How to Submit Your Essay By Mail
Roots & Wings - Young Scholars Essay Contest
”Leave a mark that no one can erase!”
Sponsored by the Center for Baptist Heritage & StudiesPurpose: So you can gain an appreciation for Baptist history and heritage and share your ideas with others.
Background The Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies uses two purposes in our focus on Baptist heritage: “Remembering the Past. . .Imagining the Future.” These two purposes help us focus on the importance of our heritage while always holding onto the legacy we will leave for future Baptists. You will be asked to incorporate the dual purposes of the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies into your essay which will be on Christian stewardship.
Remembering…
Stewardship is “a Bible doctrine relating to the use of all of life and property which involves partnership with God.” In an essay, share some historical illustrations and perspectives on how Baptists have practiced stewardship in the past. Your essay should tell the story of a certain individual who has or does exemplify Christian stewardship in its fullest dimensions. You may select an historical figure from Baptist history or a person from the history of your church or a living person who has inspired you as a Christian steward.
Imagining…
Using the remembering portion of the essay as a springboard, tell how you feel the youth of today can develop and practice giving lives. Consider the spiritual dimensions of stewardship. Conceive of practical ways in which teenagers of today can give of their money, time, and talents.
Eligibility Open to all 11th and 12th grade high school students (public, private or homeschool) who attend a Baptist church in Virginia.
Deadline of April 15th
Length of the essay: Essay must be in English and contain no fewer than 1,000 words and no more than 1,200. (The articles a, and & the count. Any bibliographical information does not count towards the word count.)
Format: All entries must be typed, double-spaced on 8 ½ by 11 inch paper. Use only one-side of the paper. Use left and right margins of 1 ¼ inches each. Use 12 point font. Do not place your name on your essay. Place your name only on your cover letter. At the conclusion of your essay cite bibliographical references of any sources used in writing your essay.
Information Sources: A bibliography should be included which properly cites any works referred to in the essay or which have been consulted by the writer in the process of composing the essay. Citations for the references, endnotes or bibliography should follow the rules given in a handbook such as the Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or the Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, Dissertations. At the very least the bibliography should include the author or editor, title of the work, publisher, place of publication and date of publication. Writers are discouraged from using general encyclopedias. Possible sources of information especially for historical content include college and denominational libraries, ministers’ personal libraries and church libraries. Information on the current aspect may be found in denominational periodicals. Students also may want to make a research appointment to use the library of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society at the University of Richmond. (Telephone (804) 289-8435 to make an appointment.)
All entries will be judged by a jury. Three cash awards will be presented: $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. Up to three honorable mention awards may be given. The judges or the sponsoring body may choose not to award any or all of the prizes. The winning essay may be published. The winners may be invited to a public presentation in Richmond.
How to Submit Your Essay By Mail
You may submit only one essay.
Contents to be Sent:
On your typed cover letter include the following information:
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 missions 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.
The judges will be interested both in historical information, in your understanding of Baptist heritage and your creative imagining. They will be weighting their decisions based upon the following considerations: 30% for historical content; 30% for conveying an understanding of Baptist heritage; and 40% for creative thought and writing. The judges will be looking for correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Go For It!
Now is the time that young Baptists can leave a mark they can’t erase! We want young Baptists to learn about the past and we want to learn their ideas for the future. If you are an aspiring writer, go for it! If you are a leader of youth in your church, promote the Roots and Wings Young Scholars Essay Contest and encourage your promising youth to go for it!