Student Speaker Scholarship Contest
Awarding all speakers a $500 scholarship and a chance to speak before thousands at the 2010 Summer Institutes.
A Letter From AVID Center Executive Director, Jim Nelson
Dear AVID Teachers,
It is my pleasure to invite you to select students to participate in the 2010 AVID Summer Institute Student Speaker Contest. Every year at the AVID Summer Institute Celebration Luncheons across the United States, the highlight of our Institutes are students who speak about their personal experiences and how AVID has helped them reach for their dreams. The teachers, counselors, principals and community leaders in the audience are often moved to tears as these exceptional young people bravely share their personal stories.
The contest is open to all AVID students, at any grade level. We are looking for dynamic speakers with unique and compelling stories that fit this year's theme, AVID: A Tradition of Innovation, a Future of Transformation. We ask that you hold a preliminary contest at your school site and select the top two to three essays for submission to AVID Center. The deadline for submissions is February 5, 2010.
AVID Center will award each speaker a $500 stipend. Depending on the Institute, there may be two lunches at which the speaker will be expected to deliver their speech. Should a student be asked to speak at more than one Institute, the student will be given a $500 stipend for each Institute. If necessary, travel, transportation, and lodging will be provided and arranged by AVID Center.
We look forward to reading your submissions.
Sincerely,
Jim Nelson
Executive Director
Student Guidelines
Theme
AVID: A Tradition of Innovation, A Future of Transformation
Essay Prompts for the Students
Think about your experiences with AVID and how working with AVID teachers, tutors and peers has helped you change and define your future. In your essay, please address at least two of the prompts below.
- How have you and your future plans been transformed by your experience in AVID? What kind of future has AVID made possible for you?
- How have your AVID teacher(s), tutors, and peers helped you grow academically or intellectually? How has participating in the AVID program enriched your life, whether because of your peers, tutors or teacher?
- What obstacles have you faced and how has your AVID family helped you to cope and possibly overcome them?
Essay and Speech Requirements
- Essays should be written as a speech. Selected students will read their essays.
- Essays should be approximately 500 words, typed in 12-point font and double spaced (4-5 minutes long if read as a speech).
- Include your full name and school at the top right hand corner of each page of the essay.
Submission Guidelines
- Submission Deadline to AVID Center: February 5, 2010.
- Complete the Student Contact Sheet (below) and submit it with your essay.
- Submit essay and contact sheet to your AVID teacher prior to the deadline.
- Email your essay and contact sheet to speaker@avidcenter.org using your personal email address. Free email accounts are available through Hotmail and Yahoo. Notification of selection will be sent to this address.
Student Contact Sheet
Student Contact Sheet
Student Guidelines
Teacher Guidelines
Available for download:
Teacher Guidelines for Student Essay Contest