Essay Contest Underway

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]The Incarnate Word Foundation, in conjunction with the Catholic Education Office, announces our fifth “Stories of Our St. Louis Sisters,” essay contest. The contest educates our student about the contributions of local women religious.  In fields ranging from healthcare, education, civil rights, women’s rights, the environment , prison ministry, the environment and care for the poor, women religious traditionally see a need and boldly meet it. I can’t imagine what St. Louis would be like without their past and current contributions.

These women should be the “Wonder Women” for our young people, but our sisters are very humble. We need to tell their stories for them.  I am happy to say there is a national effort underway by the Conference on the History of Women Religious to accomplish these same goals on a broader stage.

In their essays we want students in grades fifth through twelfth to briefly describe a woman religious, or religious community, they admire, and then write how the work of this sister or community will inspire them to make a difference in their own home, school or neighborhood. How they, like the woman religious they describe, can see something that needs to be done, and do it. A set of contest rules is included with this posting.

Included with this letter is a list of websites that describe some of these outstanding women, and a list of the contest rules. Students can select other local women religious to describe. Students submitting winning essays will receive a $100 Amazon gift card as will their teachers. Schools with winning essayists will be entered into a drawing for a $3,000 grant. Winning essayists will be honored at an awards ceremony Nov. 14 at Incarnate Word Academy, 2788 Normandy Drive, 63121.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Terry Edelmann, who is coordinating the contest, with any questions. She can be reached at 314.712.4216 or marieedelmann35@gmail.com.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16795″ img_size=”large” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]CONTEST RULES

  • Essays must be typed and include the student essayist’s name, grade in school, name of school and teacher’s name to be considered for the contest.
  • Essays must accurately describe the life and work of a local woman religious or religious community and the impact of this life or work on the community as a whole.  The woman religious can be alive or deceased.
  • The essay must SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBE  how the student will follow the example of the woman religious and find ways to improve his/her  community – at home, school or in the larger metropolitan area.
  • Essays will be judged on the depiction of the subject, the personal activity the writer plans to undertake, and the overall quality of their writing.
  • All essays must be the original work of the student entrant. Students who submitted essays in earlier contests are welcome to submit again but must choose a different topic. This contest is for students from fifth through twelfth grade.
  • Essays must be no longer than 500 words.
  • Any indication that an essay is plagiarized will result in disqualification.
  • An updated list of websites featuring profiles of local women religious in leadership will be furnished, but students may choose another topic.
  • Each winning student will receive a $100 Gift Card. Teachers of winning students will also receive a $100  Gift Card, with a limit of one to a teacher.
  • Each school with a student who submitted a winning essay will be eligible to participate in a drawing for a $3,000 grant.  The drawing will be held at the Awards Ceremony Tuesday, November 14 at Incarnate Word Academy.
  • Essays are due by the end of the day Oct. 6, 2017.   Essays should be sent to Essay Contest, Incarnate Word Foundation, 5257 Shaw, St .Louis, MO 63110.
  • All essays will become the property of the Incarnate Word Foundation and may be used as part of the foundation’s promotional material.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]