Sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Associations

National Hazing Prevention Week 

This competition is open to high school students in the U.S. (Guidelines are listed below)

Cash prizes awarded!

The 2020 Essay Theme: BE BRAVE. CHANGE THE GAME.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2020 ESSAY WINNERS!

READ THE FIRST PLACE ESSAY BY ALICIA MAZZURRA HERE

The World I Want to Live In

River Ridge High School, Woodstock, GA

READ THE SECOND PLACE ESSAY BY TYLER FREMON  HERE

Echoed Effects

Hoover High School, North Canton, OH

READ THE THIRD PLACE ESSAY BY COLE BLACK HERE

Be Brave, Change the Game: Specifically, Lacrosse

La Jolla High School, San Diego, CA

SECTION 1 HONORABLE MENTION
Juliette Syta

Emma Willard School

Troy, NY

SECTION 2 HONORABLE MENTION
Emma Graff

Glen Allen High School

Richmond, VA

SECTION 3 HONORABLE MENTION
Melissa Murph
North Augusta High School

North Augusta, SC

SECTION 4 HONORABLE MENTION
Jake Loch

Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Lincolnshire, IL

SECTION 5 HONORABLE MENTION
Hyunjae Justin Hahm

Rock Bridge High School

Columbia, MO

SECTION 6 HONORABLE MENTION
Angela Zhong

Cypress Woods High School

Cypress, TX

SECTION 7 HONORABLE MENTION
Kendall Vanderwouw
William and Marian Ghidotti High School

Grass Valley, CA

SECTION 8 HONORABLE MENTION
Issac Richardson
Colony High School

Palmer, AK

General Guidelines

• Entrants must be high school students in the US.
• All entries must be received by the contest deadline to be considered.
• Entries must follow the contest guidelines in terms of length, adherence to theme/topic, and portrayal of an anti-hazing stance.
• All entries must be the original work of the entrant.
• Essays become the property of HPO and may be used in print, digital and web-based promotional materials by HPO and/or the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). If requested at the time of submission by the author, certain identifying details may be removed from the essay before it is published.
• Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three essays in the following amounts:
  • 1st place $500
  • 2nd place $250
  • 3rd place $150
• In addition, one essay from each of the eight regional sections of the NFHS will be selected to receive Honorable Mention for that section. Each Honorable Mention will receive $50.
• Winners will be notified summer 2020. Checks and certificates will be mailed summer, 2020.
• The judging and selection process is at the sole discretion of HazingPrevention.Org and the judging committee(s) chosen for such purpose. Submissions may be disqualified for any reason the committee sees fit, and the selection process will remain confidential. Decisions of the judges are final and binding.
• Entrants are responsible for complying with these guidelines.
• Open to US residents only.

Submission Information
Each essay contest entry must consist of the following required information plus a 500- to 600-word original essay, adhering to the theme  “BE BRAVE. CHANGE THE GAME.” and submitted by May 31st, 2020.

• Entrant’s full name
• First and last name of the entrant’s parent/guardian
• Entrant’s surface mailing address
• Name of the high school the entrant attends
• High school city and state
• Entrant’s telephone number
• Entrant’s email address
• Select your section from the map below. You will need to enter your section number in the application.

Essays will be judged based upon the following criteria: adherence to theme, grammar/spelling, clarity of message, and creativity/uniqueness of message.

Essays should address the theme for National Hazing Prevention Week 2020: BE BRAVE. CHANGE THE GAME.