Civil War Trust

Essay and Postcard Contests

ESSAY CONTEST

Submit essays addressing the theme, Preserving 150 Years of History: 1862-1863, Shifting Tides. 1862 and 1863 were eventful years in the American Civil War - including the Battle of Antietam, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Gettysburg Address. In your essay incorporate events such as these with the importance of preservation and the study of history.

PRIZES

Senior Division
8th – 12th grade

1st - $1,000
2nd place - $750
3rd place - $250

Junior Division
4th – 7th grade

1st - $1,000
2nd - $750
3rd - $250

All winners will also receive memberships to the Civil War Trust.

RULES

All Essays must:

* Use the slogan as their title.
* Discuss preservation.
* Be authored by only one student, there is no group entry category.
* Be approximately 300 words long.
* Use proper grammar, correct spelling, and consist primarily of the student's own words.
* Include citations for all quotations. *Plagiarism will disqualify your essay.
* Be sent through e-mail by May 1, 2013.

Essays will be judged for creativity, persuasive quality, clarity, and strength of message.

Each entry must be labeled with the following information:

Student Name and Grade
School Name and Address
School City, State & Zip
School Phone
Teacher Name
Teacher E-mail

Entries will not be returned and become the property of the Civil War Trust and History. Entrants will be notified of contest results in June of 2013.

DEADLINE

May 1st, 2013

SUBMIT

Submit your entry to:
education@civilwar.org with the subject line: "2013 Essay Contest"
**Please send your essay as an attachment either as a Word or PDF document. Please include your contact information on this document, not just in the e-mail.

EXAMPLES

See the 2012 Essay Contest Winners »

POSTCARD CONTEST

Submit illustrations on postcards with a short note on the back addressing the theme of Preserving 150 Years of History: 1862-1863, Shifting Tides.

Senior Division
8th – 12th grade

1st - $1,000
2nd place - $750
3rd place - $250

Junior Division
4th – 7th grade

1st - $1,000
2nd - $750
3rd - $250

All winners will also receive memberships to the Civil War Trust.

RULES

Postcards Must:

* Be the correct size - 5 to 6 inches long and 3.5 to 4.25 inches high.
* Fit this year's theme.
* Include an illustration on one side and a brief note on the other, just as one would write a postcard.
* Be authored by only one student, there is no group entry category.
* Be appropriate for all audiences, not offensive or derogatory
* Be in the Civil War Trust office by May 1, 2013.

Postcards will be judged for creativity, clarity, and strength of message.

Each entry must be sent with the following information:

Student Name and Grade
School Name and Address
School City, State & Zip
School Phone
Teacher Name
Teacher E-mail

This information can be written on the back of the postcard or stapled securely onto the postcard.

Entries will not be returned and become the property of the Civil War Trust and History.