WashCOG Reopens High School Essay Contest

By Juli Bunting

All high school students are encouraged to submit an entry in the Annual Scott Johnson High School Essay Contest. When last year’s contest failed to produce a winning essay, we extended the topic with a new deadline of January 15, 2018. The contest topic is:

“In what ways is it important for citizens to have access to government records and meetings, and what are the perils if citizens are denied access? Cite actual examples of benefits and perils to support your position.”

The contest winner will be awarded a $1,000 prize to be presented before the end of the 2017-2018 school year. The prize is made possible by the ongoing generosity of the law firm of Stokes Lawrence, which sponsors the contest for WashCOG. It takes place in memory of Scott Johnson, a longtime stakeholder with the firm and WashCOG supporter.

Submitted essays be 400 to 600 words in length. Judging criteria includes clearness of expression and thought; all essays should be the original work of the contestant, with care taken to avoid plagiarism and the use of proper attribution.

More information about the essay contest is available on the WashCOG website.