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2008
Statewide Contest
The Ohio
Statewide Laws of Life Essay Contest is a competition for winners of
local Laws of Life, Foundations for Life, or other
character-related essay contests. Ohio Partners in Character
Education sponsors the Statewide Contest to recognize the achievements of
these exceptional youth who participate in local contests and to encourage
schools and communities in Ohio to conduct this enriching and valuable
experience.
Eligibility
for entering:
Any
Ohio school or youth services/community organization that conducts a Laws
of Life, Foundations for Life, or other character-related essay contest or its award
ceremony during the 2007-2008 school year may submit their local winners to the statewide
contest. Only essays that have
been judged and won a local contest may be submitted to the Statewide
Contest.
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Generous
sponsors of the
2008 Statewide
Laws of Life Contest:
The Walker Family
Reminger Co., LLC
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How
many entries can each local contest submit to the statewide contest?
For
local contests that involve a single
school in
a division (one high or one middle school), the contest’s top
four (4) student
essays in
each division
may be submitted to be judged in the statewide contest.
For example, if a local contest has one
middle
school, the four
highest ranked middle school essays may be submitted for statewide judging.
If a local contest has both a middle and high school participating in
their contest, then the top four middle and top four high school essays may
be submitted.
If the local contest has
more than one school participating in a division, they may submit one
essay per school or the
top
four essays, whichever number is greater.
For
example, if ten high schools participated in the local contest,
the top ten essays may be submitted. If
the local contest has three schools, you may still submit four essays.
Local contests
can also choose to submit fewer essays in each division.
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Timeline
and contest award ceremony:
All entries must be submitted no later than May
16, 2008.
Finalists will be notified by August 20, 2008. Each student finalist, their parents, teacher and the local contest
coordinator will be invited to attend the Laws of Life Awards
Banquet (date TBA) in Columbus at which time the awards will be announced. Authors
of the first place winning essays for middle and high school will be asked
to read their essays at the ceremony.
Finalists will be notified of this possibility so they can be
prepared.
Judging
criteria:
Only
essays that have won a local contest, either Laws of Life,
Foundations for Life, or
another character-related essay contest may be submitted for judging.
Essays will be judged primarily on their
content – whether they are positive and life-affirming, include a “law
of life” that the author believes will make the world a better place,
capture a value or ideal in a special way,
or explain and relate a quote or “Timeless Truth” effectively.
Some
importance to presentation and the mechanics of writing will be considered
in judging to the extent that the ideas put forth by the author are
clearly understood. In cases
where the content is judged as having equal merit, the essay which is
better written or presented will be given a higher score.
Before submitting essays,
local contest coordinators should assure that students have proofed and
typed their essays.
Click
here for a sample scoring rubric
Awards:
Cash
prizes will be awarded in both the middle and high school categories.
Amounts are indicated below. All student
finalists will receive recognition in the banquet program as well as a
certificate of recognition signed by the Governor.
Teachers and the local contest coordinator will also
receive cash awards.
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Best
Overall
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Best
Male & Female
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Second
(2 awards)
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Third
(3 awards)
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Superior
(4 awards)
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$500
$75
$100
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$200
$50
$50
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$150
$50
$50
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$100
$25
$50
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$50 each
$25 each
$50 each
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$200
$50
$75
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$150
$50
$50
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$100
$50
$50
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$75
$25
$50
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$25 each
$25 each
$50 each
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*maximum
award of $150
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Submitting
entries:
Click
to download contest
entry instructions an entry
form and contest
coordinator questionnaire, or email
info@charactereducationohio.org
with your name, school, a mailing address or fax number and forms will
be mailed or faxed to you.
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NEW
CONTESTS:
Contact OPCE with intent to enter so you can be added to the email
list for notification about contest deadlines, tips on judging and
running a local contest. Email info@charactereducationohio.org
with
your name, school and approximate contest date. We can also provide
technical assistance on starting your local contest.
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Complete
a
Contest Entry Form for
each entry. (see "How
many entries" above to learn how many you can submit) Make sure
the student includes their home address and that their parent or
guardian signs it.
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Submit
5
copies of each essay.
Or, submit the essays electronically (Microsoft WORD or compatible
documents only - send to info@charactereducationohio.org
You must still submit a paper copy of the entry form with the
signatures. If you submit the essays electronically, make sure you
note in the file name who wrote the essay (example: john_doe.doc)
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No
identifying information should appear on the essays.
If submitting electronically, include the name in the filename only.
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Complete
a Contest
Coordinator questionnaire
and submit with entries. All
communication will be with the contest coordinator, so please include
a working email address. Since some communication will be during the
summer, please include a home email if the school email won’t be
accessed over the summer.
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Send
entries and Contest coordinator questionnaire postmarked by May
16,
2008
to:
Lucy
Frontera, Ph.D.
Ohio Partners in Character Education
1169 Dublin Rd
Columbus, OH 43215
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