B’nai B’rith International is pleased to announce The Diverse Minds Writing Challenge. Their goal is to destroy prejudices and strengthen the future of our youth through creativity, inspiration, and education.
The contest is open to all currently enrolled 9-12th-grade students within New York City (all boroughs). This innovative scholarship competition asks high school students to write and illustrate a children’s book that tells a story of tolerance, diversity or inclusion.
The contest winner in each contest city or region will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and become a published author!
Table of Contents
Who May Eligible:
To eligible, the candidates must be following all the eligibility criteria:
- The contest is open to high school students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 in the listed contest cities/regions who have not previously published an original manuscript for profit.
- Students in 9-12th grades enrolled in District of Columbia Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George’s County Public Schools, or enrolled in private, charter or independent schools within those counties/cities, are eligible to participate.
How to Apply & Competitions Rules
To participate, the submissions can be sent via U.S. Mail, FedEx or UPS, or be emailed.
- For mailed submissions, send to B’nai B’rith International 4605 Lanker shim Blvd, Suite 710 Los Angeles, CA 91602
- For emailed submissions, send to diverseminds@bnaibrith.org
Rules:
- High school students are invited to write and illustrate a children’s book that tells a unique story about tolerance, inclusion or diversity, and promotes a greater understanding of different cultures, lifestyles, and
- Entries must be the original work of the student(s) and only one entry is accepted per student/team.
- Submissions may be fiction or nonfiction and must be written for an audience of children in grades K-5.
- Entries should consist of a complete story with full-color illustrations and include text and art on each page; any type of artistic medium may be used.
- Entries shall be no longer than 24 pages, with a minimum of 16 pages.
- Submissions must include a cover letter with the following information:
- Full name and contact information (home address, phone number, and email address) of the author(s) and or illustrator(s)
- Student’s High School name and address
- Full name and contact information of the student’s teacher or supervising educator
- A biographical note of no less than 100 and no more than 400 words with any other information you would like us to consider as part of your submission
- Region Contest that you are applying to ie: Washington, D.C./ Pepco Contest, Delmarva Peninsula Contest, New York City Contest or South Jersey/ ACE Contest
- Note that long blocks of text are not age-appropriate.
Benefits:
- First prize: A $5,000 college scholarship and publication of the book
- Second prize: $2,000 college scholarship
- Third prize: $1,000 college scholarship
- Teacher prize: A grant of $1,000 will be awarded to the teacher who oversees the creation of the first place submission.
- School grant: A grant of $500 will be awarded to the school of the winning participant(s).
- The students whose submissions place in the Top 10, along with their parents, teachers, and principals, will be invited to attend the Award Presentation Events.
- The winning book in each city/region will be professionally published and copies will be donated to each public library and elementary school within the local community.
Application Deadline:
The application deadline is August 24, 2018.
Original Website
If you have a question about the contest, email at diverseminds@bnaibrith.org.
