In Barbados, 1st Annual Environmental Essay Contest
The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary in Christ Church, Barbados, announced last month (November 30, 2010) the first Annual Environmental Essay Contest for students ages 9-18. The Contest deadline is February 19, 2011, and the winners will be invited to a special awards ceremony in March, 2011.
Sponsored by the Canada-Barbados Environmental Youth Awards Program (CBEYA), the Essay Contest promises $4,000 in cash prizes for the top six winners, plus gift certificates for Honorable Mention winners. It is an opportunity for students to develop and write their thoughts about the importance of the environment to Barbados, and an opportunity for the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary to provide public service. Entry to the CBEYA Essay Contest requires an essay of 300-500 words, and the student writer must obtain the sponsorship of a teacher.
For more information, you may write to news@graemehall.com; Official Rules and Entry Form can be found at http://www.graemehall.com/awards/essay-contest/
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The Canada-Barbados Environmental Youth Awards (CBEYA)
Essay Contest
The Contest
The Canada-Barbados Environmental Youth Awards (CBEYA) Programme is sponsoring a national CBEYA Essay Contest for all students in Barbados ages 9-18.
The mission of the CBEYA Awards Programme seeks to increase youth knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Environment to our lives.
All students between ages 9-18 can submit a 300-500 word essay to compete for cash prizes totaling $4,000, and for Honorable Mention gift certificate prizes. The Contest Deadline is located on the Official Entry Form that can be found at www.graemehall.com/awards/essay-contest/EntryForm.pdf.
Contestants are encouraged to carefully review the Official Rules in this release, and refer to theOfficial Entry Form for the Essay Topic.
The Prizes
First Place (youth ages 9-13): $1250 First Place (youth ages 14-18): $1250 Second Place (youth ages 9-13): $500 Second Place (youth ages 14-18): $500 Third Place (youth ages 9-13): $250 Third Place (youth ages 14-18): $250
Honorable Mention Prizes: Merchandise and Gift Certificates will be divided and distributed to six (6) runner-up Essayists.
Who is eligible?
All students ages 9-18 who are currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution in Barbados, including public and private schools. Students must submit original work and have a sponsoring teacher sign the contest entry form.
How many prizes will be awarded?
Three cash prizes will be awarded for essay submittals from students ages 9-13, and three cash prizes will be awarded for submittals from students ages 14-18. Honorable Mention Prizes consisting of merchandise and gift certificates will be distributed evenly among six (6) runner-up Essayists.
What is required?
After carefully reading the Official Contest Rules, the contestant must submit an essay with no less than 300 and no more than 500 words. The contestant must also submit the Official Entry Form signed by a sponsoring teacher. Entries may be typed or handwritten but must be double-spaced.
Complete Official Rules
Section I - General Rules
- The Canada-Barbados Environmental Youth Awards ESSAY CONTEST is divided into two levels of competition: Students ages 9-13, and students ages 14-18. There will be first, second and third place prizes awarded in each level, plus Honorable Mention prizes.
- Contestants must submit their entry no later than the official Deadline Date specified on the Official Entry Form located at www.graemehall.com/awards/essay-contest/EntryForm.pdf. All submittals must be delivered to the Main Office, Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary either by mail or hand delivery.
- Any entries received by Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary after the Deadline will be disqualified.
- Contestants must compose an original essay with limited guidance from others.
- The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary will have the right to edit, publish or otherwise duplicate any essay entered into the contest without payment to the author.
- There is no cost to enter the contest.
Section II - Qualifications for Contestants
- The contest is open to all students ages 9-18 enrolled in school in Barbados during the year of the Essay Contest.
- Contestants may submit only one essay entry during any given contest year.
Section III - Contest Rules
- Each contestant should read a copy of the Official Rules located at www.graemehall.com/awards/essay-contest/EssayContestRules.pdf and must complete the entry form located at www.graemehall.com/awards/essay-contest/EntryForm.pdf. The rules contain information about the contest, judging and awards.
- Participants must write on the official topic.
- Each entry must include the Official Entry Form or submit a cover page containing the same information found on the Entry Form. The Entry Form is available at www.graemehall.com/awards/essay-contest/EntryForm.pdf.
- Essays may be typewritten or legibly handwritten but must be double-spaced.
- Essays must contain at least 300 words but no more than 500 words. Every word of the essay is counted. This does not include the title, bibliography or footnotes.
- Any quotations or copyrighted material used in the essay must be identified properly. Failure to identify non-original material will result in disqualification.
- Essays must be written in English.
- The entry must be stapled together in the upper left-hand comer.
- Any protest in the conduct of the contest must be made immediately in writing to the Essay Contest Chair, CBEYA, Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Main Road, Worthing, Christ Church, Barbados. The Essay Contest Chair will decide all protests in conformity with the contest rules. The decision of the Essay Contest Chair is final, and no higher appeals will be recognized.
Section IV - Judging and Timing
- Judging will be completed by a panel of qualified judges.
- Judges will not discuss or compare essays being judged until all essays have been judged.
- Only judges can assign a penalty or award points.
- The Contest Awards Ceremony and disbursement of Prizes will occur within three months of the submission deadline.
Section V - Scoring of Contest Scoring procedures at all levels of the contest will be identical.
- Material Organization (Logical interpretation of the subject, adherence to topic): 40 points
- Vocabulary and Style (Phrasing and continuity): 30 points
- Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling: 20 points
- Neatness: 5 points
- Adherence to contest rules (prepared in the proper format): 5 points
