The free contest is open to middle school, high school and post-secondary students in any CTE or project-based (hands-on) class or program.

The Rubin team, in coordination with industry professionals, will determine the national finalists after a review of all submissions.

The public will then vote on the finalists, and the students from grades 9th-12th and post-secondary programs with the highest vote total after the voting period will win 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Rubin will also announce an “Up and Coming” winner from grades 6th-8th.

The finalists and winners may be featured in press releases directed at the national CTE community and the general news media (ex: local newspapers, TV and radio).

All students who enter will receive a certificate of participation and a portfolio that displays the work they submitted for the contest!

The national finalists will each receive a certificate of achievement, $25 Amazon gift card and letter of recommendation from Danny Rubin, founder of Rubin.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from high school/post-secondary along with the overall middle school winner will receive a banner for the school to display.

The teacher/coordinator of the 1st place high school/post-secondary student will receive a cash prize of $250 to be used for the classroom.

In addition, the 1st place student from high school/post-secondary level will receive:

• National recognition throughout the CTE community and general news media
• $200 gift certificate to purchase professional business attire
• Complimentary professional headshot
• The opportunity to serve as a paid virtual intern for the Rubin team in summer 2023 or fall 2023

The judging panel will be Rubin team members and staff from ACTE’s national office. Judges will also include industry professionals who have hired and managed interns at their places of business.

When does the contest start?

The submission period begins February 1, 2023 and runs through March 3, 2023. Teachers can register their class to participate at any point between February 1 and March 3, 2023.

Does it cost money to participate?

NO! It’s 100% free to participate no matter how many of your students compete.

How do I register?

Teachers or administrators need to complete this short form. Upon completion, you will receive an email with all submission materials.

How many of my students can participate?

You can have as many students participate as you would like. However, you may want to hold an internal competition first and send your top students to the national contest.

Do my students need to register?

No, students do not register. Students only need to complete the student submission form for the contest. In that way, we will have a record of their submission.

I can’t make one of the Zoom Q&A sessions on January 17 and 18, 2023. Will the sessions be recorded?

Yes. We will put the sessions on the Rubin YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for contest updates and announcements. We also recommend you register for one of the Q&A sessions to receive the recording via email.

What data will you collect from my students?

We will collect first/last name, grade level and email address. We will also ask students to submit videos of a handshake and phone skills as well as written submissions. Students or their parent/guardian are required to sign a waiver provided in the contest packet (teachers: register here for the contest packet).

If your school needs Rubin to agree to additional data sharing terms, please contact us at support@rubineducation.com.

Does our school or CTE program have to be a Rubin customer to participate?

No, any school or CTE program can participate in the contest. The Rubin team has taken activities (ex: How to do a handshake) from our popular Emerge curriculum and made them available for all students to complete.

What grade levels can participate in the contest?

Students in grades 6th-12th are eligible as well as students in a post-secondary CTE program.