BestPrep’s Educational Forum
Essay Competition
The Value of Education: Student and Educator Packet
For Minnesota High School Students
Based on the book Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music, written by
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist, Angélique Kidjo
Sponsored by
BestPrep | 7100 Northland Circle North , Suite 402, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 | 763.233.6322 | mgustafson@bestprep.org
The Value of Education
Essay Competition
Introduction
BestPrep, a Minnesota based nonprofit, and essay sponsor Thomson Reuters are excited
to again offer an essay competition for high school students in conjunction with the
BestPrep Educational Forum. The Forum is a biennial event launched in 2008 to explore
topics of current relevance for business and education.
This year’s essay prompt focuses on the book Spirit Rising:
My Life, My Music by Angélique Kidjo. Ms. Kidjo is a
Grammy award-winning singer, activist, and humanitarian,
and is a strong advocate for education as the key to global
peace.
Who is eligible?
Who is BestPrep? BestPrep offers six
innovative programs to Minnesota students
and educators:
Classroom Plus provides volunteer
speakers, tours and mock interviews which
enhance classroom curriculum for grades
4-12. Speakers focus on topics regarding
business and career skills.
Students can participate if they are in grades
9-11 in a Minnesota public, private, charter, or home
school during the 2014-2015 school year. Students must
have an educator review and submit their essay.
eMentors matches a class with business
professionals through weekly emails based
on guiding questions. The students and
mentors meet once during the program at
the volunteer’s workplace.
How will the essay be judged?
Financial Matters provides classroom
presentations given by professionals from
the financial industry. Topics focus on
financial literacy and provide students with
real-life lessons in money management.
Essays will be read and judged by a panel of business and
education volunteers on the following criteria:
comprehension/understanding of the subject matter,
organization, mechanics and grammar, conclusions, and
creativity.
What are the prizes?
BestPrep and sponsor Thomson Reuters will invite the top
20 Minnesota high school student essay winners and their
respective teachers to attend the Educational Forum in
late October/early November of 2015. Included is a
private reception with Ms. Kidjo before the event begins.
Minnesota Business Venture is a week long
summer program held at St. Cloud State
University and St. John’s University that
provides students access to information on
careers, money management, and business
in a fun setting.
The Stock Market Game™ is an online
simulation in which students invest a virtual
$100,000, competing against other
students across Minnesota while enhancing
math, reading, writing and team building
skills.
The students will also receive the following prizes:
Technology Integration Workshop for
-1st place winner: 13” MacBook Air
teachers is a four-day professional
nd
-2 place: iPad Air
development opportunity designed to help
-3rd place: iPad Mini
teachers enhance their technology skills.
-4th place: Kindle Fire
-5th place: Kindle Fire
-The remaining 15 winners will each receive a $50 Target gift card
*Educators representing the top 5 students will each receive a $100 VISA gift card
BestPrep | 7100 Northland Circle North , Suite 402, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 | 763.233.6322 | mgustafson@bestprep.org
Essay Specifics:
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Essay must be typed, double-spaced, with left and right margins at 1 inch each. Font
should be 12 point Times New Roman or similar.
Essay must follow MLA or APA standards for references, quotations and works cited page.
Essay must be between 600-750 words. The word count includes all words in the essay
text. It does NOT include the cover page (student/educator information), the bibliography,
endnotes or references.
Essay must be submitted as a Word document.
Deadline and submission:
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Entries must be submitted electronically by April 8, 2015 to mgustafson@bestprep.org
Educators must submit essays and act as a key contact with BestPrep
o Educator must review essays and make sure it addresses the topic and is free of
grammatical errors
Educators will be notified of the results on May 21, 2015
Essay Topic
Education in the United States is often times taken for granted. What is the value of education locally, and around
the world? Why should we care about the education of a student in Benin, Africa (Angélique’s home country), and
why should Angélique Kidjo care about the education of a student in Minnesota? What challenges do you face in
your own educational and career journey, and how do you plan to overcome these challenges?
Below are quotes from Angélique Kidjo in Spirit Rising and an interview with PBS that may help formulate your
opinion. You are encouraged to read, research, and respond to the essay topic using the book, media, personal
examples, interviews, etc. Please keep in mind that the essay competition is not meant to be a book report, but
should be your thoughts on the question prompt.
“In Africa, primary education is free, though you have to pay for uniforms and books, but for high school
you also have to pay tuition. For most families, the cost is prohibitive, so the possibility doesn’t really
exist. If they can afford it, the priority is to educate boys.” (p. 191)
“Secondary education {in Africa} happens at a crucial age at which girls are generally married, so going
to school helps prevent early marriage. A higher level of education for girls will change Africa because it
will allow more women to run businesses, and to understand good health practices for themselves and
for their children.” (p. 191)
“Our society is so developed, we have so much advanced technology. We are able to manage atoms,
biology, communication, transportation, and construction, but we seem incapable of preserving the most
basic human needs: the survival and education of our children.” (p. 206)
“Both {learning subjects such as science and history, and learning confidence in school} are
complimentary. {While school helps you learn} science, geography, world history, it also helps you to see
the world differently, outside of your little box. You can then take what you learn and put it into your life.”
(Angélique Kidjo, during interview with Aaron Brown on PBS. Can be found by searching “time for school
series with Angélique Kidjo” or by going to:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/time-for-school-series/interview-angelique-kidjo/5578/)
BestPrep | 7100 Northland Circle North , Suite 402, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 | 763.233.6322 | mgustafson@bestprep.org
This entire student and educator packet is available for download in Word format at:
http://www.bestprep.org/events/educational-forum/essay
Essay Cover Page
The below information should be typed on page 1 of the essay; start the essay text on page 2.
This should be the only page with your personal information. Do NOT provide any personal information
(such as your name in the header) in the remainder of your essay. This is for judging purposes.
Student Information
Name ____________________________________________________________________________
Home Address _____________________________________________________________________
City _______________________________________________
Home/Cell Phone (____________) _____________________________________________
E-mail Address _____________________________________________________________________
Grade in School 9  10  11 
Gender
M F
How many words are in your essay? ___________________________________________________
How did you hear about the competition? ______________________________________________
School Information
Name of School ____________________________________________________________________
City ________________________________ State ___________ Zip ___________________
Educator Information
Educator Name and Title ____________________________________________________________
Educator Email ____________________________________________________________________
Certification Information
(By typing the below statement on page one of the essay, you are agreeing to the following statement.)
I pledge that this essay is my own work. I have had an educator review the essay ensuring it
meets the requirements of BestPrep’s Educational Essay Competition. I understand that my
essay will not be returned and will become the property of BestPrep to use at its discretion.
Signature of Student _______________________________________ Date _________________
BestPrep | 7100 Northland Circle North , Suite 402, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 | 763.233.6322 | mgustafson@bestprep.org