Black History Essay Contest
Open to all students in the 6th-8th grades. Our history and communities are full of African American heroes. We’d like you to tell us about one you admire! We’re encouraging students throughout Nevada to write a 250-word essay describing an African American hero who has been influential and important in history, our community, or in the culture. Some of these heroes may be famous, some may not, but here’s your opportunity to tell us about a hero you look up to!
Essay contest will open on February 1st and close on February 28, 2023. Entries must be received and/or postmarked by no later than February 28, 2023. Participants can submit via email or postal.
official rules for essay contest
CONTEST DESCRIPTION AND TIMING: KCEP Radio and the College Savings Division at the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office have partnered to host the 2023 Black History Essay Contest (the “Contest”) which begins on 2/01/2023 and ends on 2/28/2023 (the “Contest Period”). For the Contest, Nevada students who meet the eligibility requirements are asked to compose an original essay of no longer than 250 words describing an African American in history or the community who they feel has been influential and important in the African American culture and submit the Official Essay Entry Form for a chance to win up to$1,000 towards an SSGA Upromise 529 account for the benefit of the student. There will be a total of three contest winners. The 3rd place winner will receive a $250 scholarship in the form of an SSGA Upromise 529 account. The 2nd place winner will receive a $500 scholarship in the form of an SSGA Upromise 529 account. The 1st place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the form of an SSGA Upromise 529 Account.
CONTEST SPONSOR AND ADMINISTRATOR: KCEP Radio and the College Savings, a division of the
Nevada State Treasurer’s Office (“Sponsors”) are located at: KCEP Radio
350 W. Washington Ave, Suite #125 Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
State Treasurer’s Office Las Vegas, NV State Treasurer’s Office Carson City, NV
Grant Sawyer State Building State Capitol Building
555 E Washington Ave. Suite 5200 101 North Carson St. Suite 4
Las Vegas, NV 89101 Carson City, NV 89701
ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open only to students enrolled in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade attending a public, private, religious, charter or home school located within the State of Nevada. Immediate family members of Nevada State Treasurer’s Office, College Savings Division, and KCEP Radio Station employees are not eligible.
Immediate family means spouses, parents, children, siblings, and stepparents/children, siblings, currently living in the same home or residing at separate residences.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: To enter the Contest, student entrants (“Entrants”) must –
1) COMPOSE AN ORIGINAL ESSAY OF 250 WORDS OR LESS: Entrants must explain in their own words describing an African American in history or in Nevada who they feel has been influential and important in the African American culture.
Formatting of Essay:
1. Essay must be in English only.
2. Essay must be typed using 12pt Times New Roman font; handwritten essays will be automatically disqualified.
3. Essay must include a title on the top right corner.
4. The Entrant’s first and last name must be on the top right corner listed below the title.
5. Essay must be double spaced.
6. File must be a PDF if submitting via e-mail.
7. Essay must properly cite any sources on a separate page to avoid plagiarism.
2) COMPLETE OFFICIAL ESSAY ENTRY FORM: Complete Official Essay Entry Form available at https://www.power88lv.com/essay-contest/. Official Essay Entry Form must be completed and signed by Entrant’s parent or legal guardian prior to submission. Official Essay Entry Form must be attached to the essay when submitting.
3) SUBMIT ENTRY: Submit Essay and Official Essay Entry Form (together, “Entry”) by mail or email to:
Mail:
KCEP Power 88
Black History Month Essay Contest 350 W. Washington Ave, Suite #125 Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
or
Email: kcepcultureessays@gmail.com
All Entries must be postmarked or emailed by 2/28/2023. All emailed entries must be received at the email provided by no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on 2/28/2023. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, misdirected, damaged, or postage-due Entries, or for late Entries due to computer and/or downloading problems. All Entries become the property of KCEP Radio and the Office of the State Treasurer and will not be returned to the Entrants.
LIMIT: One (1) Entry per student during the Contest period. In the event more than one (1) Entry is received from any one (1) student, the first Entry processed will be considered the only valid Entry received and subsequent Entries from the same student will be disqualified. Winners may only win once in any of the 4 Essay Contests sponsored by KCEP Radio and that State Treasurer’s Office.
WINNER SELECTION/VERIFICATION: Winners will be selected by a panel of judges. Essays will be initially screened by KCEP Radio. Any incomplete submissions will be disqualified. Submitted essays will be judged on the following criteria: word count, adherence to the topic, spelling/punctuation/grammar, and originality.
A maximum of five points will be awarded to each of the four judging categories: word count, adherence to the topic, quality of writing, and originality. The maximum score is 20.
