2015 Writing Contest Rules and Entry Procedures
The 2015 writing contest is open to all children and eligible dependents of Hotel Trades Council and/or Local 6 members. Prizes of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $300 for third place will be awarded in each of the three categories detailed below. One of the category winners will be selected as best overall entry and will receive an additional $1,000 for a total grand prize of $3,000. Entrants must be high school students who are in grades 10, 11 or 12 at the time of entering the contest. All entries must be accompanied by the form published below and must be submitted by Friday, June 19, 2015. Entries may not be handwritten. Entries must be mailed to the following address:
Writing Contest
c/o Hotel Voice
709 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Entries will be judged by an impartial panel of educators and/or journalists. Representatives of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, the Hotel Trades Council and Local 6 will have no say in the determination of winners. Entries will be judged according to originality, content and style. Students may enter one, two or all three categories, BUT MAY ONLY SUBMIT ONE ENTRY PER CATEGORY. If more than one entry is submitted by the same student in one particular category all of that student’s entries in that category will be disqualified. In addition, students who submit entries in more than one category must make sure that each entry is accompanied by a copy of the form that appears below. Students are reminded that no handwritten entries will be accepted. Students are also reminded to carefully follow the instructions for each category.
THE CATEGORIES:
Poetry. Poetry submissions may be based on any social theme of the student’s choice and should not exceed two pages in length. There are many examples of social themes, such as poverty, human rights, political change, immigration, global warming and labor organizing. Students are free to choose any of these topics, or they may choose one of their own—as long as it is a social theme.
Essay. Essays should be three to five pages (double spaced) in length and MUST be written about one of the following topics:
1. Why My Parents’ Union Membership Is Important to Me.
2. A Modern Day Hero.
3. My Choice for U.S. President in 2016.
4. How to Fix the Immigration Problem in the U.S.
5. The Supreme Court: Judicial or Political?
6. Public Safety vs. the Second Amendment.
7. Global Warming: Fact or Fiction
Fiction/Non-fiction Narrative. Entries in this category MUST be identified as fiction or non-fiction. Submissions must be a narrative, three to five pages (double spaced) in length, and can be told in either the first or third person. Entries may cover any topic of the student’s choosing. The following are some suggested ideas behind potential narratives. These are only suggested ideas. They do not have to be the subject of the fiction/non-fiction narrative.
Why Unions Matter.
How I Plan to Change the World.
What I Know Now that I Didn’t Know a Year Ago.
My Personal Experience with Immigration.
The following form must be completed and submitted with your entries. If you enter more than one category please make sure a copy of this form is attached to each entry! PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY!
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
High School: Year (circle one) 10 11 12
Parent’s name:
Parent’s Place of Employment:
