Atlanta magazine's annual high school essay contest is open to
students in grades nine through twelve from across metro Atlanta. The purpose of the contest is to foster good writing, encourage teens to communicate, and to provide a forum for young voices. The winning essay is published in
Atlanta magazine. It is also, along with two runners-up, published on atlantamagazine.com. The winner and runners up are awarded individual cash prizes, and also earn cash grants for their school libraries.
The 2009-2010 essay contest is a partnership with
VOX Teen Communications. Essays must be postmarked by November 10, 2009. For complete contest rules and details, click on the link below.
>> Click here to download the contest rules (PDF)
For the 2009 contest, students were asked the following question: The
Center for Civil and Human Rights is scheduled to open in Atlanta. What issue of civil or human rights is most pressing for your generation, and how could you address that issue?
We received essays from more than 160 students covering a range of issues.
Atlanta magazine writers and editors narrowed the essays down to seven finalists, which were reviewed by our three guest judges.
Charles A. Black is a civil rights veteran who was chairman of the Atlanta Student Movement and active in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He is now a professional actor on stage, screen, and television and is a public involvement consultant for DW & Associates as well as an organizer and adviser on numerous political and civic campaigns.
June Dobbs Butts, a sociologist and counselor, has taught at Fisk University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Fordham University, Howard University College of Medicine, and Meharry Medical College. She served as a visiting scientist at the CDC and has contributed to
Ebony,
Essence, and many other publications, both academic and popular.
Doug Shipman is the executive director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Of the seven finalist essays, Black commented, “I was impressed with the range of subject matter selected by the students. The work of these students also showed seriousness of thought.” Of the winning essay by Harrison Saylor, a junior at Flowery Branch High School, Shipman noted, “Disabilities are often the unspoken issue regarding rights. It is heartening to see a young person engaged in tangible ways to address disabled individuals with empathy and understanding.
The judges also named two runners-up. “Land of the Free?” by Lauren Kline, a junior at Northview High School, addressed the issue of human trafficking and discussed an effort by her and her friends to raise awareness and funds to combat trafficking. “Colored Chairs” by Madeline Roorbach, a junior at Henry W. Grady High School, offered a simple but significant solution for self-segregation by students: moving chairs and desks closer together to break down social barriers.
The winner of the essay contest earned a $250 cash prize and a $500 grant for his school’s library. The runners-up each earned $100 cash prizes and a $250 grant for their schools’ libraries. You can read the three essays at the links below.
People First
by Harrison Saylor, Flowery Branch High School
Land of the Free?
by Lauren Kline, Northview High School
Colored Chairs
by Madeline Roorbach, Grady High School