Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md.

Optimist Club of Frederick
Essay Contest Application & Rules

This contest is open to students living or attending school in Frederick County Maryland only.

Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md

Essay Contest Rules

Each contestant must be given a copy of the rules and complete the entry form. The rules contain information about the contest, judging and awards. 

Section I - General Rules 

1. The Optimist International Essay Contest is divided into three levels of competition: Club, District and International.     

2. Contestants must enter through a local Optimist Club.  

3. Contestants must compose an original essay with limited guidance from others.     

4. Optimist International will have the right to edit, publish or otherwise duplicate any essay entered into the contest without payment to the author.            

Section II - Qualifications for Contestants   

1. The contest is open to students under age 19 as of December 31 of the 2004-2005 school year. Contestants must meet all requirements to compete.

2. Contestants are eligible for only one Club’s essay contest during any given year.

3. No individual having previously won an Essay Scholarship will be eligible to compete at any level of the competition again.          

Section III - Contest Rules               

1. Each contestant must be given a copy of the rules and must complete the entry form. The rules contain information about the contest, judging and awards. 

2. Participants must write on the official topic. The official topic must be listed with the total number of words at the top of the first page of the manuscript. (Deduction of S points for each 25 words over/under limit)            

3. Each entry must begin with a title page containing: topic, number of words, writer’s name, address, phone number, date of birth.  (Deduction of 5 points for incorrect total of words)           

4. Essays may be handwritten or type-written but must be double-spaced. (Deduction of 5 points)            

5. Essays must contain at least 400 words but no more than 500 words. Every word of the essay is counted. This does not  include the bibliography, footnotes identifying non-original material or title.   

6. Each page of the essay must be numbered starting with the first page of the essay, not the title page. The numbers must be centered at the bottom of each page.              

7. Any quotations or copyrighted material used in the essay must be identified properly. For example, use of a specific writer’s format (such as MLA) may be specified by the instructor overseeing the contest. Failure to identify non-original material will result in disqualification.    

8. No reference can be made in the essay that identifies the contestant or their specific geographic location. This does not include nationality or religion. (Deduction of 5 points or fraction based on degree of identification)

9. An essay may be written in either English, French, or Spanish if the language used is an official language of the country in which the sponsoring Club is located.

10. The entry must be stapled together in the upper left-hand corner. Covers of any type are not accepted.

11. Any protest in the conduct of any Club or District contest must be made immediately. The Essay Contest Chair will decide all protests in conformity with the contest rules. The decision of the contest Chair is final, and no higher appeals will be recognized.

Section IV - Judging and Timing

1. Judging will be completed by a panel of three non-Optimist qualified judges.

2. In an effort to conceal the identity of each contestant, each entry will be assigned a number by the essay contest Chair. The assigned number will be placed on the title page and first page of the essay. The title page will then be detached and retained by the essay contest Chair. The judges will be given the essay    bearing only the assigned number.

3. Judges will not discuss or compare essays being judged.

4. Only judges can assign a penalty or award points.

Section V — Scoring of Contest

Scoring procedures at all levels of the contest will be identical.

1. Material Organization (Logical interpretation of the subject,    adherence to topic): 40 points

2. Vocabulary and Style (Phrasing and continuity): 30 points

3. Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling: 20 points

4. Neatness: 5 points

5. Adherence to contest rules (prepared in the proper format): 5 points

Section VI — Penalties

1. Failure to identify total number of words: S points

2. Failure to stay within the 400-500 word limit: 5 points

3. Self-identification: 5 points

4. Failure to double-space: 5 points

Section VII - Awards

Only Optimist International awards obtained from Shumsky Enterprises or the Canadian Service Centre are to be given at all Club and District level contests.

1. Club level - medallion

2. District level - plaque and a $650 college scholarship for the first place winner

3. International level -

First-place: plaque, trip to convention for winner and parents, $5,000 college scholarship
Second-place: plaque, $3,000 college scholarship
Third-place: plaque, $2,000 college scholarship

1. Scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations of the United States and Canada.

2. Scholarships awarded are for use at a college, university, or trade school.

3. All scholarships will be payable either to the student or to the educational institution of the recipient’s choice, subject to the approval of Optimist International.

4. All scholarships will be administered by Optimist International.

5. Scholarships are held for 12 years from the effective date.

Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md

 Follow the links below for information on specific Frederick Optimist Club activities.

Frederick Optimist Home Page
Childhood Cancer, Oratorical Contest, Talent Show, Youth Appreciation Week , Respect for Law,  Essay Contest, 
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Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md

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Last modified: September 07, 2003