1. Introduction
The Student Excellence Foundation ("SEF", "we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our platform and services ("Service").
By using the Service, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the Service.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Account information: name, email address, password, school name, and grade level when you register.
- Application information: answers, essays, and other materials you submit when applying for competitions.
- Profile information: any additional details you choose to add to your profile.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Usage data: pages visited, features used, and time spent on the Service.
- Device information: browser type, operating system, and IP address.
- Cookies: small data files stored on your device to maintain session state and improve your experience.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
If you sign in using Google OAuth, we receive basic profile information (name, email, and profile picture) from Google in accordance with their privacy terms.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and manage your account.
- Process and evaluate your competition applications.
- Communicate with you about competitions, results, and platform updates.
- Improve and personalize your experience on the Service.
- Ensure the security and integrity of the platform.
- Comply with legal obligations.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- With competition organizers: your application materials and contact information are shared with the organizers of competitions you apply to, solely for evaluation purposes.
- Service providers: we use trusted third-party services (e.g., hosting, analytics) that process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality obligations.
- Legal requirements: we may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of SEF or others.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. If you close your account, we will delete or anonymize your data within a reasonable period, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as resolving disputes.
6. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction: request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Deletion: request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
- Opt-out: unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in the email.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected].
7. Cookies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and analyze how the Service is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of the Service.
8. Security
We implement industry-standard security measures — including encryption in transit (HTTPS) and secure password hashing — to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children's Privacy
The Service is available to students of all ages, including minors. We encourage parents and guardians to review this policy with their children. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information without parental consent, please contact us and we will take steps to remove that information.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at [email protected].