“Write persuasively”
Cash prizes offered in pro-life essay contest for students in Los Angeles archdiocese
MAY 9, 2009 (http://calcatholic.com) - The deadline is nearing for students in the Los Angeles archdiocese who want to enter a pro-life essay contest, which offers cash prizes for the best submissions.
“More than 30,000 students in Catholic high schools in Los Angeles are invited to compete for large prize money in our new pro-life essay contest,” said J.T. Finn, founder of the pro-life, pro-chastity newspaper and web site www.LoveMatters.com, which is sponsoring the contest.
Students have until May 17 to submit their essays by mail, fax, or e-mail to LoveMatters.com Essay Contest, 1840 S. Elena Ave., #103, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; Fax (310) 375-4546; E-mail: Ncebra@yahoo.com.
“The guidelines are easy: Write persuasively on the topic ‘Abortion is DEADLY.’ And back up what you write with facts, testimonies, stories and information found on our LoveMatters.com website or in a copy of the LoveMatters.com 32-page newspaper version that archdiocesan high schools are distributing this spring,” said Finn.
“Our first-place prize is $1,000, second place is $500, and third place is $250,” he said.
Fr. Sal Pilato, superintendent of Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, recently asked principals at 48 Catholic high schools to distribute copies of the 32-page LoveMatters.com newspaper to approximately 30,000 students. Fr. Pilato authorized the voluntary pro-life essay contest in conjunction with the special distribution of LoveMatters.com newspapers to students, to foster further study and reflection.
“Fr. Pilato is very excited about this large distribution of pro-life material and he hopes every student competes in the voluntary essay contest,” said Finn.
“Abortions are truly deadly… physically, emotionally, and spiritually!” said Finn, a pro-life speaker, publisher and producer for 20 years. “I’ve seen how devastating abortion is to babies, women and families, and unfortunately, legalized abortion has taken the lives of a third of these students’ generation. Our essay contest gives students a chance to get the facts about the sanctity of life, abortion and its consequences… and to share their thoughts in their own words.”
All freshmen through seniors at Archdiocese of Los Angeles high schools are eligible to participate in the essay contest. Judges will select and notify the three winners on or about June 15, 2009. The Lovematters.com website will post the winning essays.
Essays will be judged on (1) content, (2) persuasive pro-life impact, (3) spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and (4) referencing at least one article, testimony, story or quote from the LoveMatters.com newspaper or website, and using the name “LoveMatters.com” at least once in the body of the essay as a reference or a source.
In a press release, LoveMatters.com offered the following guidelines for students who wish to participate: “Essays should be 500 to 750 words. They must be typed, and they must be one to two pages, not longer. Footnotes are helpful but not required. Students must submit their essays with a separate cover page that include the student’s: (1) first and last names, (2) ages and grade level, (3) school’s name and street address, (4) complete home address, (5) home phone number, and (6) e-mail address.”
“If for some reason a student does not get a copy of the LoveMatters.com newspaper in their school, they can still write and submit a pro-life essay referencing pro-life stories, testimonies and material on the LoveMatters.com web site,” said the news release.
Only students in high schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are eligible to participate in the essay contest. “In the future, we hope to have LoveMatters.com distributions and essay contests in other dioceses across America,” said the news release.
