Cultural Diversity Personal Essay Contest
Heritage Club and Charger Press invite students from Hamilton High and Templeton Middle Schools to participate in the 2024/2025 Cultural Diversity Personal Essay Contest. The cultural essay contest plays a vital role in celebrating diversity, fostering understanding, and promoting personal growth. In addition, it provides a platform for students to explore their cultural heritage, share their unique perspectives, and connect with others from different backgrounds. Through writing and reflection, participants gain a deeper appreciation for their own culture and the cultures of others, developing empathy, critical thinking skills, and a global mindset.
Eligibility:
Open to all currently enrolled Hamilton High and Templeton Middle students who have personal experience with cultural diversity.
Essay Prompt:
My Cultural Heritage: A Source of Inspiration
Share a specific event or moment that significantly shaped your identity and aspirations.
Discuss how your cultural heritage has influenced your family's customs, beliefs, and behaviors.
Explore the role of language in preserving cultural heritage and how it connects you to your roots.
If you have multiple cultural backgrounds, discuss how you navigate and embrace them.
Share any obstacles you've faced due to your cultural heritage and how you've overcome them.
Explain how your cultural heritage contributes to a more diverse and inclusive world.
Submission Guidelines:
Submit your essay electronically by completing the Google form
Include your full name, grade level, and school name in a separate document, not on the essay itself.
Essays must be typed in 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, with standard margins.
Ensure your essay is original and free of plagiarism.
All submitted essays must be the original work of the student.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other automated essay generation tools is strictly prohibited. Using AI to generate essays undermines the spirit of this competition and deprives students of the opportunity to express their own ideas.
Essays that do not meet the initial criteria of personal reflection to a prompt will not be considered for judging.
Length: from 500 to 700 words.
Judging Criteria:
Originality and creativity
Depth of analysis and argument
Clarity and coherence of writing
Effective use of evidence and examples
Adherence to the essay prompt and guidelines
Judging Panel will consist of: teachers, administrators, literacy coaches, and parents.
Award and Winners:
First Place (HHS): $100 stipend & First Place (TMS): $100 stipend
Submission Deadline: January 3, 2025
Winners Announced: March 3, 2025
