essay writing competition malaysia

The ELS English Language Ambassador Award Essay Writing Competition by ELS Language Centres

The ELS English Language Ambassador Award E ssay Writing Competition is a yearly CSR programme dedicated to supplementing the Malaysian Government’s efforts in ‘Driving English Language Excellence’ in our national schools.

The competition resources, which are delivered purely online, are conceptualised and developed by ELS Language Centres, Malaysia and its strategic partners: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Sunago Education Sdn Bhd, and Just English Sdn Bhd.

The programme is supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) (Download the Ministry of Education Letter of Consent ) and is open to all students who are currently enrolled in Form 4 and Form 5 in Malaysian government schools. In addition, MOE will award co-curricular marks based on the participation and achievement of the participants.

Competition Objectives:

• Improve students’ writing skills and critical thinking abilities in preparation for their SPM English Writing Section.
• Discover and showcase students’ hidden talents in writing.
• Help students build a portfolio of achievements for future university applications and job interviews.
• Facilitate learning and collaboration among students from different schools in Malaysia.
• Provide an immersive online learning environment wherein students can measure and track their learning progress.
• Provide an opportunity for the Grand Champion to gain first-hand experience of an excellent education environment through a study tour at a prestigious university abroad.

How to Register:

Teachers must register their students for the programme. Steps for teachers are as follows:

• Click on School Registration (for teachers).
• Sign in with your DELIMa account.
• Register your school and students at https://elsaward.els.edu.my/school-sign-up .
• Once you have completed the registration, your students will receive an invitation email to join the ELS English Language Ambassador Award 2024.

Steps for students are as follows:

• Check your DELIMa email inbox for the invitation to join the ELS English Language Ambassador Award 2024 and click Join Competition (for students) . 
• Sign in with your DELIMa account to access the online writing course.
• Complete all 15 lessons with a general average grade of at least 70% prescribed in the online writing programme.
• Write your essay and submit your entry before the submission deadline.

Note: You will only receive the invitation email if your teacher has nominated your name for the ELS English Language Ambassador Award 2024.

The Online Writing Programme

The online writing programme consists of 15 lessons and self-assessment checks. It is designed to enhance students’ writing skills by teaching them to express their thoughts and ideas cohesively and coherently.

Completion of the writing programme will enable students to:

• Better understand how good essays are written and how to go about writing them for academic or future professional purposes.
• Qualify for the ELS English Language Ambassador Award Essay Writing Competition and have a chance to win exciting prizes.

Requirements

• A computer and stable internet access (not less than 1Mbps).
• A valid and working email address (DELIMa account) to register and receive updates about the competition.
• Google Chrome browser to access the online lessons.

Registration Period

• 15th May 2024 – 30th June 2024 (now extended till 30th August 2024)

Essay Competition

• Students must complete all 15 online lessons with a general average grade of at least 70% to qualify for the essay writing competition.
• All essays must be written in British English, with a  word count of 500 to 700 words . Essays that fall below or exceed the required number of words will be automatically disqualified.
• Only the 10 best essays will be shortlisted. The Top 10 Finalists will be invited for an interview session with the Judging Panel to select the Grand Champion.

Submission of Entries:

Essays must be submitted BEFORE 3:00 pm (Malaysian time, +8:00 GMT time zone) on 30th August 2024 (now extended till 13th September 2024, 3:00 pm) . Any submission after the deadline will be immediately disqualified.

To know more about the competition and the essay writing programme, download the Course and Competition Information Packet . 

THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITION

Since 1883, we have delivered The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. Today, we work to expand its reach, providing life-changing opportunities for young people around the world.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is now closed for entries

Find out more about this year’s theme

'Our Common Wealth'.

140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. 

ABOUT THE COMPETITION 

An opportunity for young Commonwealth citizens to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences on key global issues and have their hard work and achievement celebrated internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions for the Competition. Before contacting us please read these.

MEET THE WINNERS 

In 2023 we were delighted to receive a record-breaking 34,924 entries, with winners from India and Malaysia. Read their winning pieces as well as those from previous years.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and Conditions for entrants to The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Please ensure you have thoroughly read them before submitting your entry.

