Guest Author - Sandy Lovern
Now here is a skill contest that everyone can enter with the potential of being a winner. Don’t let the abbreviated rules below, scare you. It's fun to go online and pick and choose what you personally think would make a great tasting donut and now you can have a little piece of immortality by having a donut named after you. What a kick! and what a hobby!
Below are some abbreviated rules and remember to always read all of the rules.
The contest begins on February 8, 2010 at 12:00:01 p.m. ("ET"), and ends March 8, 2010 at 11:59:59 a.m. ET so hurry.
To enter Just go to Dunkin Donuts
Second, establish an original name for your Donut Creation. Your Donut Name must be no more than 50 characters long. Now this is where your creativity comes in. Take some time on this and really think of a snappy name.
Third, tell why you think your Donut Creation is the best and/or what inspired your Donut Creation and the ingredients selected. Your Donut Story must be a minimum of 150 characters but no more than 425 characters long. Here also, remember the judges are real people. Tell them truthfully what inspired you.
The Donut Name and the digital image of your Donut Creation may be posted in an online gallery. Once your Entry has been submitted, it is final and may not be changed or modified.
There will only be one Entry per person/e-mail address during the Contest Period.
All Entries will be put into one (1) of the seven (7) Donut Dough categories for the Initial Round of Judging and will be judged by an independent judging panel. Each Entry (within its Donut Dough category) will be judged based on the following criteria: Donut Creation – 50% (comprised of taste appeal and flavor combination); Donut Name – 25% (comprised of Uniqueness (10%), Originality (10%) and Creativity (5%)); and Donut Story – 25% (comprised of Originality (10%), Clarity of Expression/Organization (5%), Relevance to Topic and Dunkin' brand (10%). If you are lucky enough to be one of the 126 Semifinalists you will proceed to the Finalist Round of Judging.
Beginning on or about 3/16/10 through 3/19/10, all 126 Semifinalist Entries will be judged by a select panel of Dunkin' Donuts experts to determine the 12 Finalists who will proceed to the Grand Prize Round. Each Entry will be judged based on the following criteria: Marketability – 30% (how appealing the donut would be to the general public); Donut Creation – 30% (comprised of taste appeal and flavor combination); Donut Name – 10% (comprised of Uniqueness (4%), Originality (4%) and Creativity (2%); Donut Story – 10% (comprised of Originality 4%), Clarity of Expression/Organization (3%), Relevance to Topic & Dunkin' brand (3%); and Manufacturability – 20% (capability of donut mass production).
Pay attention to the rules such as finalists will be contacted by phone between 3/22/10 through 3/26/10 at the daytime phone number provided at time of entry and no messages will be left. If after two attempts contact has not been made Entrant will be disqualified and time permitting, an alternate will be chosen.
GRAND PRIZE ROUND OF JUDGING: The potential Grand Prize winner will be determined based on 30% of the outcome of the online Public Voting and 70% from the outcome of the Bake-Off, as outlined below. The Grand Prize winner will be notified after the Bake-Off and Public Voting results are finalized and will be publicly announced as the Grand Prize winner on National Donut Day, 6/4/10.
Beginning 12:00:01 p.m. ET on 4/19/10 through 11:59:59 a.m. ET on 5/3/10, each of the 12 Finalist's Entries will be posted online and visitors to the Web site will have the opportunity to register to vote for their favorite Entry to be Dunkin's Next Donut. Visitors may only vote once per day during the Voting Period.
BAKE-OFF: All 12 Finalists will be required to attend the Bake-Off held in the Dunkin' Donuts test kitchen located in Braintree, MA for two (2) days between 4/29/10 through 5/6/10 or on or about those dates. The 12 Finalists will each have the opportunity to assist Dunkin' Donuts representative(s) and select chefs in finishing of their Donut Creation. The 12 Finalists' finished Donut Creations will be judged by a panel of judges at the Bake-Off event, based on the following criteria: Broad Taste Appeal – 55%, Visual Appeal of Donut – 15%; Marketability – 15% and Mass Manufacturability – 15%.
GRAND PRIZE ROUND OF JUDGING: The potential Grand Prize winner will be determined based on 30% of the outcome of the online Public Voting and 70% from the outcome of the Bake-Off, as outlined below. The Grand Prize winner will be notified after the Bake-Off and Public Voting results are finalized and will be publicly announced as the Grand Prize winner on National Donut Day, 6/4/10.
All twelve Finalists will each receive one year of donuts (to be awarded in the form of Dunkin' Donuts gift cards totaling $364.00, a Flip Ultra™ Camcorder; ("ARV") $149.99; a $1,200.00 check awarded in the name of the Finalist; and a trip for each Finalist and one guest to the Bake-off in Braintree, MA; (ARV $2,600.00) on or about 4/29/10 through 5/6/10 for the opportunity to assist Dunkin' Donuts representative(s) and select chefs in the Dunkin' Donuts test kitchen in the finishing of their Donut Creation. Trip includes round-trip coach airfare to Boston, MA from city closest to winner's residence for winner and one guest; two night hotel accommodations (standard room, double occupancy, hotel to be selected by Sponsor); ground transportation to and from airport and hotel to Dunkin' Donuts test kitchen; and a group dinner with all Finalists. Any Finalist that resides within a 150-mile radius from Braintree, MA, will receive ground transportation to/from Finalist's home to destination city in lieu of air transportation and no additional compensation will be provided. (Approximate Retail Value "ARV" of each Finalist Prize: $4,313.99.
One Grand Prize winner will receive a $12,000.00 check made payable to the winner and the opportunity to have the Donut Creation produced as part of the Dunkin' Donuts product line as a Limited Edition donut. (ARV of Grand Prize: $12,000.00).
For a list of winners send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by 3/8/10 to: Create Dunkin's Next Donut Contest–WL, P.O. Box 7999, Melville, NY 11775-7999.
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To read more from Editor and Author Sandy Lovern, please visit
Sandy Lovern; and Sweepstakes Success
