High School Contest
$10,000 first prize,
up to $40,000
total prizes.
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The Contest
Submission Period Has Closed as
of Midnight, March 1, 2008
Thank you all
for your great work.
Questions?
Email
[email protected]
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Your registration secured
your place as a contestant and
allows you access to the contest
guidelines.
Click here for
registration FAQs
This contest is sponsored in commemoration of this 200th
anniversary of the 1807 abolition of the
transatlantic slave trade. Awards are made
available by a grant from the John
Templeton Foundation.
The contest is inspired by the vision and character
of leading activist William Wilberforce
and his crusade to end slavery and
transform culture. Craft a project that
will make your world a better place.
Enlist others to help execute your plan
and document it online.
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Project areas
should reflect the
issues and concerns of the 69 societies
founded or assisted by William
Wilberforce (click
here for a summary of the concerns).
In addition to an overall first prize
winner, there will be prizes for runners
up and honorable mentions.
Project areas include, but
are not limited to:
- Modern day forms of slavery
- Poverty
- Political or legislative action
- Education
- Health
Project presentations will be
submitted entirely online in written
form, with photographs allowed, but
comprising no more than five pages, with
a 2000 word limit, and converted to PDF.
No Power Point submissions are allowed.
Although not required for the first
prize winner or any submission, there
will be a bonus category for video/film
addendum materials, with a 3-minute
limit in Windows Media File. But all
video/film entries must also submit the
required written PDF document.
Click here to watch the trailer for
the documentary film, coming in fall
2007 to national television, THE
BETTER HOUR: The Legacy of William Wilberforce.
The final project
deadline is March 1, 2008.
Registration FAQs
- Is the contest open to the home educated or home school students?
Yes, if the student is between the ages of a traditional high school student
attending between 9th and 12th grades, generally that would be ages 14 through
17 at some point during next school year.
- Must a student be in high school in the year of the award?
Yes. The student must be in U.S. grades 9-12 (or the international
equivalent) in the academic month and year of the submission deadline. (March 1,
2008)
- I feel more passionately concerned about a need overseas than one in my
own community. May I focus my efforts and project on a need in another country?
Absolutely. Focus as widely on global issues as you would like. We are looking
for kids to take initiative in creative ways to meet a wide variety of needs.
Your community near home may become very supportive of your concerns abroad.
- Question: I am a teacher and have an idea for a group of students in
my class. Is is OK if I register for the contest?
Teachers may register in order to get information about this contest because it
makes for an engaging class project. The grant was given by a foundation to
award a high school student who exemplifies leadership in public service. So one
award recipient must decide how they want to receive and use their award--it
could be divided among a team or donated to a school. Often a team is mobilized
when one leader surfaces to take on the largest burden of planning, delegation
and responsibility. Or one student initiates an idea and shows great leadership
by enlisting the help of others. The student who will most exert leadership and
take the initiative should register as the contestant. There are more details on
the project submission form and guidelines for how to list all other students
who participate. A teacher can then be listed as the mentor.
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Be the
Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World