49th Annual Williams Patton

 Freedom Essay

Scholarship Contest

Information Outline

2010

 

INTENT:  To promote critical thinking in our youth about the various legal, moral and philosophical issues that affect the freedoms that are enjoyed in the United States of America.

AWARDS:  The Sertoma Club of Nashville intends to award the top winners of the contest this year the following:

• Winner (1) Scholarship in the amount of $3500
• Runner’s up (3) Scholarships in the amount of $2000 each
• All Winners also received a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence
• All High Schools sponsoring these winners receive a cash award of $100 and a framed copy of the Declaration of Indepence

 HISTORY:           The Sertoma Club of Nashville stands squarely for the preservation of individual freedom and free enterprise.  Freedom is our heritage.  Sertoma Clubs are helping to preserve that freedom through its Freedom Program.  Good government and good citizenship are encouraged; mutual tolerance and understanding are furthered through the various community activities of this club.  The Sertoman seeks to do his or her share to maintain the principles of private and free enterprise and to safeguard the democratic way of life.  The club meetings provide a forum for discussion of matters of public interest. 

In furtherance of these goals, the Sertoma Club of Nashville sponsors this annual Williams-Patton Sertoma Freedom Essay Scholarship Contest.  Each year, high school seniors are invited to write essays on a given topic concerning freedom.  The essays are judged and scholarships awarded to the top four essays.  During the past 50 years, this club has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships through this program.

 TOPIC for 2009-2010:

• Should all persons residing in the USA be afforded all of the same rights and privileges under the US Constitution and Bill of Rights regardless of citizenship status?  Why?

 RULES:               

1)                   All twelfth grade high school students in Davidson, Cheatham, Wilson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, and Williamson Counties are eligible for this contest, except the sons and daughters of Sertoma Club Members

2)                   The essays submitted shall be limited to three hundred words or less.  Papers longer than three hundred (300) words or more than one (1) page will be declared ineligible.

3)                   The essay must be typewritten and double spaced.  Please use one side only of 8 ½” x 11” paper with due regard for appearance, grammar and length.

4)                   Do not use cover pages.  Put name in extreme upper left hand corner and high school in extreme upper right corner.

5)                   The essay must be original and composed by the student.

6)                   All direct quotations from reference books or other documents shall be shown by footnote.

7)                   The essay will be judged primarily on the BASIS OF CONTENT.

8)                   All essays shall be turned in to the principals or directors of the respective high schools, or to the appropriate home schooling coordinator, by February 19th, 2010 for judging.

9)                   The principal, director or committee of each school (or home schooling coordinator) shall select three essays which are the most outstanding and forward by first class mail to the Sertoma Club of Nashville, P.O. Box 1253, Hendersonville, TN 37077-1253, postmarked no later than March 5th, 2010.  The name of the school must appear on the envelope.

10)               The essays submitted by each high school will be judged by an independent committee composed of area professional, legal and business persons.

11)               Scholarships to be awarded are:  Winner $3500; three runner’s up, $2000 each.  The scholarships distributed by the Sertoma Club’s Freedom Essay committee will be forwarded to the accredited institution of higher learning of the student’s choice when they are accepted and registered by said institution and upon notification by said institution.  Entrance by the student in an institution of his/her choice shall be no later than the fall term of 2010. 

12)               A $100 cash award will also be presented to each school represented by a winner.

13)               Scholarship winners will be selected and presented with their respective awards at the Sertoma Club awards banquet on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010.

 

WEBSITE:          www.nashvillesertomaclub.org  (See link to Freedom Essay Contest)