2014 Disability History Essay Contest Entry Form

Name:							  Address:						  Parent/Guardian Permission:
Birth Date: 				  Age:		  City:							  (Required if you are under 18 or have a legal guardian)
E-Mail:							  State:		  Zip:					  I give my permission for my child/ward to participate in 
Phone #:						  County:						  this contest and to accept an award if selected.

			Contestant Signature & Date								Parent/Guardian Signature & Date
											Relationship to Contestant:							
Media Release:
I give my permission for the sponsors to use photos of me/my child/ward for public relations 											
purposes as they see fit:	Signed by:          Contestant          Parent/Guardian	 (if under 18 or have legal guardian)	Signature of Contestant/Guardian & Date

Offical Topic:  “Discuss the opportunities for people with disabilities that have evolved from the Disability Rights Movement.”

Essay Contest Rules:
Each contestant must be given the entry form and complete rules which include information about the contest, judging, and awards.
General Rules:
1.	The Disability History Essay Contest is open to all High School Seniors in West Virginia.
2.	The Contest is statewide and entries may be from any county and will be sorted into 6 (six) Districts following the districts delineated by the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services.
3.	Contestants must compose an original essay, with limited assistance from others (which may include typing).  An essay is an analytical or interpretive literary composition.  Works of fiction or poetry will not be accepted.
4.	The selection committee reserves the right to give fewer or no awards at it’s sole discretion.
5.	Each contestant may submit only one essay.  Multiple essays from a single contestant will be disqualified.

Fax:  304-766-4721 

Contest Rules:
1.	Contestants must write on the official topic.
2.	Each entry must have a title page including:  the official topic; contestant’s name, address, phone number, date of birth; and name of school.
3.	Essays must be typed in 12 pt. font, double-spaced, and have no more than 4 pages of content.
4.	Pages must have page numbers centered at the bottom of each page (excluding the Title Page).
5.	Any quotations or copyrighted material must be properly referenced.  Failure to reference non-original material will result in disqualification.
6.	No reference can be made in the essay that  identifies the student, parents, school, or community.
7.	The essay must be written in English.
8.	The entry must be stapled in the upper left corner.  Covers of any type are not accepted.
9.	As a reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities, entries may be submitted as audio-recordings.  Such entries will be subject to all word limits and format requirements.

E-mail:  kathi.young@wvsilc.org 

Judging:
1.	Essays will be numbered to conceal writer identity.
2.	Judging will be completed by an assigned panel.
3.	Only judges can assign a penalty or award points.
Scoring:
1.	Content:  logical interpretation of the subject and adherence to the topic – 40 points
2.	Vocabulary & Style:  phrasing and continuity – 30 points
3.	Grammar, Punctuation, & Spelling – 20 points
4.	Neatness – 5 points
5.	Adherence to Contest Rules:  prepared in the proper format – 5 points
Awards:
State Winner - $2,000
District Winners (6) - $1,000 each
District Runners Up (6) - $500 each
Submit Entry by October 31, 2014 to:

Mail:  WV Statewide Independent Living Council
PO Box 625
Institute, WV  25112-0625
ATTN:  Essay Contest