Purpose
The Pro-Life Scholarship Essay Contest is designed to encourage high school seniors to dive deeper into understanding the issues of abortion and how it continues to affect our culture as well as individuals’ lives. It is our hope that through careful research and study, students will gain a deeper understanding of prenatal development, abortion procedures, and loving and compassionate ways to support those facing unplanned pregnancies. Students should research their essay topics in order to write well thought out, original, and persuasive pro-life arguments.
Writing Prompt: An unmarried friend or family member confides in you that they are facing an unplanned pregnancy and are planning to have an abortion. In a loving, winsome way, how would you attempt to convince them of the importance of valuing the life of this baby and continuing the pregnancy?
Eligibility
Entrants must be current seniors residing in Radford City, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Bland, Carroll, Galax, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, or Wythe Counties during the 2023-2024 school year in order to apply. All entries must be original essays that have not been previously published, received awards for, or have been submitted for any other previous contests.
Essay Length
700-1,000 words
Format
- Typed
- Double-spaced
- APA Format
Scoring
All essays will have names removed and numbers assigned to each paper. Judges will then evaluate the papers on a scale of 1-5 in each of the following categories: Use of Evidence, Emotional Appeal and Persuasiveness, Grammar, Adherence to Guidelines, and Originality
1.Use of Evidence: Does the essay effectively use relevant facts, statistics, examples, and quotations with proper citations to support the pro-life stance?
2.Emotional Appeal and Persuasiveness: How effectively does the essay engage the reader emotionally while maintaining a persuasive and respectful tone?
3.Grammar, Spelling, and Mechanics: Are there minimal errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, showing a high level of care and proofreading?
4. Adherence to Guidelines: Does the essay meet the specified guidelines in terms of length, format, and focus on the prompt?
5. Originality: Does the essay provide unique perspectives or insights into the pro-life argument, rather than simply repeating common viewpoints?
Submission
Applicants must submit their entries through this link, completing all fields, indicating entrant’s name, home address, telephone number, age, grade level, name of school/homeschool, name of college or university he/she is planning to attend, and number of words in the essay. Identifying information should not appear elsewhere in the essay. Please refrain from naming any schools or churches that you currently or previously attended.
Applicants must use reputable sources with an attached bibliography.
Deadline
Entries must be submitted no later than April 1, 2024. The first 25 submissions that meet the contest criteria will be accepted.
Awards
First: $2,500
Second: $1,500
Third: $1,000
Award recipients must apply their scholarship to an accredited college or university. The first 10 applicants who submit a pro-life essay, following the guidelines, will receive a $10 gift card to Chick-fil-A.