• Welcome to Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares)
• [email protected]
• 03-79677357

WUACD YOUTH ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2023

WORLD UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (WUACD)

Wuacd youth essay writing competition 2023  .

World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) and Universiti Malaya (UM) invite university students among WUACD members around the world to reflect on the current global crisis and express your thought creatively in this essay writing competition.

Entry Requirements 

• Entry is open to all university students of WUACD members from any country worldwide.
• Every participant is allowed to submit only one entry.
• The essay should be in English and not exceed 1500 words. Crafting a good essay requires careful argumentation, clear structure and originality. 

Essay Competition Terms & Conditions 

• There is no fee for entering the essay competition.
• Every participant must complete the essays independently – the essay must be original and non-plagiarised work.
• Essays will be judged by a panel appointed by the competition Secretariat. By submitting an entry, the student agrees to respect and honour the decision made by the Secretariat. 
• The student agrees to assist with promoting the essay competition scheme if awarded a prize.
• The finalists and prize winners agree to their names being published on WUACD websites, as well as on its social media platforms. 

Essay Format

Essays must be of approximately 1,500 words typed in Arial type font size 12, double line spacing, and submitted in Word or PDF format. 

Please insert your full name as the header and page number as footer in each single page.

Please choose one (1) of the topics below;

• Climate change
• Food insecurity
• Future pandemic preparation and response
• Ocean Issues & Threats
• Cybersecurity
• Gender equality
• Disability rights

Prizes and Category

The final decision on prize winners rests with WUACD. There will two participants categories:

• Undergraduate Students
• Post-graduate Students

For each category, there will be three (3) winners and the prizes are mentioned below:

How to Participate?

Student should submit their essays via the Essay Submission Link/ App by 6 July 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact the WUACD Secretariat at respected university or email [email protected] .

Key Competition Dates:

7 April 2023: Registration opens

21 July 2023: Submission deadline 

30 August 2023: Announcement of the prize winners and opportunity to present in the International Conference of Academia-Community Engagement (InACE) 2023 . 

Registration

Register Here  

**Please ensure you read the essay competition terms and conditions before applying. By submitting an application, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions outlined for this competition.

Bridging Academia and Society: The Transformative Power of University-Community Engagement

Research Impact FAQs & Case Study on Green Revolution: Eco- Packaging Research for Sustainability

What is research impact?

Arts and Digital Experience

Take Your Digital Experience to the Next Level

Experience Your Victories

Nation-wide essay writing competition.

CLOSING DATE: WEDNESDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2022 (MYT)

THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN TO PUBLIC Ages 15 to 25.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were tabulated in 2015 for a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous world by 2030.

As an individual, what can we do to contribute to the SDGs?

Share with your thoughts in the most innovative way and grab a chance to win exciting cash prizes!

Terms and conditions:

• Open to all Malaysian and international students residing in Malaysia, aged 15 – 25.
• The essay must be written in English using Microsoft Word (Writing: Arial 12, Line spacing 1.5, Length not exceeding 1000 words).
• The work must be original (process of own ideas) and not yet published in any publication. Plagiarism will not be accepted.
• The writing must be based on one of the 17 SDG elements.
• MAHSA University and the program’s strategic partners have the right to use and edit the submitted work to obtain clarification on any promotional or printed material.

For more information and to register to submit : CLICK HERE

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This Essay Competition Rewards Students With Over RM200,000 Worth of Bursaries And Prizes

This year's theme for the essay writing competition is 'humility'.

By Marion Fernando — 31 Mar 2022, 02:03 PM

• #saysspotlight
• #competition
• #secondaryschool
• #sponsored:sunway:310322

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This Spotlight is sponsored by Sunway.

Malaysians have proven time and time again that we are capable of being kind, helpful, and inclusive <3

Remember the time when LRT commuters quietly showed kindness towards an elderly man? Or when thousands flocked to a local gurdwara to help others in need during the floods in Selangor last December? These heartwarming sentiments even extend to our little furry friends, from cute whale sharks  to  cuddly kittens . :')

With that in mind, Sunway wants to inspire young Malaysians for a better tomorrow. This year, through their annual essay competition, students will get to demonstrate their writing skills, while also highlighting their thoughts about inclusion and diversity.

