How does the Ohio Statewide Laws of Life Essay Contest work?
Schools, districts or community groups sponsor their own local contest and judge entries. Some local contests choose to award prizes with locally generated funds, but that is not required. A contest can be as simple as a teacher assigning the essay to the class, and soliciting other teachers and administrators to help judge the winners. Winning essays from each local contest (see instructions for number of entries per contest) are submitted to OPCE for judging in the statewide contest. OPCE coordinates the judging of the statewide contest. Finalists are chosen in both the high school and middle school divisions and invited along with their parents, teachers and contest coordinators to the Awards Banquet held in the fall in Columbus. At the banquet, finalists are awarded cash prizes. Teachers of the winning students and the contest coordinators are also awarded cash prizes.
