articles

8th Annual "Dear Cancer, It's Me" High School Essay Contest For Teens

Teens 9th-12th Grade Are Invited to Enter The Essay Contest By Saturday, February 29, 2020

By Informational Post January 5, 2020

Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara is running the 8th Annual "Dear Cancer, It's Me..." Essay Contest for high schoolers in 9th-12th grade who have been affected by Cancer. This contest is open to teens in 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th grades in schools including Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, San Fernando and Santa Clarita. The deadline to apply is February 29, 2020.

High schoolers are encouraged to write essays (500-1,500 word-long) and enter in one of two categories:

  • Personal Category: for those who have/had cancer themselves
  • Family & Friends Category: for those who have a loved one (family or friend) with cancer

Prizes (three in each category): 

  • 1st Place: $1,000 and an invitation to the Gala (1 award)
  • 2nd Place: $500 (2 awards)
  • 3rd Place: $250 (3 awards)

ENTRY RULES

1. Each student may submit only 1 essay. 

2. Entrants from last year may re-apply, however essays must be new and original for this contest. You may not re-submit last year’s essay. 

3. The essay must be the work of a single student and authored by the student.

 4. Essay length must be between 500 –1,500 words. 

5. Essays must be TYPED, DOUBLE SPACED, 12 POINT FONT and SUBMITTED BY MAIL OR E-MAIL (.doc, .docx, .pdf). 

6. Each essay must include the  Dear Cancer, It’s Me Essay Contest Entry Forms

7. Entries must be submitted/postmarked by Saturday, February 29, 2020 by midnight. Late entries will not be accepted. 

Submit all entries to dearcanceritsme@gmail.com by midnight on February 29, 2020 or Mail to:

Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara 

Attention: Veronica Pak

530 Hampshire Road

Westlake Village, CA 91361 

Mailed entries must be received by February 29, 2020

JUDGING

  • Personal Voice: Judges will look for an interesting and engaging essay told in your own words. The essay should describe your experience and an overall message about how your experience impacted your life. 
  • Clarity and Style: Judges will look for a clear and consistent focus in your writing and a logical progression of ideas. Good grammar, accurate word choices, correct punctuation and sentence structure is required.

For more information visit https://www.cancersupportvvsb.org/programs/essay-contest/