Making a difference...
is what Matters
!
Use the essay format checklist below (#3) to be sure you have followed all the rules.
Essays that do not comply with the format rules will be disqualified.
Entrant's Name (first and last) _________________________________________________
Home Address: Number and Street _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
City _________________________State___________Zip code _______________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone _______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
E-mail_____________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name (for entrants under age 18) _________________________________
Parent/Guardian Daytime Phone _______________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail _____________________________________
Student Entries (check one) Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Adult
Complete for Grade 3-12 entrants only:
Grade ______________________________ Teacher Name (first and last) __________________________________________________
School Name_______________________School Address________________________City _________________State________Zip ________
School/Teacher's Phone _____________________ Teacher E-mail ____________________________________________________________
FOR ALL ENTRANTS
I give the United Way of Cayuga County permission to release my name/my child's name and contest essay for future display and publication.
Entrant Signature ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Entrant's Certification (for entrants age 18 or over)
I certify that the attached entry is my child's original work. He or she has my permission to participate in the "Compassion Matters!" Essay
Contest, and we agree to adhere to the contest rules.
Parent/Guardian Signature_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________
Teacher's Certification (for grade 3-12 entrants)
I certify that the attached essay is the work of the above-named student.
Teacher's Signature____________________________________________________________________________________________ ______
Official Contest Entry Rules
1. Only students in grades 3 through 12 currently enrolled in a Cayuga County school, or currently residing in Cayuga County, are eligible to enter.
2. Essays must address the following topic: "Making a difference... is what matters!" by describing why compassion matters and providing original, supporting details for their ideas.
3. Students must adhere to the following format rules; otherwise, the essay will be disqualified.
· Students in grades 3 through 5 may submit their essays neatly handwritten on lined paper.
· Essays by students from grades 6 through 12 must be typed double-spaced on plain white paper in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial, with the student's first and last
name on every page, and the pages
numbered and stapled together.
4. Each essay may be no more than 500 words in length. Each essay must be accompanied by this "Makine a difference is what matters!" Essay Contest entry form, completed.
Photocopies of the entry form are acceptable.
5. Entries will be judged by members of The Citizen staff. Scoring will be based on:
· Mechanics - organization, sentence structure, word choice, punctuation, grammar, spelling
· Content - how fully the entrant addresses the essay topic and develops a response
· Originality of ideas and clarity of expression
6. Anyone in the eligible grades, may enter the contest by submitting two (2) stapled copies of his or her essay along with this entry form, completed, to the address given in #7.
Teachers may enter their students' essays individually or in a group submission by submitting two (2) stapled copies of each essay along with a completed entry form for each essay, to
the address given in #7.
7. Each entry must include two copies of the student essay along with a completed "Making a difference... is what matters!" contest entry form. Whether entered as a group submission
by a teacher or individually, entries must be sent or delivered to "Compassion Matters!" Essay Contest, The Citizen, 25 Dill Street, Auburn, NY 13021, by the contest deadline.
8. Contestants should keep at least one hard copy of each submitted essay as well as an electronic file. After selection, an e-mail copy of each winning essay will be requested by The
Citizen.
9. Essays will be accepted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2, 2007. Essays will become the property of the United Way of Cayuga County and will not be returned.
10. The Citizen and the United Way of Cayuga County are not responsible for lost, misdelivered, or illegible entries.
11. Prize winners will be notified December 6, 2007. Only winners will be notified. Prizes will be awarded during the United Way of Cayuga County Annual Wrap-up Event on December
6, 2007 in Auburn, New York. Any winner not present at the event will be mailed his or her prize.
12. If there are any questions about the aforementioned rules, please contact: Jessica Harkins, Marketing Coordinator at The Citizen, at 315-253-5311, extension 213, or
jessicaharkins@lee.net.
TEACHERS- For each student's entry in the essay
contest, make a photocopy of this entry form sheet.
Each individual contest entry must consist of two
(2) copies of the essay with a completed entry form
attached. Please use one large envelope to mail or
deliver all entries from your students.
CONTESTANTS - To submit your own entry, read the
following Official Essay Contest Rules. If under age
18, read the Essay Contest Rules with your parent
or guardian. Fill out the entry form on this sheet
and attach it to two (2) copies of your essay.
MAIL ENTRIES TO:
"Making a difference... is what matters!" Essay Contest
The Citizen 25 Dill Street, Auburn, NY 13021
Contest Entries must be received by 5:00 P.M.,
November 2, 2007.
CONTEST PRIZES - Four grand prizes will be awarded
county-wide, one for each of the contest levels. These grand
prize winners will be the top scorers among all eligible essays
received by the contest deadline. Grand prizes are:
· Elementary School Level (Grades 3 through 5) - $50 Gift
Certificate from K B Toy and Hobby Shop at Finger Lakes Mall
· Middle School Level (Grades 6 through 8) - $50 Gift
Certificate from Game Stop FYE at Finger Lakes Mall
· High School Level (Grades 9 through 12) - $50 Gift
Certificate from Maurice's at Finger Lakes Mall
United W a y
of C a y u g a C o u n t y
A County-Wide Essay Contest
Eligibility and Entry Information
