AKABE STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST
The Alaska Association for Bilingual Education (AKABE) is proud to announce the 2010
statewide Writing Contest for Bilingual Students. This is an essay program where students will have the
opportunity to submit essays on the topic PROUD TO BE ALASKAN and BILINGUAL/BICULTURAL. This
theme has been chosen in honor of the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood. AKABE will award first place
winners in each category with a cash prize. Second and third prize winners will receive Certificates of Award.
All winners will be introduced at our annual awards luncheon, April 23, 2009, in Anchorage.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 12, 2010.
TOPIC:
PROUD TO BE ALASKAN and BILINGUAL/BICULTURAL
CATEGORIES:
Elementary:
Grades 3-5
Middle/Junior High: Grades 6-8
High School:
Grades 9-12
PRIZES & AWARDS:
Grand Prize: $100
Best Elementary, Best Middle/Junior High, Best High School will each be awarded $50.
Winners will be invited to a noon luncheon hosted by AKABE at the Bilingual Multicultural
Education Equity Conference, April 23, 2010. All other entrants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
ELIGIBILITY: Students who are learning English as a second language, or who are learning their heritage
language as a second language are eligible to participate. Previous statewide winners are welcome to enter.
CRITERIA: Each essay will be judged on development of theme, originality, content and clarity of expression
and grammar and mechanics.
RULES:
Only entries that comply with the following rules will be considered.
Language:
All essays must be written in English. The Grand Prizewinner is encouraged to read her/his
essay in English at the AKABE luncheon, but will have the option of also reading it in her/his
native language.
All essays must address the theme, Proud To Be An Alaskan to be eligible.
The number of words MUST be recorded at the end of each essay. The length of
the essay MUST BE:
Elementary, Grades 3-5:
150-200 words
Middle/Junior High, Grades 6-8:
250-300 words
High School, Grades 9-12:
350-500 words
Subject:
Length:
Application Form: An application form, in triplicate, containing the name of the contestant, his/her
Native language, home address, zip code, telephone number with area code, grade, name and
address of school, name of bilingual teacher and school principal with her/his e-mail address and name of the
school district must be stapled to the essay. Essays become the property of AKABE and will not be returned.
AKABE reserves the right to publish all essays.
Format:
Essays must be grammatically and mechanically correct. They must be typed and double-spaced.
All entries must be submitted in triplicate.
Submissions: A maximum of 3 essays per grade category will be accepted from the
same school. A cover letter on school stationary signed by the school principal should
accompany the submissions. The essays should be reviewed before submission by the school’s English
department or teaching staff to insure essays are grammatically and mechanically correct. AKABE will also
accept a cover letter from the bilingual coordinator of the district.
JUDGING: An AKABE steering committee will judge the essays. All winners will be notified by April 2,
2009, so that those wishing to attend the BMEEC awards luncheon can make timely travel plans. (AKABE is
unable to provide travel funds - but will provide luncheon tickets for the winners, two family members and
her/his bilingual teacher.)
Essays will be judged on the following categories:
1. Ideas and Content (what you have to say)
2. Organization (writing with direction, helps the reader move through ideas)
3. Voice (paper has lots of personality and unique)
4. Word Choice (words say exactly what you want)
5. Sentence Fluency (sentences should be clear, they should make sense)
6. Conventions (rules of language)
AKABE Writing Contest Application Form (All pages must be submitted in triplicate.)
 Attach a copy of this form to each essay.
 Names should not appear on the essay.
 A maximum of 3 essays per grade category will be accepted from the same school.
 A cover letter on school stationary, signed by the principal should accompany the
submissions. AKABE prefers the principal's signature but will accept your
bilingual coordinator's signature.
Name of Bilingual/Multicultural Teacher:________________________________________
Name of Principal:____________________________________________________________
School Address:______________________________________________________________
City: ___________________________ State:_______________ Zip:___________________
School Phone: ______________________ School Fax Number:_______________________
Principal’s E-mail: ____________________________________________________________
Name of Contestant:___________________________________________________________
Language:____________________________________________________________________
Grade:_______________________________
Home Address:________________________________________________________________
City:_______________________________ State:_________________ Zip:_______________
Home Phone:________________________E-mail:___________________________________
Name of School:___________________________________________
Name of School District:_______________________________________________________
All APPLICATIONS AND ESSAYS, IN TRIPLICATE, MUST BE SENT TO:
AKABE Student Essay Contest
P.O. Box 2186, Bethel, AK 99559
Information: Karen Waters, 907-776-2173
E-mail entries to: Karen_Waters@lkds.org
DUE: Post Marked No Later Than March 12, 2010
Faxed entries will not be accepted.