LWVJC High School Student Essay Contest

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County (LWVJC) is announcing its 4th annual High School Essay Contest.

Each year, the LWVJC invites students of high school age to submit an essay with an answer to a civics question, with the top three essays winning monetary prizes. The question is written by the high school teachers, in conjunction with our League's essay team. Each year we have awarded each submitter that doesn't win a top prize, a $10 bill for their effort. Last year, the Port Townsend Leader printed the top three winners, plus a second round of essays, one from each school. This year, we are hoping for even more of the students’ voices and essays to reach the public; they are truly amazing.

The background for this year’s essay topic dates back to 1919 when an original founder of the League of Women Voters, Carrie Chapman Catt, identified three chief aims for the League. One of those aims was – to make democracy so safe for the nation and so safe for the world that every citizen feels secure. This year, the LWVJC invites Jefferson County high school students to answer the question, “How as voters can we ensure that democracy is safe and that citizens feel secure?”

Make an argument for actions that you believe will protect and strengthen our democracy. Essay contest guidelines can be found on the league website at lwvwa.org/Jefferson and strict adherence to the submission guidelines must be followed. Essays will be judged using a “blind” panel that ensures the judges do not know the name or affiliation of the student.

Judging criteria includes:

• fully addressing the prompt

• adhering to published guidelines

• using proper grammar and punctuation

• citing sources and references correctly

• applying clear and concise language & writing style

• exercising creativity

Essays must be emailed to lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com between Friday, May 1 and midnight on Sunday, May 24. Please visit the LWVJC website at lwvwa.org/Jefferson for additional information or send an email to lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com.