Students will have the option of selecting one of the topics listed below to compete in this year's MSBAD essay competition. Prizes will be awarded to students who best demonstrate their writing skills, competencies and compliance with the contest/ judging criteria as listed below.
Topic 1: Currently, studies show the US is still lagging behind its global peers in math and science. Explain why and identify ways to improve performance in these areas.
Topic 2: How will math and science skills developed during your high school courses benefit your future career?
Top Three (3) Winners will receive a select prize
1. Open to all junior and senior participants in the BEST Minority Student Business Awareness Day (MSBAD) program at ExxonMobil Fairfax Facility
2.
Entries must be submitted electronically and sent to your MSBAD School Contact Mr. Chris Clarke by
12:00 Midnight, March 27, 2013. MSBAD School Contact information: ( CHRIS.CLARKE@LCPS.ORG
)
3. Entries must type-written in 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font and double spaced.
4. One entry per student.
5. Entries must be 500-750 words.
6. Entries must be original and not previously published in either print or electronic form.
7. Each entry must include a cover sheet that includes:
 Student’s first and last name

Contact information (Home Address, Email address, Phone/Cell Number)

Grade Level

Name of school and MSBAD School Contact
8. Essays will not be returned
9. Winners will be notified no later than April 4, 2013 and recognized at the April 11, 2013 MSBAD event.
10. ExxonMobil employees and their relatives are not eligible to participate.
Essays will be judged on clarity (20 points - good writing techniques/sentence structure and thoughts are easy to follow), style (20 points - compliance with essay criteria, free of typos and grammar errors) and content (60 points - theme statement with easy to follow support, meets essay expectations, and makes a strong, persuasive case supporting the theme). Judges will also look for writing that is clear, articulate and related to the topic.
Example application of the Essay Scoring Criteria:
Clarity (20 points)

Topic clearly stated
Style (20 points)
- Followed Instructions

Well written, articulate - Grammar, Typos

Easy to follow, persuasive - Minimum word count (500)
Content (60 Points) =
- Theme stated
Total Score 100 points
- Meets Essay Expectations
- Supports and makes case for theme


Students begin submission of essays

Final date to submit essays
February 27
March 27 (12 midnight)

Notification of winners April 4

Presentation of essays and awards April 11
Again this year all seniors participating in the MSBAD Essay Contest are eligible to apply to receive an achievement award. Seniors are only eligible to win one award this year. Along with submitting an essay, each eligible student interested in receiving an achievement award must complete an application and provide the required documents to be considered for receipt of an award. All information must meet the below requirements and be submitted to your MSBAD
School Contact by March 27, 2013 .
1. The award is open to all seniors participating in the BEST Minority Students Business Awareness Day (MSBAD) program.
2. Applications must be completed and submitted to your MSBAD School Contact by, March 27, 2013 . All applications must be accompanied by a copy of your high school transcript and a teacher’s recommendation indicating why you should be considered for an award.
3. Winners will be notified and recognized at the April 11, 2013 MSBAD Program at the Fairfax, ExxonMobil facility.
4. ExxonMobil employees and their relatives are not eligible to participate in the Student Achievement Award
Program.
1. Grade Point Averages (unweighted GPA) will be used to identify eligible recipients and represent 35% of the score.
2. MSBAD essay will represent 20% of the score in identifying winners.
3. Each applicant will be required to provide one teacher’s recommendation discussing the reasons for recognizing the student which represents 10% of the score.
4. Extra-curricular activities and community services will represent 15% of the score.
5. Advanced Placement and Science, Technical, Engineering and Math courses completed will represent 15% of the final score.
of Exxon Mobil Corporation is not responsible for lost, incomplete, illegible, late, misdirected, postage-due, or mutilated entries or mail; any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in transmission or communication; technician or mechanical failures of electronic equipment, computer hardware or software; or inaccurate entry information. BEST reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to void any and all entries of an entrant who BEST believes has attempted to tamper with or impair the administration, security, fairness, or proper administration of this event.
Federal, state and local taxes and all other expenses not specified herein are winners’ sole responsibility.
There can be no transfer, assignment, cash redemption or substitution of prize except by BEST, and then for a prize of equal or greater value. Winners will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release and (where legal) Publicity
Release within 5 days of notification. If any prize notification or prize is returned as non-deliverable, winner will be disqualified and an alternate winner will be selected. Non-compliance with any of the foregoing may result in disqualification and awarding of prize to an alternate winner.
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and agree that 1.) BEST, Exxon Mobil Corporation and their designees and assigns shall have the right and permission to use (unless prohibited by law) their name, voice, city/state of residence, photograph and/or likeness for advertising and/or trade and/or any other purpose in any media or format now or hereafter know without further compensation, permission or notification; and 2.) BEST, Exxon Mobil Corporation, their affiliates and all of the respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents of the foregoing shall have no liability and will be held harmless for any liability, loss, injury or death to entrant or any other person, including, without limitation, damage to personal or real property, due in whole or in part directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prize or participation in this event.
BEST reserves the right, in its sole discretion to disqualify any entry and to modify, terminate or suspend this event should virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, action of entrants, or other causes beyond the reasonable control of College Partnership
Program corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper administration of the event and, if the event is modified, terminated or suspended, select winner from those eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to event requiring such modification, termination or suspension.