Deadline: 20 January 2011
THE CONTEST
Students from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades (Middle School Level), and 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades (High School Level) who attend public or private school within the United States of America, can enter this essay contest by writing an essay that starts from and explains the significance of what their selected quotation (listed below) communicates / means to them..
Select ONE of the following seven quotations below to start and write your essay:
1) "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise." ~ Maya Angelou
2) "Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can." ~ Arthur Ashe
3) "Greatness occurs when your children love you, when your critics respect you and when you have peace of mind." ~ Quincy Jones
4) "Do not call for black power or green power. Call for brain power." ~ Barbara Jordan
5) "Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better."
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
6) "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."
~ Booker T. Washington
7) "Have a vision. Be demanding." ~ Colin Powell
GUIDELINES
1. All writers must be students in 6th,7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
2. All entries become the property of InspiraGen Institute, LLC and entries will not be returned.
3. One entry per student.
4. Each entry must be between 1000-2500 words (2-5 pages), typed or print handwritten (preferably typed), double-spaced and submitted on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. No cursive writing will be accepted.
5. Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.
6. Essay must be solely based on the ONE selected quotation, not a combination of two or more.
7. Attached to each entry must be a completed contest entry form including the student’s name, student’s grade, teacher, guidance counselor, school name, school’s address, student’s address and a parent/guardian name, email address and telephone number.
8. Qualifying entries must reflect the contest theme.
9. A completed parental waiver form must accompany each essay. The Parental Waiver Form and Contest Entry Form can be obtained by clicking on the red pdf file link below.
• Download Student Essay Rules, Contest Entry Form and Parental Waiver (.pdf)
10. ALL essay entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
• Theme Identified
• Strong Introduction and Connection to Selected Quotation
• A Little History on the Author of the Selected Quotation
• Personal Life Experience(s) Tied-In
• Evidence for Persuasion
• Clarity
• Accuracy of Their Observations and Support Resources
• Strong Conclusion
• Creativity of Assignment
• Flow of Writing
• Grammar Usage
• Free of any Grammatical, Spelling, or Punctuation Errors
11. Decisions of the judges are final.
*** While editorial suggestions from teachers, parents and other supportive adults are encouraged, the essay must reflect the student's own thoughts and work. All essays become the property of the contest committee and will not be returned.
THEME
The Entrants Selected Quotation from the List Above
JUDGING
A panel of professionals will choose the winners.
Essays will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of the selected quotation.
Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased multi-round judging process. To ensure the anonymity of our participants, cover sheets and identifying information are removed after the first round. Winners’ names remain unknown to judges until after the essays have been ranked and the contest results finalized. InspiraGen Institute, LLC checks essays with iThenticate Plagiarism Detection Software.
PRIZES
Each school level (Middle School and High School) will be awarded the following prizes:
One (1) Grand Prize Winner receiving $200
One (1) 2nd Place Winners receiving $100
Three (3) 3rd Place Winners receiving $50
*** Monetary Prizes will be Paid By: Friday, March 18, 2011
THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER'S BONUS PRIZE
The Grand Prize Winners School’s on both the middle school and high school level will receive a donated (complimentary, non-fee) Ty Howard Motivational Full-School Assembly Program delivered to their students. Each school will have from April 16, 2011 to November 16, 2011 to bring Mr. Ty Howard in to deliver his trademarked and award-winning "You Were Born to Be G.R.R.R.R.E.A.T.!!!!TM" presentation.
If the Grand Prize Contest Winner's school is located outside of a 100 mile driving radius, the Grand Prize Contest Winner's School will be required to pre- arrange and pay Mr. Ty Howard's travel and hotel stay expenses only.
CONTEST WINNERS
ALL Contest Winners will be recognized through their school’s guidance counselor or teacher point of contact on Thursday, February 17, 2011.
CONTEST SCHEDULE
All entries must be mailed and postmarked by Thursday, January 20, 2011.
Mail ALL Essay Entries to:
Ty Howard & InspiraGen Institute, LLC
Attn: Ty's Black History Essay Contest
6400 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 134
Baltimore, Maryland 21228
*** While editorial suggestions from teachers, parents and other supportive adults are encouraged, the essay must reflect the student's own thoughts and work. All essays become the property of the contest committee and will not be returned.
• All dates are subject to change at the discretion of Ty Howard and InspiraGen Institute, LLC
Contact InspiraGen Institute, LLC’s Office at (410) 737-6839 with any questions.