Thursday, February 17, 2011

Death Penalty Focus: Student Essay Contest


2nd Annual Essay Contest Sponsored by THE INLAND VALLEY CHAPTER of Death Penalty Focus

Execute Justice, Not People
Why California Must Find an Alternative to the Death Penalty


“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” -Thurgood Marshall

The Fine Print…

1. You must be a Middle School, High School, Undergraduate or Graduate student in the state of California.

2. All submissions should be sent via e-mail or mail to Sharyn Webb
at swebb1937@yahoo.com  or 774 Chatham Court, Claremont CA 91711.

3. E-mailed submissions must be a word or PDF document. Email Subject: “Student Essay Contest.”

4. No essays will be accepted without an accompanying submission form.

5. Format: Typed, font size 12, double spaced

6. Length:
College level - three to five pages
Middle and High School level - two to three pages

Deadlines:
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2011
Winners will be notified by: April 15, 2011
Awards will be presented at a special event on: April 30, 2011
Second and third prizes awarded at judges’ discretion.
Winning essays will be published.

Guidelines:
One of the most crucial decisions our state of California must make is whether or not to eliminate the death penalty in favor of life without parole. Most recently, in March 2009, New Mexico joined the fourteen other states which have made that legal change.

“In the fall of 2009…The American Law Institute, which created the intellectual framework for the modern capital justice system almost fifty years ago, pronounced it a failure… The institute is made up of 4,000 judges, lawyers and law professors.” New York Times, January 5, 2010 Many of our Supreme Court justices, law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys who once supported the death penalty have changed their minds. Polls show that two thirds of Californians now prefer life without parole over the death sentence.

Your essay should explore why our state must eliminate the death penalty and what the possible alternatives are.

It will be judged for clarity of writing, research, creativity, uniqueness of approach, persuasive arguments and adherence to rules and deadlines.

Prizes:

Middle
$300 - 1st
$150 - 2nd
$75 - 3rd

High
$300 - 1st
$150 - 2nd
$75 - 3rd

College
$300 - 1st
$150 - 2nd
$75 - 3rd

Graduate
$300 - 1st
$150 - 2nd
$75 - 3rd

Any questions? Please call Sharyn at 909-392-0020

Student Essay Contest Winners - 2010 - Inland Valley Chapter
Middle School

1st - Melissa Spangler
2nd - Ashwin Balaji
3rd - Roshan Plamthottam


High School

1st - Nicholas Morton
2nd - Tran Tsan
3rd - Colin Domonoske
College

1st - Sara Eller
2nd - Rachel KottKamp

Graduate School

1st - Caycie Bradford

Honorary Award

Cathy Sarinana

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