On your typed cover letter include the following information:

• Your full name
• The name by which you are known
• Your mailing address
• Your e-mail address
• Your telephone number
• Your age
• Your present grade in school (Note: open only to 11th and 12th grade students)
• The name and address of your school or a statement that you are home schooled or engaged in a correspondence course
• Statement of Authenticity

Please type the following statement on the cover letter and sign:

I am submitting an original essay to the Roots & Wings Young Scholars Essay Contest. I certify that this essay is my own work. I understand that my essay will not be returned to me and will become the property of the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies to use at its discretion including possible publication.

After the cover letter the next item must be a statement of endorsement from one of the following: the writer’s pastor, Sunday school teacher or youth group leader. The endorser must give their name, address, relationship to the writer and telephone number. The endorser must state that you are A) attending a Baptist church and are B) qualified as regards your high school grade status. The statement may be typed or handwritten but must be legible.

 All essay entries become the property of the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies and will not be returned. Winners will be notified by mail and announcements will be sent to the Baptist papers and to hometown newspapers. Winning entries may be published by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies in print or on the Center’s Website. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 15th and mailed to the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies, P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.