2017 Writing Contest: Rules and Entry Procedures
The Union has announced that the 2017 writing contest for high school students is now underway. The competition is open to all children and eligible dependents of Hotel Trades Council and Local 6 members. Students must be in grades 10, 11 or 12 at the time of entering the competition. Cash prizes will be awarded to at least nine winners—with a top prize of $3,000 for the best overall entry. At least $6,000 in total prize money will be awarded.
Since the competition began 15 years ago, the prize money has been provided by the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation. An impartial committee of judges will determine the winners. Neither the union nor the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation will have any say in determining the winners.
It is easy for students to enter the contest. An explanation of the contest’s two categories and the entry procedures is printed below. The deadline for entries to this year’s writing contest is Friday, June 30, 2017.
The 2017 writing contest is open to all children and eligible dependents of Hotel Trades Council and/or Local 6 members.
Students 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 30, 2017. 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. Students may submit entries in both categories, if they wish, 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 both categories 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.
2017 WRITING CONTEST FORM - DOWNLOAD PDF
Categories
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. How to Fix the Immigration Problem in the U.S.
4. The Supreme Court: Judicial or Political?
5. Public Safety vs. the Second Amendment.
6. 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. These are only suggested ideas. They do not have to be the subject of the fiction/non-fiction narrative.
• Living in a Union Household
• My Experience with Immigration.
• What I Know Now that I Didn’t Know a Year Ago.
