Dottie Yeck Good Life Award Writing Contest

Honoring the life of Dottie Yeck, a champion of children, who believed that one is never too young to have an impact on the world.

Contest Dates: September 11, 2017 - October 10, 2017

Entrants must live or attend school in Montgomery County, Ohio and be enrolled in a curriculum for grades 7-9

Winner will be awarded a certificate and a $3,000 prize.

If you have a question, please feel free to contact us about the Good Life Award Writing Contest.

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• Check out these great books and movies that will inspire you to live a good life!
• Read the winning entries from past years.
• See a list of represented schools.
• Print this Good Life Award contest flyer for your classroom!
• Watch Good Life Award honoree Mark D’Aloia interview A.J. Hawk, former NFL linebacker in the Good Life Award Presents A.J. Hawk.

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• Entrants must be enrolled in a curriculum for grades 7 - 9 at the time the application is submitted.
• Entrants must live or attend school in Montgomery County, Ohio.
• Prior Good Life Award $3000 prize winners are not eligible for this contest.
• Family members of Washington-Centerville Public Library staff and contest judges are not eligible for this contest.

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• Complete the writing challenge in 300-500 words (entries of more than 500 words will be disqualified).
• Contest opens at 8 A.M. on September 11.
• Contest closes at 8 A.M. October 10.
• Submit only one entry per person.
• Certify the work was written by you and expresses your original ideas which you have developed. By submitting your entry to the Good Life Award, you guarantee the work as your own.
• Agree to allow your name, personal photo, and entry excerpts to be published in the Dayton Daily News if you win.
• Agree to attend the Good Life Celebration award ceremony at Washington-Centerville Public Library on November 30, 2017 if you win.

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• Submit entry online using the official online entry form (link visible when contest opens) between September 11 and October 10.
• Copy and paste your final entry into the textbox. (Please be sure that your name and school are NOT included in the main body of your entry.)

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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ˜Anne Frank

"In every job that must be done there is an element of fun; you find the fun, and snap, the job's a game." ˜Mary Poppins

"Be well. Do well. Have a lot of fun." ˜Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson

Step 1: Develop a Plan

Review the criteria by which you will be judged.

Step 2: Write to the Prompt

Invitation:

Each year we focus on one of the four elements of Mrs. Dorothy Yeck's equation for how to lead a life that is fun, purposeful, and happy: "Being Good + Doing Good = Being Happy." This year's emphasis is on "Having Fun", but, when writing your entry, keep in mind how this year's prompt relates to this bigger concept.

Donating your time to help others makes you feel good about yourself. It gives you a sense of responsibility, tolerance for others who may be different than you, job skills, and a feeling that one person can make a difference. When people depend on you, it can change the way you look at yourself.

Prompt:

Describe a time in your life when helping others was fun, felt good, and made you happy. Be specific with your example. Do you think you give more when you're having fun? Are you fulfilled when others rely on you, and does having fun inspire you to become more involved? How do you think that affects those whom you help?

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• Decisions of the judges are final.
• Adherence to all rules and challenge guidelines are basic requirements of this contest.
• The following criteria will be used to score the essays:

Criteria	Description	Points
Clearly Addresses Prompt	Includes a description of helping someone or something while the writer was having fun, cites specific examples about how "service" is fun, and fully illustrates how the combination of having fun and helping others contributed to their happiness and self-improvement (i.e., responsibility, job skills, reliability, exposure to new ideas, people, and/or circumstances, etc.).	3
Creativity & Style	Rich details and examples that reveal personality and a strong writer’s voice.	3
Clarity of Content	Organized and easy to understand with good ideas for others to consider.	3
Accuracy	Writing mechanics and format do not detract from meaning. Content is correct in punctuation and spelling.	1

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• The GLA winner will be awarded a Good Life Award Certificate and $3,000.
• A check for $250 will be awarded to the homeroom class of the Good Life Award winner.
• Awards of Distinction will receive a certificate and $100.
• Excerpts of winning essays will be published in the Dayton Daily News.
• Winner agrees to attend the Good Life Celebration at the Washington-Centerville Public Library on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

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• The 2017 Dottie Yeck Good Life Celebration will be held in the Community Room at Centerville Library, Thursday, November 30, from 7 - 8:30 PM
• Winners will be recognized and author Fran Kick will help us KICK IT IN with an exciting and dynamic teen leadership presentation!
• Join family, friends, and teachers in celebrating, encouraging, and helping students who are working hard, getting better at what they do, and having fun in the process.
• Everyone is welcome! Registration is NOT required to attend.

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Dottie Yeck Good Life Award Endowment

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