these Official Rules; or (c) acting in a disruptive manner.

Virginia Tech reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Sweepstakes if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the Sweepstakes is impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions have destroyed or severely undermined the integrity and/or feasibility of the Sweepstakes.

By participating, entrants release and agree to hold harmless Virginia Tech, Instagram, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising from or in connection with the Sweepstakes or the receipt, use, or misuse of any prize.

7. INSTAGRAM DISCLAIMER

This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram. By entering this Sweepstakes, participants acknowledge that they are providing their information to Virginia Tech and not to Instagram. Participants hereby release Instagram from any and all liability associated with this Sweepstakes. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding the Sweepstakes should be directed to Virginia Tech, not Instagram.

8. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

By entering the Sweepstakes, participants agree that Virginia Tech, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents are not responsible or liable for: (a) late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, or unintelligible entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties; (c) errors in transmission or entries; (d) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Virginia Tech that may cause the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted; (e) any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of the prize or acceptance, possession, or use of the prize; or (f) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes.

9. DISPUTES AND GOVERNING LAW

Except where prohibited, by entering this Sweepstakes, participants agree that any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate state or federal court located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participants and Virginia Tech in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules.

10. WINNERS LIST

For the name of the winner, available after January 1, 2026, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Virginia Tech 12 Days of Gifting Sweepstakes Sponsor, 902 Prices Fork Road, Suite 2506, Blacksburg, VA 24601.

11. SPONSOR

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

902 Prices Fork Road, Suite 2506, Blacksburg, VA 24601.