The purpose of this contest is to recognize our outstanding students and their writing. Please consider entering your top student’s essay — we ask that you use the entry form below. Each school may submit up to two essays, one from a Senior and one from a Junior.
The top six essays will be recognized. The top three will receive awards and be recognized at our annual Conference.
The student must be sponsored by a current professional member of CCEA Plus or an employee of a CCEA+ member school. You may register for new membership here in conjunction with this submission.
Please submit by March 15th. The full contest timeline is outlined below.
Essay Information
RULES
The essay must be typed, and be:
- No more than two typewritten pages.
- Presented in 12 point font, either in Arial or Times New Roman.
ESSAY TOPICS
The student’s essay should describe one of the following topics (including their future plans and/or goals within any of the following essay topics is highly recommended):
- How I Turned Failure Into Success at ____________ High School.
- Why Does ____________ High School Work for Me?
- Why ____________ High School is a Model School.
- Each of us has a person, a day or an event that has changed our lives forever. Describe that person, day or event and explain why and how it/they have changed your life.
SCORING RUBRIC
10% — Grammar/Syntax/Spelling/Punctuation.
20% — Use of colorful, descriptive language that allows the reader to gain a clear picture of student’s thoughts, ideas and experiences.
20% — Flow of essay showing continuity and good thought.
40% — Addresses the topic in a clear and well-developed manner.
10% — Creativity.
Suggested Essay Contest Timeline
February 6 – March 15
Assign essay, conduct site contests and select school winner(s).
No later then Friday, March 15th
Submit school or district winning essay(s) by filling in the submission form below.
By Friday, April 15th
All district entries will be read; winners will be notified at their school sites.
Winning Essays at the Conference
We would love to have student winners read their essays at the Conference and be honored in person. Since distance and resources can be a challenge, it is suggested that perhaps a student could be videotaped reading their winning essay and this could be shown at the conference. Having students read their essays in person has been one of the highlights of the conference. It is an incredible opportunity for the student to be recognized. If your student wins the essay contest and can attend the award ceremony it would be great. If not, please consider making a video of them.
More About the Awards *
Awards and other prizes will vary depending on how much is raised at the conference from raffles and silent and live auctions of donated goods. These items are donated by each of your continuation districts and/or individual schools. We hope that each CCEA+ district or possibly each school will consider bringing a basket or item to donate and support our students.
Heads Up: Student Art Showcase
There is a Student Art Showcase at the Conference, too. If you would like to include your students’ art, please contact the art show coordinator directly: Kathleen Rarewala — email: rarewala (at) pvpusd (dot) net.
Essay Contest Submission Form
To submit school or district winning essay(s), please fill in the submission form below.
Please submit one student essay form at a time.