diff --git a/app/controllers/backend/verifications_controller.rb b/app/controllers/backend/verifications_controller.rb
index c9085947..f607acf2 100644
--- a/app/controllers/backend/verifications_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/backend/verifications_controller.rb
@@ -84,6 +84,21 @@ def approve
 
       @verification.create_activity(key: "verification.approve", owner: current_user, recipient: @verification.identity, parameters: { ysws_eligible: ysws_eligible })
 
+      # Auto-promote on verification approval for scenarios that opt in.
+      begin
+        ident = @verification.identity
+        if ident.present? && ident.slack_id.present? && ident.promote_click_count == 0
+          scenario = ident.onboarding_scenario_instance
+          if scenario&.promote_on_verification
+            RalseiEngine.promote_on_verification(ident)
+            Rails.logger.info "Auto-promoted identity #{ident.id} on verification #{@verification.id}"
+          end
+        end
+      rescue => e
+        Rails.logger.error "Auto-promote on verification approval failed: #{e.message}"
+        Sentry.capture_exception(e) if defined?(Sentry)
+      end
+
       redirect_to pending_backend_verifications_path
     end
 
diff --git a/app/frontend/images/riceathon/RiceathonGlow.png b/app/frontend/images/riceathon/RiceathonGlow.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dc8ae557
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/frontend/images/riceathon/RiceathonGlow.png differ
diff --git a/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/base.rb b/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/base.rb
index 96d1e6cc..727ed11c 100644
--- a/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/base.rb
+++ b/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/base.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ def slack_channels = []
     # Returns array of channel names/IDs to add when promoting guest to full member
     def promotion_channels = []
 
+    # Whether to auto-promote when identity verification in HCA is approved
+    def promote_on_verification = false
+
     # Returns :internal_tutorial or :external_program
     def slack_onboarding_flow = :external_program
 
@@ -117,6 +120,9 @@ def dark_mode_background_path = background_path
     def before_first_message = nil
     def after_promotion = nil
 
+
+    def after_verification_promotion(identity) = nil
+
     # Handle custom actions - return step symbol, template string, or hash
     def handle_action(action_id) = nil
 
diff --git a/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/riceathon.rb b/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/riceathon.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e74a08f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/onboarding_scenarios/riceathon.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+module OnboardingScenarios
+  class Riceathon < Base
+    def self.slug = "riceathon"
+
+    def title = "ready to start ricing?"
+
+    def form_fields
+      [ :first_name, :last_name, :primary_email, :birthday, :country ]
+    end
+
+    def slack_user_type = :multi_channel_guest
+
+    def slack_channels = chans(:riceathon, :announcements, :welcome_to_hack_club, :identity_help)
+
+    def promotion_channels = chans(:riceathon, :announcements, :welcome_to_hack_club, :identity_help)
+
+    def next_action = :slack
+
+    def use_dm_channel? = false
+
+    def promote_on_verification = true
+
+    def logo_path = "images/riceathon/RiceathonGlow.png"
+
+    def card_attributes = { wide_logo: true }
+
+    # When user is promoted via verification approval, send them the welcome message
+    # ensures theysee the CoC
+    def after_verification_promotion(identity)
+      RalseiEngine.send_step(identity, :welcome)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/services/ralsei_engine.rb b/app/services/ralsei_engine.rb
index 9d4517e2..ff52b720 100644
--- a/app/services/ralsei_engine.rb
+++ b/app/services/ralsei_engine.rb
@@ -94,6 +94,31 @@ def promote_user(identity)
       Rails.logger.info "RalseiEngine: promoted #{identity.public_id}"
     end
 
+    # Promote user when verification is approved
+    def promote_on_verification(identity)
+      return if identity.promote_click_count > 0
+
+      Rails.logger.info "RalseiEngine: promoting #{identity.public_id} on verification approval"
+      scenario = identity.onboarding_scenario_instance
+
+      SlackService.promote_user(identity.slack_id)
+
+      promotion_channels = scenario&.promotion_channels
+      if promotion_channels.present?
+        SlackService.add_to_channels(user_id: identity.slack_id, channel_ids: promotion_channels)
+      end
+
+      track_dialogue_event("dialogue.promoted", scenario: scenario&.class&.slug, trigger: "verification_approved")
+
+      scenario&.after_promotion
+
+      identity.increment!(:promote_click_count, 1)
+
+      scenario&.after_verification_promotion(identity)
+
+      Rails.logger.info "RalseiEngine: promoted #{identity.public_id} on verification"
+    end
+
     def send_message(identity, template_name)
       return unless identity.slack_id.present?
 
diff --git a/config/slack_channels.yml b/config/slack_channels.yml
index 9ac79dbb..84c3ed8b 100644
--- a/config/slack_channels.yml
+++ b/config/slack_channels.yml
@@ -49,3 +49,4 @@ shared:
   hack_club_the_game: C088DT8P7B8
   hctg_bulletin: C0A7HQZFFNX
   hctg_help: C0A9XULS1SL
+  riceathon: C07MLF9A8H5