2012 writing contest rules and entry procedures
Hotel Voice — July 08, 2012
The 2012 writing contest is open to all children and eligible dependents of Hotel Trades Council and/or Local 6 members. Prizes of $1,500 for first place, $750 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 $500 for a total prize of $2,000. 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, July 13, 2012. Entries must be printed (no handwritten entries are permitted) and 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 the form that appears below or a copy of the form that appears below. Students are reminded that entries must be typewritten or word processed. 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 2012.
4. How to Fix the Federal Budget Deficit.
5. Immigration.
6. The U.S. Supreme Court: Judicial or Political?
Fiction/Non-fiction Narrative. Students MUST identify entries in this category as fiction or non-fiction. Submissions should 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 topics. These are only suggested topics and they do not have to be the subject of the fiction/non-fiction narrative.
A Lesson in Union Membership.
What I Hope Will Be My Career.
Meet My Friends.
My Own Experience with Immigration.
The following form must be completed and submitted with your entries. If you enter more than one category, 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:
