OFFICIAL RULES
THE CONSTITUTIONAL ESSAY CONTEST

 1. The title and essence of all essays will be:
“WHAT IS YOUR CONSTITUTION?”.  What does it mean to you?  The intent of this contest is to promote patriotism and raise public awareness of the Constitution, especially among Hawaii's youth and the special meaning it holds for our citizens.

2. Eligibility:  All children, enrolled in grades 4 through 12 for current school year (Fall 2001 to Spring 2002) in any of Hawaii's public or private schools are eligible to participate.  Eligibility is subject to verification.

3. Participants will compete in three categories: grades 4-6, grades 7-9 and 10-12.  Three top prizes will be awarded in each category as follows:

 1st Place Round trip airline ticket(s) to Los Angeles complete with passes     to Independence Hall and to Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement     Park located in Buena Park, California.  Personal tour of park     with “Benjamin Franklin”.  Engraved wood plaque and      Certificate of Achievement.

 2nd Place Pass(es) to Hawaii Waters Adventure Park.  Engraved wood     plaque and Certificate of Achievement.

 3rd Place Gift certificate(s) for 31 Flavors Ice Cream and/or Wallace Movie Pass.  Engraved wood plaque and Certificate of Achievement.

4. Children are encouraged to interview parents, grandparents or other relatives and friends for source material for their compositions.  All research and written composition must be the work of the entrant.

5. Essays are limited to 750 words or less and must be typewritten and double-spaced on plain white paper (8.5” X 11”).  Handwritten entries will not be judged and will not be returned.  Children may receive assistance in typing their entry.

6. Presentation folders, title pages, art work and computer generated graphics are discouraged.  Essays will be judged on content and original thought.  Entries should be stapled in the upper left hand corner and have single-spaced identifying information typed in the upper right corner of the first page as in the following example:

Susan S. Smith
1234 Aloha Highway
Honolulu, HI., 99999
Phone:  555-1234
School: Aloha Elementary School
Age:  11
Grade: 6
 
 7. A panel of judges will select the winning essays.  Winners will be notified by phone or other appropriate means and their names released to various public and private media.   The nine top-prize winners (three in each category) will be awarded their prizes in a ceremony scheduled at the Marine Maritime Center after the “Boston Tea Party” reenactment scheduled for September 16, 2001.  The decisions of the judges are final.

8. The closing date for submission is September 7, 2001.  Entries must be received no later than midnight, September 1, 2000.  All entries become the property of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii, Free and Accepted Masons and will not be returned.

9. Mail, FAX or hand-deliver your entry to:
 The Constitution Essay Contest
 c/o Grand Lodge of Hawaii, F&AM
 1111 Bishop Street, Suite 500
 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

10. Only one entry per eligible child is allowed.  Evidence of multiple entries or other non compliance with the rules of this contest will be sufficient cause for disqualification from the contest.