Returning for its ninth year, the Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition  aims to promote quality writing in English, on top of fostering a better future for the next generation.

Organised by Sunway Group, the Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, as well as Sunway University, with support from Sunway PALS, the Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition is fully endorsed by the Ministry of Education.

This annual competition by Sunway has garnered more than 22,000 participants since it began in 2014, making it one of the longest-running and most popular local literary contests.

The theme that students will have to centre their essay on this year is 'humility'

The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition 2022 is open to all Malaysian students under the national syllabus, from Form 1 to Form 5, with a focus on the topic of humility.

Essay entries can be submitted from 28 March to 25 April (by 1pm).

There are two categories for the competition:

Category A (Form 1 to 3) - Write a 200 to 350-word essay on 'Malaysia is a country with religious diversity. Discuss how mutual respect can help people from different religious beliefs coexist harmoniously.'

Category B (Form 4 to 5) - Write a 500 to 650-word essay on 'Malaysia is a multiracial country. Make an argument for a more inclusive school that values the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of its students and outline the benefits this would bring.'

And, winners will be rewarded with over RM200,000 in bursaries and prizes!

Students will have to submit their essays online during the first phase. In the second phase, finalists across Malaysia will be invited to have a sit-down essay writing assessment on 23 July 2022 at Sunway University in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Sunway College Ipoh, Sunway College Johor Bahru, and Sunway College Kuching.

A total of 13 winners will be chosen from each category.

Here's the prize list:

First prize - RM5,000 cash - Sunway bursary valued at RM16,000 - 10,000 Sunway Pals points - Award certificate - Trophy

Second prize - RM3,000 cash - Sunway bursary valued at RM12,000 - 10,000 Sunway Pals points - Award certificate - Trophy

Third prize - RM1,000 cash - Sunway bursary valued at RM8,000 - 10,000 Sunway Pals points - Award certificate - Trophy

Consolation prizes x 10 - RM500 - Sunway bursary valued at RM5,000 - 10,000 Sunway Pals points - Award certificate - Trophy

Winners can redeem the bursary as tuition fee waiver for any pre-university programmes at Sunway College in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur.

So, are you keen on joining? If you think you've got the writing chops, submit your essay here !

Make sure to submit your essay entries by 1pm on 25 April. Good luck! <3

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Malaysia’s longest-running English essay competition returns for its 10th year with the theme centred around nation-building .

Entries are now open for submissions online by secondary school students studying the national syllabus.

Entries are split into two categories with bursaries and prizes worth a total of RM200,000 to be won!

Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, 26 April 2023 – The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition returns for the 10th year running, calling all secondary school students studying the national syllabus to pen their ideas and aspirations for a better Malaysia and stand to win up to RM172,000 in Sunway bursaries as well as up to RM28,000 worth in prizes.

This year’s theme is centred around nation-building, and participants are invited to describe the role they can play in shaping the future of Malaysia. Entries are split into two categories with Form 1 to 3 students (Category A) and Form 4 and 5 students (Category B), with each having their own essay prompts.

The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition is jointly organised by Sunway Group, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Sunway University, and the Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia, in partnership with Sunway Super App. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia, with the aim of elevating English proficiency among Malaysian students nationwide.

The competition also aims to equip secondary-level students with soft skills such as critical reasoning, creativity and effective communication that will prepare them for their future careers.

Sunway Group deputy chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman M. Hashim said, “The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition reflects Sunway’s long-standing commitment towards the role of education in shaping the destiny of an individual, our society and the country.

With English being the international language of business and science, this essay competition provides a national platform to promote and encourage the use of English among students in articulating their thoughts and ideas about their place in Malaysia’s future,” added Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman M. Hashim, who is also trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.

The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition 2023 is currently open for submissions until 8 May 2023 (by 1:00pm), and students can submit their essays online at www.sunway.com.my/essay .

Essay Topics

Meanwhile, Form 4 and 5 students in Category B are invited to respond in 500-650 words to the following prompt: “Look at our society. What is the single most distressing problem our people are facing? How could your generation help to address this issue?”

