Unplug to Recharge High School Video Contest

Scholarship Sponsored by Amercian Academy of Sleep Medicine

Introduction

Sleep is as essential to a healthy life as a nutritious diet and regular physical activity. Good sleep supports overall health, emotional well-being, and mood. For students, adequate rest sharpens memory and enhances clear, creative thinking, helping academic performance. Athletes benefit too—sleep boosts speed, strength, and accuracy. Additionally, sufficient sleep reduces the risk of accidents by preventing drowsy driving and other safety hazards.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) advises that adolescents aged 13–18 should regularly get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Despite this guidance, CDC data indicate that approximately 77.3% of high school students—about 7 in 10—do not obtain enough sleep on school nights, and this shortfall has grown significantly since 2009. Biological changes during adolescence, combined with cultural and social pressures and the rise of technology, contribute to insufficient sleep. Nighttime screen use (including social media, streaming, and other screen-based activities) and early school start times are common barriers. Chronic sleep deprivation can impair teens’ decision-making and endanger both personal and public safety.

Contest Overview

Entry Period
- The 2026 AASM Sleep for Success High School Video Contest accepts entries from Monday, January 26, 2026, through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, closing at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

Prizes
- Winners in each category will receive $1,000.
- The teacher connected to each winning entry will receive a $100 gift card.

Eligibility

- The contest is open to individuals who are at least 13 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school at the time they enter. This includes home-schooled students in the United States and students attending Department of Defense schools, even if located outside the U.S.
- No purchase or entry fee is required.
- Each submission must be primarily the work of one person (the “Entrant”). The submission system accepts only one submitter per entry. You may create your video alone, with a partner, or as part of a group, but only one student may submit the final entry. If a collaborative piece is entered, the submitting student will be recognized as the Entrant; awards and recognition will be given to the Entrant and the teacher listed on the entry.

Submission Disclaimer

By entering the contest you confirm:
- The video is your original creation and has not been copied from another person’s work (including films, videos, or online content).
- Use of artificial intelligence tools is allowed, but any characters, scenarios, and story elements must be your own creations.
- The video’s primary characters should be teens, and the content should focus on the teen experience.

How to Enter

- Upload your video to YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok and include the hashtag #SleepforSuccess2026.
- Submit a public link to your posted video and complete the entry form. Email the completed form and link to Sarah Hashmi at shashmi@aasm.org.
- If you post on Instagram or TikTok, tag the AASM account (@aasm_sleeped).
- All winners will be asked to provide an MP4 version of their video.
- Video length must be between 30 and 90 seconds.

Submission Categories

One winner will be chosen in each of these categories. Each entry should concentrate on one category:

1. Short Film / Original Story
- Live-action fiction that emphasizes healthy sleep through original storytelling, character development, and creative narrative.

2. Musical or Parody (Pop Culture)
- A fun, sleep-focused song or a creative reimagining of a well-known movie, show, or viral moment that highlights healthy sleep habits.

3. Animation or Anime
- An original animated piece that communicates a message about healthy sleep.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be reviewed for compliance with contest rules, then scored. Winners in the three categories will be selected using these factors:

- Scientific context and accuracy: The entry should reflect an understanding of the science of sleep and connect to established scientific knowledge. Cite your sources on the video submission form.
- Relevance: The entry should clearly explain why getting enough sleep matters and how it affects teens, their communities, or society at large.
- Engagement: The video should present its message in a way that captures viewers’ attention and shows a personal connection to the topic.
- Creativity: Originality and inventive presentation are heavily weighted. The judges will look for unique approaches to the subject matter.

Terms and Conditions

- Exclusivity: Entries must be posted online during the contest period and must not be entered in or associated with any other contest or campaign. Submissions previously posted as part of publicized contests will be disqualified.
- Platform Terms of Service: Entrants must follow the host platform’s terms of service, community guidelines, and copyright rules. If your video is removed from the hosting platform for violating those rules, you will be disqualified.
- YouTube Terms of Service
- Instagram Terms of Service
- TikTok Terms of Service
- Music: Including music is optional. To avoid copyright infringement, use an original song, music provided by the host platform, or royalty-free/licensed music (for example, music purchased or downloaded from a stock music source).
- Permissions: Entrants are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, clearances, releases, consents, or permissions from anyone appearing in the video.
- Originality: You warrant that your submission is original and complies with the hosting platform’s terms.
- Ownership and License: You retain ownership of your video. By entering, you grant the AASM a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, display, and perform your video in connection with the Contest and AASM’s activities (including promotion).

Prohibited Content / Appropriateness

Submissions must NOT:
- Promote any commercial product or brand.
- Violate the hosting platform’s terms of service.
- Identify other people by name without their written permission.
- Include profanity; sexual content or promotion of sexual activity; depiction or promotion of illegal activity; depiction or promotion of violence or harm; or other offensive, obscene, or inappropriate material as determined by the AASM and the Contest Judges.

If you have questions about the rules or entry process, email your completed form and inquiries to shashmi@aasm.org. Good luck, and thank you for helping spread awareness about the importance of healthy sleep for teens.