Wear one, share one button contest
50 years ago, Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the 38th president of the United States. His dedication to public service can be seen throughout his life. In many ways it’s all of you—our alumni, students, and friends—who are carrying on President Ford’s living and lasting legacy through your commitment to public service. You’re our very best ambassadors in the world. Please join us in commemorating this anniversary by proudly wearing one of our Ford50 buttons. Better yet, encourage someone else to wear one, and tell them about the Ford School while you’re at it!
Wear one, share one!
We’re asking all of our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to comb through their contact lists and ask an influential public servant or leader to wear a Ford50 button and tell them about the Ford School. Snap a picture and you could win two tickets to watch our national championship football team take on Oregon or Northwestern. Read the official rules below.
The prize is impressive! But most importantly, you’ll have helped spread the word about our namesake president and his message of service, and about the outstanding school that bears his name.
Multiple entries are welcome. The contest will end at 5pm EST on September 30.
How to participate
Step 1: Help yourself to a button (or two!)
Find them at Weill Hall, at events like commencement and Spirit Day, or email us for more.
Step 2: Share one!
Encourage an influential figure to don a button and then snap a picture (you don’t have to be in the picture).
Step 3: Enter your photo
Email us at [email protected] to enter your photo in the contest.
Step 4: Post on social media
Tag us @FordSchool
Official rules
Challenge: This year (2024) marks the 50th anniversary of the year that Gerald R. Ford became U.S. President. Students, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends are encouraged to comb through their contacts list and ask an influential public servant or leader to wear a Ford50 button. Get a photo of that person wearing the button and send it to us.
Prize: One winner will be selected to receive two tickets to a 2024 University of Michigan football game, plus $500 cash to assist with travel expenses. The winner will choose one game either on November 2 (vs. Oregon) or November 23 (vs. Northwestern). The value of the tickets and prize money is estimated up to $1,000.
Eligibility: No purchase necessary. The contest is open to the Ford School community of students, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends that are at least 18 years of age or older. The photo entry must be original, of the entrant's own creation or initiation. The use of AI tools is explicitly prohibited. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest judges, their immediate family members/dependents, and members of the University of Michigan’s governance may not officially enter the contest or win prizes, but are still welcome to share their photos.
Submission: Electronic submissions only. Snap a picture, send it to the Ford School via email ([email protected]). Share your photo(s) on your social media (don’t forget to tag @Ford School!). Be sure to send with your entry a note stating your name and the name of the influential public servant or leader, your phone number, your connection to the Ford School, and any social media links where you posted your photo(s).
Copyright authorization and privacy: You may only submit photographs that you have taken or otherwise hold the copyright in, and you may only submit photographs of people who gave you permission to take their photo. By submitting your photo(s) for inclusion in this contest, you hereby, authorize the Regents of the University of Michigan to use, reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or prepare derivative works from your submitted photographs for a variety of non-profit purposes, including, who but not limited to, promoting on our social media accounts, use in our publications, and decorating Weill Hall. All entries will be posted on the Ford School's Flickr page.
Judging: The winning entry will be chosen by a panel of faculty and/or staff judges—determined by the Joan and Sanford Weill Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes—and will be based on, among other criteria, what entrant got the most influential public servant or leader to wear a Ford50 button. The judges’ decisions are final.
Sponsor: The sponsor of the contest is the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, 735 South State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with social media, including Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Notification: The winner will be notified by email or phone. The Ford School will post the winning entry online. All prizes may be subject to taxes. To claim the prize, the winner may need to provide additional information for tax purposes.
Deadline: The contest officially begins at 8 am May 1, 2024, and entries must be received by 5 pm EST, Monday, September 30, 2024.