Following the submission deadline, a judging panel will then select and invite a shortlist of 100 finalists from all over the country to attend a final on-site essay writing competition, where winners from their respective categories will be selected by the same panel of judges.

The panel comprises Margaret Hall, Past President and Executive Committee Member of the Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia, representatives from the Sunway Education Group Centre for English Language Studies and officials from the Ministry of Education Malaysia.

1 st Place – RM5,000 cash prize, Sunway Bursary valued at RM16,000, 10,000 Sunway Points, an award certificate and a trophy

2 nd Place – RM3,000 cash prize, Sunway Bursary valued at RM12,000, 10,000 Sunway Points, an award certificate and a trophy

3 rd Place – RM1,000 cash prize, Sunway Bursary valued at RM8,000, 10,000 Sunway Points, an award certificate and a trophy

10x Consolation Prizes – RM500 cash prize each, Sunway Bursary valued at RM5,000, 10,000 Sunway Points, an award certificate and a medal

Sunway Points can be redeemed via the Sunway Super App, Sunway’s one-stop lifestyle mobile app, which connects users to products and services across Sunway’s expansive and extensive ecosystem.

Since its first iteration in 2014, the Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition has drawn more than 24,000 participants nationwide. For more information regarding the competition, and to submit your essay, please visit www.sunway.com.my/essay/ .

Please join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news and views that matter.

Press Release

Nation’s longest running essay competition offers more than rm 200,000 bursaries and prizes.

Sunway Group’s highly anticipated Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition, which is the nation’s longest running English essay competition, is back for the ninth consecutive year with prizes worth up to RM200,000 in cash, bursaries, and Sunway PALS points to be won.

The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition is the most popular of its kind in the country organised by Sunway Group, The Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and Sunway University, with support from Sunway PALS and fully endorsed by the Ministry of Education.

The competition aims to equip secondary-level students with skills such as English proficiency, critical reasoning, creativity, as well as emotional intelligence that will prepare them for their future.

The competition is open to all secondary school students studying the local syllabus and this year’s essays will revolve around the theme of ‘humility’. Participating students will be divided into Category A (Form 1 to 3 students) and Category B (Form 4 and 5 students).

Sunway Group Deputy Executive Chairman and Jeffrey Cheah Foundation trustee Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman M. Hashim said, “This competition is part of the Group’s effort in nation-building to improve the quality of education across Malaysia by providing a fun and creative platform that allows them to develop a critical and innovative mindset, complete with the soft skills necessary for their future.

“We believe that we have a social responsibility to help advance the nation’s young minds for the betterment of our community,” he added.

This vision is encapsulated in the #SunwayforGood initiative that comprises three key pillars – education, healthcare and community enrichment. The Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition is an extension of that initiative and reflects the commitment Sunway has made to uphold the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.

As per previous years, students will be required to submit their winning entries through the official portal, www.sunway.com.my/essay , starting 28 March to 29 April 2022 (by 1.00 pm).

Students under Category A (Form 1 to 3) will need to write a 200 to 350-word essay. The essay prompt is: “Malaysia is a country with religious diversity. Discuss how mutual respect can help people from different religious beliefs coexist harmoniously.”

Meanwhile, students from Category B (Form 4 and 5) will need to submit a 500 to 650-word essay. The prompt is: “Malaysia is a multiracial country. Make an argument for a more inclusive school that values the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of its students and outline the benefits this would bring.”

Sunway Education Group Chief Executive Officer Professor Elizabeth Lee said, “We hope the topics we have chosen this year cultivate the art of critical thinking, a highly sought-after skill in graduates and prospective hires. Over and above this, we hope to instil a sense of pride for our country and unity among races in our students.

“The digital age in the wake of COVID-19 has somewhat confined physical communications and social integration opportunities to the backseat. We need to provide the space for discussions such as these to take place to ensure Malaysia continues to be the melting pot of Asia,” she added.

Since its inception in 2014, more than 22,000 students have participated in the Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition, making it one of the most popular local literary contests.

Shortlisted participants in the first round will be invited to the on-site finals, an essay-writing assessment, on 23 July 2022 at Sunway Education Group institutions across Malaysia; Sunway University in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Sunway College Ipoh, Sunway College Kuching and Sunway College, Johor Bahru.

