General Description
The Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund is accepting submissions for its 2011-2012 Michigan Remembers 9/11 essay contest. High school juniors and seniors from schools in Michigan (public, private, and home schools) are encouraged to submit an original essay on their reflections and research on the impacts of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington D.C., and Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Topic
Reflect on how the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 impacted one of the following: you personally, a family member or friend, your community, the nation as a whole.
Requirements
- Essays submitted for the 2011-2012 contest will be accepted September 11, 2011 through January 1, 2012. Essays received after 12:00 am January 2nd will not be accepted.
- Essays can be no more than 1,000 words. Titles, citations, and bibliographies are not included in the word count.
- Essays must be the original work of the student.
- Eligible entrants include any Michigan student in their junior or senior year, who is enrolled in a Michigan public or private high school, or being home schooled.
- Essays must be submitted via mail and via e-mail to Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund.
- Essays must include a cover sheet (see below) that includes the essay title, date, student’s name and school (or city/town if homeschooled), student’s age, students address, phone and e-mail address, and parental and student copyright consent.
- Essays must be submitted in MS Word, with 12 point Times New Roman font, 1.15 line spacing, and 1” margins on all sides.
Judging Criteria
Judging will be performed anonymously by professional educators, writers, and volunteers from the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund. Judges will not include those from schools of submitting students, or who have personal knowledge of any of the entrants. Judges notes and scoring will not be available.
Awards will be based on how well the submitted essay meets the following criteria:
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of the events of September 11, 2001.
- Has a well-focused main idea that is developed throughout the paper.
- Is organized in a logical manner.
- Addresses questions of counter-arguments that a reader may have.
- Has focused and well-structured paragraphs and sentences.
- Incorporates quotes and original source material, when appropriate, to support main points.
- Includes proper citation for all quotes and original source materials used.
- Explains national, regional, or personal response(s) and/or specific aspects of responses to the events.
- Provides thoughtful, original reflection on the event or the responses.
- Uses correct syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
An essay will be disqualified if it:
- Is not on the topic.
- Contains multiple spelling, grammatical, or other such errors.
- Is not the student’s original work.
- Is not submitted by the deadline.
- Does not meet the other requirements addressed in this notice.
- Does not include a complete and accurate coversheet.
Awards
- Three awards will be given :
First Place: $500.00
Second Place: $300.00
Honorable Mention: $200.00
- Awards will be presented by the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund in March 2012.
Copyright and Use of Submittals
Entrant guarantees that his/her essay does not infringe the copyright, trademarks, contract rights, or any other intellectual property rights of any third party or entity, or violate any person's right of privacy or publicity.
Competition entrant will grants to the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund permission, royalty-free in perpetuity, to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to submitted works, in any media currently, including published books and promotional pieces. Authors are free to re-use their own material. Entrant further agrees to allow the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund permission to publically release the entrant’s name, city of residence, and photograph.
For further information please contact the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund at: (517) 333-9684, michiganremembers@gmail.com, or MichiganRemembers.org.
Essays should be submitted via mail (one copy) and e-mail to:
Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund - Scholarship Essay Contest
1555 Watertower Place, Suite 100
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
And
michiganremembers@gmail.com