Prizes

The following prizes will be awarded:

• 10 First-Place Winners: Each of the 10 First-Place Winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago, IL, (tentatively scheduled for June 22-26, 2009) to visit the new Illinois Holocaust Memorial Museum and other sites with teachers and Holocaust survivors (valued at over $2,000), a gold medal, and a Certificate of Participation. In addition, each First-Place Winner will receive a scholarship ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
   
• 10 Second-Place Winners: Each of the 10 Second-Place Winners will receive $500, a silver medal, and a Certificate of Participation.
   
• 10 Third-Place Winners: Each of the 10 Third-Place Winners will receive $300, a bronze medal, and a Certificate of Participation.
   
• Scholarships: The 10 First-Place Winning Essays will be evaluated by a separate panel of judges and scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to those 10 essayists and will be announced while the winners are in Chicago, IL.

2009 Official Contest Rules

Read all of the contest rules. Entries that do not adhere strictly to these rules and guidelines will not be judged. This contest is open to all students age 19 and under who meet the following criteria: (1) are currently enrolled as a high school student in grades 9-12 (including home schooled students) or who are high school seniors who may graduate high school at any time in 2009, or are students who are enrolled in a high school equivalency program; AND (2) are residents of either the United States or Mexico or who are United States Citizens living abroad.

ONLINE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Students MUST submit their essays online! You will not be allowed to mail, fax, or e-mail your essay to us. All essays must be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 30, 2009. You will not be able to upload your essay or edit any information you may have begun to upload after the deadline.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: Every essay must include either a Works Cited, Reference Page, or Bibliography. The total number of words used in your essay must not exceed 1,200 words. Words contained in your accompanying Works Cited, Bibliography, or Reference Page will NOT be included in the 1,200 word limit. Most word processing programs contain a "word count" function that will count the number of words in your document for you.  Your word count should include all words contained in the body of your essay only.  Essays must be in English. Do not include your name anywhere on any page of your essay (other than on your title page, if you have one). While this is a creative writing contest, research must be an integral element of the writing process and essays must contain a Works Cited, Reference Page or Bibliography, citing all materials used in the research and writing of the essay (parenthetical documentation must accompany research).

The essay must be in prose format and may be a commentary or interpretation of primary and secondary source material such as: historical and reference material; interviews, eyewitness accounts and oral testimonies; official documents and other primary sources; readings from diaries, letters, autobiographies and works of poetry; video or audiotapes, films, art, CD-ROM and Internet sources.

The essay must be primarily directed toward examining this year’s writing prompt. The essay must not be a fictitious story or poem.

Submissions that adhere to the guidelines will be judged with special attention to: (1) evidence of relevant reading and thoughtful use of resource materials; (2) treatment of the assigned theme; (3) clear and effective language, mechanics and grammar; and (4) a coherent plan of organization.

Entries must be submitted online via our Web site. Entries may not be sent via mail, facsimile or e-mail. Entries must be uploaded to the upload site no later than 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 30, 2009. Entries that arrive after the entry deadline will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Entries will be judged anonymously and will not be returned to students. Each essay submitted must be the work of one student and may not be the collective work of more than one student. By submitting an essay, applicants certify that their essays are original, authored solely by them and that in writing their essay they did not plagiarize or otherwise infringe upon the rights of any third parties.

It is not necessary for a student to have a sponsoring teacher in order to participate in this contest. Certificates of Participation will be mailed by June 1, 2009 to the residence of all students who submit a qualifying essay.

Winners will be notified of contest results and winning essays will be posted to our Web site by June 1, 2009.

The ten First-Place Winners will join teachers and Holocaust survivors for an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago, IL, tentatively scheduled for June 22-26, 2009. Scholarship winners will be selected from the ten First-Place Winners and will be announced at a special awards luncheon in Chicago, IL. Scholarships will be paid to student’s post-secondary educational institution after student has graduated high school and upon Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation’s receipt of a copy of student’s registration paperwork from said post-secondary educational institution. All essays submitted may be used or published in whole or in part by the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation or by other parties with its written permission. The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation reserves the right not to publish any essay it deems inappropriate for any reason. First-Place Winners MUST agree to participate in the entire trip to Chicago, IL, in order to receive a scholarship. In the event that a First-Place Winner is unable or unwilling to participate in the trip to Chicago, IL, in its entirety, no substitution prize will be awarded. The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation reserves the right not to award a prize or any prizes when submissions do not meet contest standards or criteria. Former Holocaust Remembrance Project first-place winning students are not eligible to enter this year’s writing contest. Employees and family members of Holland & Knight LLP and the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation are not eligible to participate in this essay contest. For more information, visit our Web site at www.holocaust.hklaw.com or call us toll-free at 1-866-452-2737.  E-mail questions (no essays) to holocaust@hklaw.com
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am a resident of the United States, but not a United States Citizen. May I participate in the essay contest?

A: YES. The contest is open to all residents of the United States and Mexico and United States Citizens living abroad.

Q: Is the contest open only to high school seniors?

A: No. Anyone age 19 or under who is currently enrolled in high school grades 9-12 (including home schooled students) may be eligible to participate. See Contest Rules for eligibility requirements.

Q: I am a high school senior who will be graduating early this year. Am I eligible to participate?

A: If you are a high school senior who will be graduating at any time in 2009, you are considered eligible to participate in this year’s essay contest as a high school student.

Q:  I have already graduated high school, but am not yet 19 years old.  Am I eligible to participate?

A:  No.  You must be in high school or be graduating at any point in calendar year 2009 in order to participate. 

Q: What exactly should I write my essay about?

A: You may write your essay on any aspect of the Holocaust that interests you. Remember to incorporate answers to the questions posed in the writing prompt in your essay.

Q: When I do my word count, should I include words used in my bibliography too?

A:  No. The total number of words used in your essay must not exceed 1,200 words. Words contained in your accompanying Works Cited, Bibliography, or Reference Page will NOT be included in the 1,200 word limit. Most word processing programs contain a "word count" function that will count the number of words in your document for you. Your word count should include all words contained in the body of your essay only.

Q: When is the entry deadline?

A: All essays must be uploaded to the upload site no later than 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 30, 2009.

Q: If I were to be chosen as a First-Place Winner, would I have to participate in the trip to Chicago, IL, in order to receive my scholarship?

A: Yes. If you are not able or willing to participate in the entirety of the trip to Chicago, IL, then you will forfeit your scholarship and no substitution prize will be awarded.

Attention Teachers

Are you a high school teacher who is interested in being one of a select group of teachers invited to participate in our first-place winners’ all-expense-paid trip to Chicago, IL, tentatively scheduled for June 22-26, 2009? You’ll experience a life-changing week as you share experiences with the winning students, other teachers and Holocaust survivors. You’ll also receive many valuable Holocaust-related teaching resources (valued at over $1,000) and participate in special training sessions designed to give you the tools you need to share the Holocaust with your students. In addition, you may be eligible to receive up to 30 hours of in-service credits for your participation in the trip.

For an application, click here to download a PDF of the file.  Applications must be received by May 1, 2009.  Applications will be reviewed May 1-15, 2009 and teachers will be selected and notified by June 1, 2009.  If you are unable to open the application file, you may request an application be mailed to you by contacting us toll free at 1-866-452-2737 or via e-mail at holocaust@hklaw.com.

Free Teacher Guide Available On-line!