Winners will be selected by a special panel of judges comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, teachers from the Sunway Education Group Centre for English Language Studies (CELS) and Ms. Margaret Hall, Past President and Executive Committee Member of The Oxford and Cambridge Society.

The first prize consists of RM5,000 in cash, a Sunway bursary worth RM16,000, 10,000 Sunway PALS Points, an award certificate and a trophy.

The second prize – RM3,000 in cash, a Sunway bursary worth RM12,000, 10,000 Sunway PALS Points, an award certificate and a trophy.

The third prize – RM1,000 in cash, a Sunway bursary worth RM 8,000, 10,000 Sunway PALS Points, an award certificate and a trophy.

There are also 10 consolation prizes to be won, each consisting of RM500 in cash, a Sunway bursary worth RM5,000, 10,000 Sunway PALS Points, an award certificate and a medal.

The bursary can be used as tuition fee waiver for any pre-university programmes at Sunway College in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur.

Please do not alter, sell or redistribute the pictures. All pictures here belong to the Sunway Group.

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MALAYSIA YOUNG AUTHOR AWARD

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Caya Academy: Your English Language Partner

MYAA 2024 Registration

Myaa participant information portal.

This button is exclusively for participants who have completed registration and received a confirmation message from us. If you are a registered participant, please click the button below to check your competition information.

Calling all Malaysian Aspiring Writers: Enter the Story Writing Competition and Unleash Your Creative Brilliance in English!

Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) is a dynamic three-round English Story Writing Competition. It is designed to nurture and showcase young writers in the English language. Participants will have the opportunity to express their creativity through compelling written stories, and then bring those narratives to life through captivating visual and verbal presentations. Winners will have their stories published on our website and will have the opportunity to serve as judges for future MYAA competitions, write for the Young Reader Club, and participate in social responsibility projects with the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation. The deadline for MYAA 2024 registration is August 18, 2024.

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” - Louis L’Amour

“if you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” - stephen king what is the purpose of myaa this unique contest aims to build the next generation of thinkers and writers. our goal is to provide a platform for young talents to enhance their creative writing skills and gain confidence every time they pick up a pen. through a structured, multi-stage competition, participants will develop their abilities in writing, visual storytelling, and live presentations., check out our previous winners, a young author's journey.

Meet some of our young authors!

Jaybriel Cheng Yu Zhe

Sekolah sri tenby, setia eco park.

Salsabella de Anna

Smk taman desa.

Joshua James Cheah

Sjk(c) kuen cheng 2.

Kuen Cheng High School

Malaysia young author award, open to all students in malaysia from 8 to 18 years of age, preliminary round.

Task (1)  Story Writing: Write a story you'd love to read and submit it.  Registration Deadline 18 August 2024 Submission Deadline 25 August 2024 Advancement The top 10% stories will proceed to the semi-finals.

Semi-Final Round

Task (1)  Video Presentation: Create a short video sharing the story you wrote. (2)  Write a Synopsis: Provide a brief summary of your story. Submission Deadline 14 October 2024 Advancement Finalists will be chosen through a combination of online voting and decisions by the organizing committee.

Final Round

Task (1)  Live Presentation: Present your story live. Presentation Date 9 or 10 November 2024 Mode Online via Zoom

More of a visual person? Watch our video to better understand MYAA!

MYAA 2024 Regulations (Please Read)

(1) competition rounds.

The competition comprises 3 rounds: Preliminary Round, Semi-Final Round and Final Round. PRELIMINARY ROUND (August 2024) • Participants submit their written stories of 800 to 1,500 words (refer to column (5) Story Word Count  for the word limit) by 25 August 2024. • Each story will receive comment from our panel of judges. • The top 10% stories will be invited to join the semi-finals in October 2024. SEMI-FINAL ROUND (October 2024) • Semi-finalists create a short video (30 to 90 seconds) sharing their submitted stories and write a synopsis. The more creative, the better. Submit by 14 October 2024. • The videos will be posted on our Instagram/Facebook accounts with the story synopsis as the caption. The goal is to promote your story and gain attention from the audience. • The 20 finalists of each category will be chosen through a combination of online voting (most likes) and organizing committee decisions. FINAL ROUND (November 2024) • Finalists will present their stories live to our judging panel on 9 or 10 November 2024 via Zoom. Winners will be chosen based on their performance in the preliminary round, semi-final round, and final round.  The number of finalists may vary depending on the total number of participants.

