The 2nd Annual Shirley A. Justice
Memorial Essay Contest
Official Topic: “The Importance of a Peaceful Democracy”
Who: Youth in grades 6 through 12, living in Calhoun County and surrounding areas. Home schooled students are included.
What: Compose a 700 to 800 word essay around the official topic.
When: Deadline to receive applications AND essays is March 22nd, 2023.
Cash Prizes: 1st place $250; 2nd place $125; 3rd place $75
For more information on the Essay contest, contact Chair Sandy Stewart by email at sandywithjim@gmail.com, or call 256-282-1435.
Contests are sponsored by the Jim and Shirley Justice Center
and the Calhoun County Democratic Executive Committee
Application for the 2022-2023
2nd Annual Shirley A. Justice Memorial Essay Contest
OFFICIAL TOPIC: “The Importance of a Peaceful Democracy”
Name______________________________________________________ Date of Birth / / Age _______
Address City____________________ State__________
Zip Code___________ Phone______________________ E-mail _____________________________________________________
School (circle one) Public/ Private/ Home
Name of School_____________________________________________________________ Grade ______________
Parent or Guardian Permission:
I give my permission for my child/ward to participate in this contest.
Signature______________________________________________________ Date / / Relationship__________________
I,__________________________________________________ grant the Calhoun County Democratic Executive Committee
my permission to use a picture of my child/ward ______________________________________________________ for their public
relation purposes. (Website, FB page, newspaper)
Please use one of the following methods to download/copy or pick up the application - then get the completed application AND essay to us not later than March 22nd
Questions? Call the contest chair at 256-282-1435
Completed Applications AND Essays MUST be received not later than March 22, 2023
Applications may be:
Picked up at the Jim and Shirley Justice Center, 812 Noble Street, Anniston, AL 36201, between 10am and 4pm on Wednesdays through March 15th.
Downloaded and printed from the website at the link below. (See 'Click HERE to download application)
Other pick up arrangements may be made with the contest chair.
Completed applications AND essays may be:
Mailed to Calhoun County Democratic Committee, PO Box 563, Jacksonville, AL 36265 - to be received no later than March 22nd
Dropped off at the Jim and Shirley Justice Center, 812 Noble Street, Anniston, AL between 10am and 4pm on Wednesdays through March 22nd.
Emailed to the contest chair at sandywithjim@gmail.com not later than March 22nd.
Other arrangements may be made with the contest chair to deliver the essay - as long as the essay is received not later than March 22nd.
The top three contestants will be notified of their status - and asked to read their winning essay and receive their cash and awards on Thursday, April 20th. Winners and parents, guests should arrive at the Jim and Shirley Justice Center, 812 Noble Street, Anniston, AL not later than 6 pm. Questions? Call Sandy Stewart, the contest chair, at 256-282-1435
The 2nd Annual Shirley A. Justice Memorial Essay Contest
Official Topic: “The Importance of a Peaceful Democracy”
Essay Contest Rules:
Each contestant must be given a copy of the rules. The rules contain information about the contest, judging and awards. Rules may be downloaded using the link at the bottom of this page.
Section I - General Rules
1. Contestants must compose an original essay with limited guidance from others. Webster’s
dictionary defines an essay as an analytic or interpretative literary composition. Works of fiction will
not be accepted.
2. There must be a minimum of 3 contestants participating to conduct the competition.
Section II - Qualifications for Contestants
The contest is open to students in grades 6 – 12, living in or attending school in Calhoun County and
surrounding areas. Homeschooled students are also invited.
Section III - Contest Rules
1. Participants must write on the official topic. Contestants must compose an original essay with limited
guidance from others. Plagiarism = disqualification.
2. Each entry must begin with a title page containing: the official topic, number of words, writer’s name,
address, phone number, grade, and name of school.
3. At the top of page 1 should be the official topic and the number of words (Deduction of 2 points for lack
of topic and 5 points for failure to identify the total number of words correctly).
4. Essays must be typewritten and double-spaced. (Deduction of 5 points for failure to comply)
5. Essays must contain at least 700 words but no more than 800 words. Every word of the essay is counted.
This does not include the title, bibliography, or footnotes.
6. Hyphenated words count as 1 word (Deduction of 5 points for each 25 words over/under limit).
7. Each page of the essay must be numbered starting with page 1 of the essay, not the title page. Page
numbers must be centered at the bottom of each page.
8. Any quotations or copyrighted material used must be identified properly. Failure to identify non-original
material will result in disqualification.
9. No reference can be made in the essay that identifies the student, parents, school, or community
(Deduction of 5 points or fraction, based on degree of identification)
10. The entry must be stapled together in the upper-left-hand corner. Covers of any type are not accepted.
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