Embracing Tolerance Essay Contest
FAQs:
What are the prizes for the top-ranking essayists?
$500 for first prize; $300 for runners-up; $200 for third place. These cash prizes will be awarded in 2 different divisions: 9th – 10th or 11th – 12th grades.
Who is eligible to enter the contest?
Any high school student throughout greater Houston. This includes 9th – 12th graders from public or private schools, as well as home-schooled students in the comparable age range (i.e. 14-18 years old).
When is the deadline for submitting Embracing Tolerance essays?
All entries are due at the Boniuk Center office by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 14th, 2013. Entries must be printed out as hard copies and either mailed or delivered to the Center office (@ Fondren Library, Room 507 or 508 on the campus of Rice) by that date and time.
What is the process for submitting an essay in the Embracing Tolerance contest?
1st: Download, print out, and complete the Entry/Registration Form (pdf) from the Boniuk Center website;
2nd: Print out a hard copy of your essay to mail to:
Embracing Tolerance Essay ContestThe Boniuk Center for Religious ToleranceRice University, MS 3506100 Main St.Houston, TX 77251-1892 Or: Deliver your essay directly to the Boniuk Center in Fondren Library, Room 508 at Rice.
3rd. Make sure you send both of these documents together to the Boniuk Center office by 4:00 pm. On Thursday, February 14th.
4th: Once you completed application is received, you will be notified via a confirmation email from the Boniuk Center.
What are the criteria for evaluating essays?
They include: their clarity and cogency; how compellingly they state their case; the quality and clarity of their prose; their originality and persuasiveness in responding to the essay prompts.
Please see also the brief instructional module for drafting your essay posted here: http://www.boniuk.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=581
Who will judge the essays submitted?
Members of the Boniuk Center staff, Advisory Board and Programming Committee.
When and how will essay entrants be notified of the outcome of their submission?
All will be notified by email of the status of their entry by a response date of Thursday March 21, 2013-at the latest.
When and where will the Embracing Tolerance Awards Ceremony be?
All prize-winning essayists will be invited to a special Embracing Tolerance Awards Ceremony@ the Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore Blvd. The ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thurs., April 18th, 2013. The ceremony and reception will be free and open to the public.
What else might the Boniuk Center do to publish or otherwise disseminate the award-winning essays?
The Boniuk Center is likely to publish the award-winning essays both online (through the Center’s website) and in print. The Center also reserves the right to use excerpts from these winning essays in other related Boniuk promotional materials.
Still have a question not answered here?
If so, please email your query to: tolerance@rice.edu ; or phone the Boniuk Center office at 713-348-4536.
