Good Life Award Writing Contest

Get Inspired!

• Check out these great books and movies that will inspire you to live a good life!
• Read the winning entries from past years.
• See a list of represented schools.
• Print this Good Life Award contest flyer for your classroom!
• Watch Teen Advisory Board member Rachel Kessie interview Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson, in the Good Life Award video below.

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Eligibility

• Entrants must be enrolled in a curriculum for grades 7 - 9 at the time the application is submitted.
• Entrants must live or attend school in Montgomery County, Ohio.
• Prior Good Life Award $3000 prize winners are not eligible for this contest.
• Family members of Washington-Centerville Public Library staff and contest judges are not eligible for this contest.

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Rules (as an entrant you must...)

• Complete the writing challenge in 300-500 words (entries of more than 500 words will be disqualified).
• Complete the online entry form by April 1.
• Submit only one entry per person.
• Certify the work was written by you and expresses your original ideas which you have developed. By submitting your entry to the Good Life Award, you guarantee the work as your own.
• Agree to allow your name, personal photo, and entry excerpts to be published in the Dayton Daily News if you win.
• Agree to attend the Good Life Celebration award ceremony at Washington-Centerville Public Library on May 17, 2012 if you win.

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How to Enter

• Submit entry online using the official online entry form (link visible when contest opens) between March 1 and April 1.
• Copy and paste your final entry into the textbox. (Please be sure that your name and school are NOT included in the main body of your entry.)

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2012 Writing Challenge

"If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of becoming a prophet" ˜Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902-1991) (Polish Jewish American author, winner of Nobel Prize in Literature, 1978)

"Are you a Tigger or an Eyeore?" ˜Randy Pausch (1960-2008) (American professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie-Mellon University. Author of The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

"Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ˜Bill Meyer (1892-1957) (Played for and managed two of the worst teams in the history of Major League Baseball.)

Step 1: Develop a Plan

Review the criteria by which you will be judged.

Step 2: Write to the Prompt

Invitation:
Each year we focus on one of the four elements of Mrs. Dorothy Yeck’s equation for how to lead a life that is fun, purposeful, and happy: "Being Good + Doing Good = Having Fun + Being Happy." This year’s emphasis is on "Being Happy" and how attitude can affect you and those around you.

Prompt:
Describe a time when you chose to "be happy" even when others were not happy around you. How did your choice make a difference for you? Did it influence others? What lessons did you learn in that situation about the power of choosing your attitude? How will your attitude be influenced in the future?

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Judging

• Decisions of the judges are final.
• Adherence to all rules and challenge guidelines are basic requirements of this contest.
• The following criteria will be used to determine the winning essay:
  
  

  Criteria	Description	Points
  Clearly Addresses Prompt	Includes a description of a situation and/or time when the writer chose to "be happy" even though others were not. The writer cites specific examples of why they chose to be happy and whether or not it influenced the people or situation around them. Writer fully illustrates the lessons learned in the power of attitude and whether or not a positive attitude is helpful in certain situations or around certain people. How will the writer’s attitude be influenced in the future?	30
  Creativity & Style	Rich details and examples that reveal personality and a strong writer's voice.	30
  Clarity of Content	Organized and easy to understand with good ideas for others to consider.	30
  Accuracy	Writing mechanics and format do not detract from meaning.	10

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Awards

• The GLA winner will be awarded a Good Life Award Certificate and $3,000.
• Three Award of Distinction Winners will receive $100.
• Winning essays will be published in the Dayton Daily News.
• Winner agrees to attend the Good Life Celebration at the Washington-Centerville Public Library on May 17, 2012.

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Good Life Celebration

• The 2012 Dottie Yeck Good Life Celebration will be held in the Community Room at Centerville Library, Thursday, May 17, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
• Winners will be recognized and author Fran Kick will help us KICK IT IN with an exciting and dynamic teen leadership presentation!
• Join family, friends, and teachers in celebrating, encouraging, and helping students who are working hard, getting better at what they do, and having fun in the process.
• Everyone is welcome! Registration is NOT required to attend.

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