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Civics Education Program

Kentucky Student Essay Contest
Senior Division: Grades 9-12
Junior Division: Grades 5-8

Contest Deadline: February 15, 2009

The Official McConnell Center Essay Contest Cover Sheet must accompany all entries. Download the Senior Division or Junior Division cover sheets.

Please contact the Civics Education team at civicsed@louisville.edu with inquiries about the contest.

PROMPT: IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE ASPECT OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

EXAMPLES: For instance, students may challenge an aspect of the political process, limit the media's involvement, amend voting requirements, or consider any other aspect of elections. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

ESSAY REQUIREMENTS:

SENIOR DIVISION (Grades 9-12) JUNIOR DIVISION (Grades 5-8)
  • Maximum 1,000 words
  • Maximum 500 words
  • Must use 12 pt. font
  • Must use 12 pt. font
  • Each page must be marked with the author’s last name and page number
  • Each page must be marked with the author’s last name and page number
  • Include a “Works Cited” page, with at least four sources, no more than half of which may be from the Internet
  • Include a “Works Cited” page, with at least two sources
  • Include Official McConnell Center Essay Contest Cover Sheet, which may be downloaded from the top of this page OR retrieved by emailing civicsed@louisville.edu
  • Include Official McConnell Center Essay Contest Cover Sheet, which may be downloaded from the top of this page OR retrieved by emailing civicsed@louisville.edu

SUBMISSION: Students may submit their entries electronically to civicsed@louisville.edu or as a hard copy to McConnell Center, Attention: Essay Contest, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY  40292.

EMAIL:
Attach both the Official McConnell Center Essay Contest Cover Sheet and the essay file to an email with the subject line “Essay Contest" to civicsed@louisville.edu
All email entries must be time-stamped by 11:59 PM on February 15, 2009. 

US POSTAL SERVICE:
Send both the Official McConnell Center Essay Contest Cover Sheet and the essay to:
McConnell Center
ATTN: Essay Contest
Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
All mail entries must be postmarked by February 15, 2009. 

PRIZES (Awarded in both Senior and Junior divisions):

  • Grand Prize Winner: $200 Cash Prize; $50 Gift Card for Books
  • Second Place Winner: $100 Cash Prize; $25 Gift Card for Books
  • Third Place Winner: $50 Cash Prize; $25 Gift Card for Books
  • Honorable Mentions (Up to 3 in Each Division): $25 Gift Card for Books
  • Every entry will receive a book from the McConnell Center Library

DISCLAIMER: The McConnell Center is a non-partisan center, dedicated to nurturing Kentucky’s future leaders through events and programs which encourage students to think creatively and to support their arguments through historical fact and solid reasoning.  Neither the topic of the essay, nor any perceived political bias found within it, will have a bearing on the contest’s results.  Judges will solely be looking for well-written, well-supported, and thought-provoking essays.