Eligibility: 

 

◊ The State Council Essay Contest is open to all Catholic students in grades eight through twelve in public, private, and parochial schools.

 

Timetable:

 

◊ September to February: Councils order the Knights of Columbus essay contest kits from Supreme Council Office. Councils should then contact Religious Education Programs in the area as well as publish announcements of the contest in local parish bulletins. Councils judge essays submitted and make appropriate awards to the contest winners.

 

◊ March: Councils submit first place essays in each category no later than March 15 to the State Council essay committee for judging. There are 2 judging categories: Division 1: 8th and 9th graders, Division 2: 10th through 12th graders.

 

◊ April 15: State Council wining essays submitted to Supreme for international judging

 

◊ May: State Council makes awards to the first, second, and third place winners in each category at the Annual State Convention. Winners and their families will be invited to the Sunday morning awards breakfast.

 

Essay Theme and Topic:

 

◊ The theme of the essay contest is "The Importance of Religious Freedom."

 

Guidelines:

 

◊ Essays must reflect the assigned theme and topic, and be submitted by the published deadline.

 

◊ Essays are to be the students original work. ◊ essays must be typed on 8 1/2” x 11” paper, one sided, double spaced, with 1” margins. ◊ essays must be between 500 and 750 words.

 

◊ Students' name should appear only on the Knights of Columbus Essay Contest form which should be stapled to the essay

 

◊ All entries become the property of the Knights of Columbus and will not be returned.