1 point = Less Satisfactory
2 points = Satisfactory
3 points = Good
4 points = Very Good
5 points = Excellent
Adherence to the topic:
· Exhibits creativity. The Entrant clearly expresses the contest topic in a unique and creative interpretation and style.
· The Entrant expresses the personal meaning or value of the topic.
· The Entrant expressed the topic in a way that draws in the audience.
Quality of writing:
· Clarity: The Essay has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
· Grammar: The Entrant uses proper spelling and punctuation throughout the Essay.
· Formatting: The Entrant meets the formatting requirements. (See Submission Guidelines)
Originality:
· Authenticity
· Unique Perspective.
Word Count:
· The Essay stays within the word count of 250 words or less, not including their name and or Title of their Essay.
There will be a First, Second, and Third Place Winner for the 2023 Black History Essay Contest:
Contest judges have been predetermined.
PRIZES / APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE (ARV): One (1) First, Second, and Third Place prizes will be awarded to the selected winners. The prize will be in the form of an SSGA Upromise 529 account for the benefit of the winning child. The First Place Winner will receive $1,000 deposited into an SSGA Upromise 529 account. The Second Place Winner will receive $500 deposited into an SSGA Upromise 529 account. The Third Place Winner will receive $250 deposited into an SSGA 529 account. The parent or legal guardian will be listed as the owner of the account and will be required to fill out the necessary paperwork in order to claim the prize. The winner and the parent or legal guardian of the winner will be invited to a media event to announce the winner of the 2023 Black History Essay Contest. The parent or legal guardian of the winner will be required to complete, execute, and return within 14 business days of being notified, an Affidavit of Eligibility, Publicity Release, and completed SSGA Promise application, or the prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
GENERAL PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: The parent or legal guardian of each student winner (SSGA Upromise 529 account) will be responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes applicable to acceptance and use of the prize, including income taxes, if any, and will be required to provide his/her Social Security Number or Federal Taxpayer Identification Number for tax reporting purposes. Any and all costs associated with acceptance and use of the prize will be the sole responsibility of the winner. Sponsor will file an IRS Form 1099 with the Internal Revenue Service for the fair market value of prize. No transfer or substitution of the prize permitted, except by Sponsors who reserve the right to substitute the prize, in whole or in part, for one of comparable or greater value. The winner/parent or legal guardian must establish and SSGA Upromise 529 account and provide the account number to Nevada State Treasurer’s Office, College Savings Division within 14 days of contest completion. Failure to provide the information, will result in forfeiture of the SSGA UPromise 529 scholarship or prize. The winner/parent or legal guardian should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing in an SSGA Upromise 529 plan. Funds in the plan are neither insured nor guaranteed and there is the risk of investment loss. Please visit www.NVigate.gov to find out more information about investments options.
AGREEMENT TO THE OFFICIAL RULES: By participating in the Contest, each Entrant and Entrant’s parent or legal guardian fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors and Administrators and the judges, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.
RELEASE: By participating, Entrants and their parents or legal guardians agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsors, and Sponsor’s respective trustees, directors, officers, agents, affiliates, and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any and all liability for any claims, costs, injuries,
losses, or damages of any kind caused by their participation in the Contest, including, but not limited to,
the unauthorized or illegal access to personally identifiable or sensitive information. All Entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged nor returned under any circumstances. Upon request of Sponsor, Entrant will provide an Affidavit of Eligibility, Publicity Release, and SSGA Upromise account information as required above. The winner will grant to Sponsor and its designees the right,
except where prohibited by law, to use their and the child’s name, age, grade, likenesses, pictures, addresses (cities and states), voices, biographical information, written or oral statements, for advertising, promotional, and online voting purposes in promoting the Sponsor, its products, websites, and/or this Contest or succeeding Contest, in any and all media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, or permission. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification.
WINNER/RULES: For the names of the winners and/or a copy of these Official Rules, mail a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: State Treasurer’s Office Art Contest, 555 E. Washington Ave, Suite 5200, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101. Specify “Winner’s List” or “Official Rules” on the request.
VIOLATIONS: Sponsor may, in its sole determination, disqualify anyone it believes has not complied with the Rules, may be tampering, or acting in a non-sportsmanlike, disruptive, abusive, harassing, or threatening manner.
CHANGES: Sponsor may, in its sole determination, cancel or modify any aspect of the Contest or Rules for any reason which the Sponsor, in its sole opinion, deems affects the Contest, execution or administration of the Contest (whether tampering, technical, or human error, application of new or existing laws/regulations, or other issues).
