WCAF 2019 Student Essay Contest Rules and Submission Instructions

WCAF Student Essay Contest 2019:

Eligible entrants: All high school and middle school students residing in Mesa and Delta Counties. Winners of previous years’ contests are ineligible, but we still love you dearly and think you are awesome.

Topic question: The law says it is illegal to discriminate against people based on their religion or “sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs.” But should the law make it clearer that people who don’t believe in God, like atheists and agnostics, are a protected class as well?  If so, why? If not, why not?

Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2019

Judging: WCAF Judges will have three months to evaluate entries and winners will be announced on or before March 15, 2020.

Award date: WCAF will give the awards to the winning students by March 30, 2020.

Essay Contest Rules:

– Minimum of 700 words

– Maximum of 1,000 words

– One submission per entrant. Include your full contact information, your grade and the name of the school you attend.

– Entries shall be submitted in 16 point Helvetica font or handwritten in clear writing on lined paper.

– Email entries to WesternColoradoAtheists@yahoo.com with subject line “Essay contest submission,” or send via U.S. mail to WCAF Student Essay Contest, ℅ WCAF, P.O.Box 1434, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

– Entries must be postmarked or delivered to our Yahoo inbox before midnight on December 15, 2019 to be eligible. No late entries will be accepted.

– No one directly affiliated with WCAF is eligible to enter. Family members of WCAF board members are ineligible to enter.

– All submissions become the property of WCAF and will not be returned.

– Judges consist of a panel of WCAF board members and volunteers.

– The winning essays will be posted on WCAF’s website and Facebook page, along with the authors’ name and school.

– The award for the top essay by a high school student will be $500.

– The award for the top essay by a middle school student will be $250.

– All awards will be in the form of a check from WCAF.

– Winners must be willing to attend an award ceremony, pose for a photo with their award check and allow WCAF to publish the photos, along with their names. Winners must be willing to read their essays publicly, have their and essays published on our website, and have their awards announced publicly.

– Winning essay authors will be notified on or as close to March 15, 2020 as possible.

– Prizes will be awarded by March 30, 2019.