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 7, 2021 - October 5, 2021

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

You could win the top prize of $3,000! Three additional prizes of $750, $300, and $150. Honorable Mentions will receive a certificate and be individually recognized.

For more information call the Community Outreach Coordinator at 937-610-4429 or send an email to: communityrelations@wcpl.lib.oh.us.

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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!

Meet Rebecca Esselstein, Ph.D., Astrophysics, Rhodes Scholar, Runner, Rower, Aspiring Astronaut

Rebecca is a graduate of Alter High School (Valedictorian) and the U.S. Air Force Academy (Top Academic Graduate and Top Overall Graduate, 2015) where she studied Astronautical Engineering. She's a native of Washington Township and most recently completed her Ph.D. in Astrophysics at the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar. For fun, Rebecca rowed for the Blue Boat at Oxford (2017) and was CoSIDA Women's Div I Track & Field Academic All-American of the Year, 2015. Currently in flight training school, her dream is to become an astronaut.

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• Entrants must be enrolled in a curriculum for grades 7 - 9 at the time the entry 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 less than 300 words or more than 500 words will be disqualified.
• Contest opens on Tuesday, September 7, at 8 A.M. EST.
• Contest closes on Tuesday, October 5, promptly at 8 P.M. EST. (Note the evening deadline!)
• Late entries will not be accepted.
• 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 attend the Good Life Celebration award ceremony on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 7 PM, if you win either the GLA Award or 2nd, 3rd or 4th place. You may be asked to pre-record your essay.

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• Submit entry online using the official online entry form (link visible when contest opens) between September 7 and October 5.
• 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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"Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk."  ˜ J. C. Penney, Businessman & Entrepreneur (1875-1971)

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."  ˜ John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President (1917-1963)

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road…Unless you fail to make the turn."  ˜Helen Keller, Author, Political Activist & Lecturer (1880-1968)

Step 1: Develop a Plan

Review the criteria by which you will be judged.

Step 2: Write to the Prompt

Invitation:

As a teen, you have challenges to meet, dreams to pursue, and choices to make. There is a lot to manage as you handle friendships and school, solve tough problems, become involved in your community, all while developing your talents and interests. Of course, you also want to laugh and have fun along the way.

Sure, you still have to follow rules, but more and more each day, you are finding your own way, learning from your successes and mistakes, and charting your own course. YOU are in the driver’s seat as you create your future!

Prompt:

Design a plan for surviving and thriving through your teen years with your goals intact. In 300-500 words, describe your plan, creatively showing readers your ideas for success and for overcoming roadblocks you may encounter along the way. Detail the actions and attitudes which will support your progress as you navigate these exciting, unpredictable years.

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• Decisions of the judges and administrator 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	The essay outlines a clear and descriptive plan for "surviving" the teen years with goals intact. Writer gives examples of roadblocks and how to overcome them. Writer applies Mrs. Yeck’s philosophy of Being Good + Doing Good = Having Fun + Being Happy.	3
Creativity & Style	Rich details and examples that reveal personality and a strong writer’s voice. Consider citing personal emotions, values, and beliefs. Consider the use of inspirational quotes, poems, songs, or passages, etc., to reflect beliefs.	3
Clarity of Content	Organized and easy to understand with good ideas for others to consider. Uses all elements of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.	3
Accuracy	Writing mechanics and format do not detract from meaning. Content is correct in punctuation and spelling.	1

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• First Place Winner: $3,000
• Second Place Winner: $750
• Third Place Winner: $300
• Fourth Place Winner: $150
• Honorable Mentions: Certificate of Achievement
• A check for $250 will be awarded to the class of the Good Life Award winner.
• Top four winners agree to attend the Good Life Celebration hosted by Washington-Centerville Public Library on Thursday, December 2, 2021. See details below.

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• NEW!!! The 2021 Dottie Yeck Good Life Award Celebration hosted by Washington-Centerville Public Library will now be held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, December 2, 7-8:15 PM. Visit our Calendar of Events to register.
• Join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate the winners and Honorable Mentions of the 16th Annual Dottie Yeck Good Life Award writing contest! Listen to nationally known speaker, author, consultant, and local resident Fran Kick as he puts his unique spin on life's perspectives and invites you to Kick It In! and Take the Lead.
• Top four winners agree to present (or upload) their essays for the Good Life Celebration hosted by Washington-Centerville Public Library.
• This Celebration will be online via Zoom. Those registering will receiving a link to the program.
• This is a free program, however, registration is required to receive an invitation link.
• Any questions, contact Debe Dockins at ddockins@wcpl.lib.oh.us or 937-610-4429.

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Dottie Yeck Good Life Award Endowment

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