(2) Registration Procedure & Deadline

Individual Registration If you're student, parent or teacher seeking to register individually without using the school registration form, kindly click: MYAA Registration . You will be directed to our registration form, select "Individual Registration (I'd like to register myself, my child, or my students individually)" and fill in the rest of the form to secure your place in the story writing competition.  Group Registration If you're a teacher and would like to register a group of students from your school or learning center, please click: MYAA Registration . You will be directed to our registration form, select "Group Registration (I'm a teacher; please send me the bulk registration form)" in the registration form to request. We will contact you soon. [Registration Deadline] Please note that the registration deadline is on 18 August 2024 . Registration might close early if the number of registered participants exceeds our capacity. Participants will receive a confirmation message and story submission details within 5 working days of successful registration.

(3) Participation Fee & MYAA Community

The participation fee is RM60 per student to cover judging and administrative costs. There are no additional fees if you qualify for the Semi-Final or Final rounds. Each participant will be invited to the MYAA 2024 Community , a dedicated space for participants of the Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) competition. This community serves as a virtual hub for interaction, idea sharing, and discussion related to story writing. While organizers may host writing challenges and activities, it's important to note that the community does not provide individual writing guidance or feedback to participants.

(4) MYAA Categories

Students should enroll according to their year of birth. There are three MYAA categories: Junior Category • For ages 12 and below (born 2012 or later) Intermediate Category • For ages 13 to 15 (born 2009 to 2011) Senior Category • For ages 16 to 18 (born from 2006 to 2008)

(5) Story Word Count

Candidates should adhere to the following word count based on their category when writing their stories. The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any stories that do not adhere to the word count limit. Junior Category • 800-word (minimum) to 1,100-word (maximum) Intermediate Category • 1,000-word (minimum) to 1,300-word (maximum) Senior Category • 1,200-word (minimum) to 1,500-word (maximum)

(6) Story Genres

While there’s no specific theme you need to follow, please ensure your stories fit into one of the following genres: • Aliens & Angels • Animal Tales • Asian Tales • Ghosts & Ghouls • Heart Warmers • Magic & Fantasy • Mystery & Adventure

(7) Competition Prizes & Certificates

Certificate of Participation All candidates in the preliminary round, semi-final round and final round will receive a certificate of participation after the competition. Final Round Prizes: Winners from Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories will each receive: ✧ 1st Prize (X1 Winner) : RM1,200 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ 2nd Prize (X1 Winner) : RM800 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ 3rd Prize (X1 Winner) : RM500 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ Merit (X1 Winner) : RM300 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ Consolation (X6 Winners) : RM50 each, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. In addition to cash prizes and certificates, winners will have their stories published on our website. They will also receive opportunities to serve as judges for future MYAA competitions, contribute to the Young Reader Club, and participate in social responsibility projects with the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation.

(8) Judging Panel & Criteria

Published Young Authors: Our judging panel includes published young authors who have not only been recognized for their outstanding writing in previous Asia Young Author Awards but have also served as judges for past MYAAs. Their firsthand experience ensures a thoughtful and insightful assessment of participants' submissions. Ms. Catherine Khoo: We are privileged to have Ms. Catherine Khoo, founder of the Unique English Classroom and creator of the Young Author Award from Singapore will also be part of the judging panel. Catherine is an author, editor, lecturer, and moviemaker with more than 30 years of experience in media. She was the Editor-in-Chief of Japan Close-Up Magazine and Asia 21 Magazine. She has published two bestselling books and is the founder of Singapore’s first boutique publisher of imprints for under-18s. What are the judges looking for in your story? • Creativity and imagination • Ability to draw readers attention • Originality • Maintenance of interest • Continuity and climax

(9) Privacy

By registering for the competition through our online form, WhatsApp, direct contact, or schools, you agree to allow us to use your personal data, including your full name, phone number, and email, to send you communications such as welcome letters, payment reminders, updates, announcements, and materials related to future competitions and classes from Caya Academy Sdn Bhd.

