Information We Collect:

• Personal Information: When you fill out the scholarship application form, we collect personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, age or date of birth (if provided), and academic details (college/university name, field of study, etc.). We also collect the content of your essay submission and any other information you voluntarily provide in the application (such as your graduation year or any optional details). If you contact us via email or contact form, we will collect your name, email, and any information you include in your inquiry.
  
  
• Non-Personal Information: Our website may automatically collect certain information about your visit through standard web technologies. This can include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring website, pages viewed, and the dates/times of access. This data is generally aggregated and not linked to you personally. We use this to analyze site traffic, maintain security, and improve the user experience on our website. We may use cookies or similar technologies to remember user preferences or track aggregate usage statistics. You can usually adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but note that some site features might not function properly without cookies.
  
  

How We Use Your Information:

• Application Processing: The primary use of the personal information you provide is to process your scholarship application. Our scholarship committee will use your information and essay to verify eligibility and evaluate your submission. Contact details (email/phone) are used to communicate with you, for example, to confirm your application submission, to request additional information if needed, to notify the winner, and to send announcements about the scholarship results.
  
  
• Administration and Improvement: We may use non-personal and aggregated data (like site usage statistics) to improve our website’s design, functionality, and content. Personal information may also be used internally for administrative purposes, such as data analysis, troubleshooting, and to ensure our application process is fair and secure (for instance, detecting and preventing fraud or abuse of the application system).
  
  
• Announcements and Updates: We may send applicants important updates regarding the scholarship. For example, we might email all applicants to confirm receipt of applications or to announce when the winner has been selected. We will not send you marketing emails unrelated to the scholarship, and you will not be added to any third-party mailing lists by applying. If you are the scholarship winner, we will coordinate with you to possibly share your success story (with your permission) on our site or social media, as described in the Terms & Conditions. Non-winners will generally not receive further communication from us after the conclusion of the scholarship cycle, except possibly a courtesy notice about future application opportunities if you opted in.
  
  

How We Store and Protect Your Information:
We take data security seriously and implement reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. The scholarship application data is stored in a secure database or server environment accessible only to authorized personnel (such as Glen Leibowitz and designated members of the scholarship committee or site administrators). Security measures include encryption of data transmissions (our site uses HTTPS/SSL), firewall and security software on our servers, and regular monitoring for vulnerabilities. We retain applicant data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Specifically, information from applications will be kept through the selection period and for a period thereafter for record-keeping and legal purposes. We may retain the winner’s information longer (for example, to track past winners or as required for tax and audit purposes). Non-winning application data (essays and personal details) may be securely deleted or anonymized after the scholarship cycle concludes, typically within one year, to protect applicant privacy. Physical copies (if any) of applications will be shredded or securely stored. Despite our best efforts, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. However, we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data.

Sharing of Information with Third Parties:
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing or any other purposes. The information you provide is used strictly for the scholarship’s administration. We will share your information only in limited circumstances:

• Scholarship Administration: Your essay and relevant details may be shared with members of the scholarship selection committee, which may include Glen Leibowitz and potentially other educators or professionals assisting in judging. All such individuals are instructed to keep your information confidential and use it only for evaluation.
  
  
• Service Providers: We may use trusted third-party service providers to host our website or manage the online application form (for example, a web hosting company or form platform). These providers may process or store your data on our behalf solely to provide their services (e.g., storing form submissions). We ensure that any service providers we use have privacy and security practices in place and agree to keep the information confidential.
  
  
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose personal information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with applicable laws, a subpoena or warrant, or to protect our rights or the rights and safety of others. For instance, if an applicant were to violate the Terms & Conditions or engage in fraudulent activity, information might be provided to law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
  
  
• Winner Announcement: As noted, if you are selected as the scholarship winner, we will share limited identifying information (such as your name, school, and possibly a photo or excerpt of your essay) publicly when announcing the results. This will be done with your knowledge, as we will coordinate with you for any publicity. No sensitive personal details (like contact information or address) will be shared publicly.
  
  

Your Control and Choices:
Participation in the scholarship is voluntary, and you can choose what information to provide. However, certain data is required to process an application (like contact info and essay). If you do not wish to provide that information, you cannot participate in the scholarship. If you have submitted an application and wish to withdraw or delete your information before the deadline, you may contact us at [email protected] with your request, and we will make reasonable efforts to remove your data and withdraw your application from consideration. (Do note that if the selection process is already underway or completed, we might not be able to retract an application that has been processed.) After the scholarship cycle, if you have concerns about data retention, you may contact us to inquire about deletion of your data, and we will accommodate such requests as required and/or appropriate. If you believe any personal information we have about you is incorrect or needs updating (such as a misspelled name or changed email), you can also reach out to correct it. We do not require applicants to create user accounts on our site, so there is no login through which you could self-manage data; all requests can be handled via our contact email.

Use of Cookies and Tracking:
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure functionality (such as maintaining your session when you fill out the application form) and to collect aggregate analytics data (like Google Analytics, to understand how users find and use our site). These cookies may collect non-personal data as mentioned above. By using our site, you consent to our use of cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you prefer, but note that doing so might affect the functionality of the application form or other interactive features. We do not use cookies to serve advertising, and we do not use any form of behavioral advertising or profiling on this site.

External Links:
Our website may contain links to external websites or resources (for example, an external page about Glen Leibowitz, or general resources on writing scholarships). Please be aware that this Privacy Policy applies only to GlenLeibowitzScholarship.com. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of any third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit via links on our website.

Children’s Privacy:
The Glen Leibowitz Scholarship and website are intended for college/university students, typically adults or late teenagers. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are under 13, please do not submit any information to our website. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete it. (Applicants under 18 are required to have parental consent to apply, as noted in the Terms & Conditions, which provides a safeguard for minors.)

Changes to this Privacy Policy:
We may update or revise this Privacy Policy as needed, for example to reflect changes in our practices or for legal compliance. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. It is recommended that you review this Privacy Policy periodically when using our site or before submitting an application, to stay informed of how we are protecting your information. If we make significant changes to how we handle personal data, we may also notify applicants via email or a notice on the website.

Contact Us:
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us at [email protected]. You may also reach out to [email protected] for general inquiries. We will do our best to address any issues and ensure your privacy is respected.

By using GlenLeibowitzScholarship.com and/or submitting an application for the scholarship, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Thank you for visiting our site and for your interest in the Glen Leibowitz Scholarship. We are committed to protecting your personal information and providing a safe and secure experience for all users and applicants.