The Hawaii Access to Justice Commission is holding an essay contest open to students in grades 10 through 12.
Students are asked to write an essay on the topic: “How We Can Create and Inspire Change With Fifty Hours of Community Service Work.”
Essays must be 500 words or less, typed in font size 12, and must not exceed two pages (8.5×11-inch paper), double-spaced.
All submissions, including the essay and signed entry and photo release, must be emailed to essaycontest@schlackito.com by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.
Seven students will receive a $500 award, and each student’s teacher or adviser listed on the entry form (only one) will receive a $100 award for educational purposes.
The awards will be given as follows:
- (3) Honolulu County—Oahu
- (1) Maui County—Maui, Molokai, Lanai
- (1) East Hawaii
- (1) West Hawaii
- (1) Kauai County
Winners will be contacted by Oct. 3 and recognized at the commission's Pro Bono Celebration event at the Hawaii Supreme Court Courtroom in Honolulu on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. Each neighbor island awardee will receive air transportation for two (the awardee and an adult chaperone) and a car rental stipend.
Students who were not selected will receive an email notification.
Download the entry and photo release form here.
All entries must be non-fiction, in English, and the original work of the student. Entries are limited to students in grades 10 through 12. All decisions by the contest committee and judges are final. Essays submitted in prior years cannot be resubmitted and will be disqualified.
All essays will become the property of the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission to be used in whole or in part to promote the work and mission of the commission. Credit will be given to the author of the submission, including the name, school, and grade of the student.
If you have any questions, please email Tracey Wiltgen at tracey@mediatehawaii.org or Regan Iwao at riwao@schlackito.com. No telephone calls please.