WIN THE DAY MINI-ESSAY CONTEST
FOR KIDS & TEENS IN THE SAND MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY
CELEBRATE SAND MOUNTAIN WITH US!
“Win the Day” is our way of telling the world to make the most of each day. Try something different, learn a new skill, be a good friend, or push yourself to be your best – in the game, at school, or at home.
We want to know – how has your experience in sport taught you to “Win the Day”? In 300 words or less, tell us how sports have impacted your life, taught you a lesson, or made you a better person, teammate, or friend.
Our Essay Contest Committee has selected two winners in the following age groups: 6-11 years and 12-18 years. The winners have been awarded a 1-year Premium Family Membership to Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater and have pre-recorded their essay reading for Grand Opening Banquet Dinner on Thursday, April 1. Congratulations!
GRAND OPENING INFO
FRI, APRIL 2
CELEBRATE SAND MOUNTAIN CONCERT
SAT, APRIL 3
COMMUNITY DAY & OPENING DAY
MINI-ESSAY ENTRY FORM
Fill out the form below to enter the contest. Under the Essay portion fill out the prompt:
How has your experience in sport taught you to “Win the Day”? In 300 words or less, tell us how sports have impacted your life, taught you a lesson, or made you a better person, teammate, or friend.
RULES & GUIDELINES
Essay Contest Guidelines:
- SUBMISSION: Essays should be submitted using the online form only. Please do not email or mail entries. Each participant can submit one entry for consideration.
- LENGTH: Essays should be no longer than 300 words. This is a maximum word count; if your response to the prompt can be clearly and powerfully communicated in fewer than 300 words, that is great.
- ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to all youth in Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville, Huntsville, and surrounding communities in and around Marshall County. Youth must be between 6-18 years of age when the contest closes on March 21, 2021.
- ADULT SPONSOR: EVERY contestant (regardless of age) must have a teacher, club advisor, parent, or other adult sponsor 21 years of age or older. The Sponsor must review the contestant's work prior to submission to ensure that it meets contestguidelines. Essays cannot be submitted without providing the name and email address for a sponsor. The Sponsor will receive an email when the form is submitted confirming that they have been named as a contest sponsor.
- LANGUAGE: Essays should written in english and represent the youth's original work. Youth are welcome to write their essay in their native language (if not english), but it must be translated into english for submission.
- ORIGINAL WORK: A teacher/sponsor can provide assistance and appropriate review, editing, and translation support, but the ideas, content, structure and style of the actual essay MUST come from the youth author alone.
- WINNERS: A panel of reviewers will judge entries and will typically award one winner and a limited number of honorable mentions for each of the two age categories: 6-11 years and 12-18 years. The essay contest advisory board makes the final decisions and has the authority to offer more or fewer awards in any given year, including the possibility of selecting no winner in a particular age group. Winning essays and those receiving honorable mention will be featured on our website, alongside a brief profile and picture of the author.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS: Winners will be announced Friday, March 26, 2021 via email and on Facebook. Winners are invited to read their essay during the ribbon cutting ceremony on April 1.
- PRIZES: The winner for each age group will receive a one-year "Premier" Family Membership package to Sand Mountain Fitness Center worth $1300! Details on membership packages can be found by clicking on this bullet. If the winner's family is already a member, the account will be credited the value of the Premier Membership or the account will be bumped up to a Premier Membership (if one of the other membership packages).
Evaluation Criteria - Essays will be evaluated subjectively using the following criteria:
- ADDRESSES PROMPT: The essay effectively takes into account, either literally or metaphorically, the topic of the contest. The 2021 contest prompt is "Win the Day".
- FOCUS: The thesis/main message is clear and supported throughout. The essay does not stray from the main message.
- ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE: The essay is organized and easy to read.
- VOICE/ORIGINALITY: The essay uses their own personal style. The author finds ways to convey ideas. The author approaches the topic from a unique perspective.
- EVIDENCE OF PERSONAL REFLECTION: The essay demonstrates that the author has genuinely explored the topic/question and how it relates to his or her own life. The essay reflects a depth in reflection.
Disclaimers:
- Essay, video and poster entries submitted to this contest will not be returned. Submission of the essay constitutes your approval for promotional such use and exhibition by Sand Mountain Park.
- Work submitted to this context must be the original work of the author and shall not violate any anyone’s proprietary or intellectual property rights. Consequences for entries that infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others (disqualification of the participant) and any claims that arise as a result of infringement (“You shall defend or settle against such claims at your sole expense, and You shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsor from any suit, etc.).
- Prize of a 1-year “Premier” Family Membership begins on date of announcement. An adult representing the household must complete the membership agreement, information, and abide by the rules and regulations of the Park. Prize has no cash value, may not be exchanged, returned, shared, or given-away.