Participation Fee

RM60 per participant.

Payment Method

Kindly online transfer to the following account: Name: Caya Academy Sdn Bhd Bank: Maybank Account Number: 512884095226 Ensure you include the participant's name in the payment details. We will cross-check your payment with the registration form for accuracy. Additionally, please attach the payment receipt when submitting the registration from! You can also WhatsApp your payment receipt, and state the participant name to 011-6550 5400

Refund Policy

There is no refund of the participation fee.

For additional information about MYAA, feel free to contact us via WhatsApp at 011-65505400 .

Have a question? Drop us a message.

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Nottingham-World Bank Economics Essay Competition 2023

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First prize:         RM 1,000.00 Second prize:   RM 800.00 Third prize:       RM 600.00 Three consolation prizes:  RM350.00 each 

• First prize: Zhi Shen Kerk and Han Ying (Iring) Zhang (International School of Kuala Lumpur) -  essay  
• Second prize: Kan Zheng Hou and Foo Zi Yan (Kuen Cheng High School, Kuala Lumpur) -  essay  
• Third prize: Lim Kah Xuan and Leong Yu Chen (Kluang Chong Hwa High School, Kluang, Johor) -  essay  
• Lim Qi Zhi and Lim Qi Zao (SMJK Katholik, Petaling Jaya, Selangor) -  essay  
• Joshua Chin Yue Yong (Diploma in Marketing, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) -  essay  
• Saw Xiao Shan (Cambridge International A-Levels, Institut Sinaran, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) -  essay  

Why Study Economics? 

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telephone: +6 (03) 8924 8253 fax: +6 (03) 8924 8019

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The Young Writers’ Meet (Essay Competition 2022)

The Young Writers’ Meet is an essay competition through the collaboration between AUG Student Services and SIM Global Education to bring together all aspiring writers to showcase their passion for writing.

Essay Topic

“If I were given SGD1000 to spend in Singapore for a day, I would…”

Write an essay starting with the sentence above.

In your essay, you must:

• Describe how you spend your SGD1000
• Explain about the impact of your spending on you and others

Contest Period

15 th June 2022, 9.00am till 15 th July 2022, 11.59pm

Prize Terms

Champion: Apple MacBook Air (M1 chip, 2020) 256GB

Runner-Up: TTRacing Maxx Air Threads Fabric Gaming Chair

Consolation Prize x10: MBTI Personality Type Assessment Vouchers

School with Most Entries x10: Special Invitation to SIM Malaysia Educator Conference

• Prizes are not exchangeable, transferable, or redeemable in any other form for any reason.
• Prizes are subject to availability and the Organiser reserves the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
• Competition prizes will be delivered by the AUG staff to be awarded at the winner’s school. Delivery by courier will only be conducted due to special circumstances such as unreasonable distance from office location, unavailability due to emergency purposes etc.
• The Organiser and its partner reserve the right to use any photographs motion pictures, recordings, or any other media records of the Competition (including those of Participants), for any legitimate purpose including commercial advertising and distribution to sponsors anywhere in the world without any notification and/or payment to the Participants.
• By submitting the Competition Entry, the participants shall be deemed to have read, understood, accepted, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of the Competition.
• The decision of the Organiser is final. No enquiries, verbal or written, shall be entertained.

Eligibility and Condition of Entry

• Open to all students aged 15 to 18 years old (in 2022) who are currently residing in Malaysia.
• The essay must be between 500 to 800 words. Essays with word count of less than 500 or exceeding 800 will be disqualified.
• The essay must be submitted as a Word/PDF document format. If your essay is handwritten, kindly scan into a PDF document. No written hardcopy submissions will be accepted.
• All entries must be written in English and uploaded online through https://augstudy.com/malaysia/the-young-writers-meet2022
• Entry closes on 15th July 2022, 11.59pm. Essays received after the deadline will automatically be disqualified.
• The essay must be your own work, completed without assistance and with no parts copied from the internet or other sources.
• Each participant is allowed to submit ONE (1) essay only.
• Winning entrants are expected to show originality and flair, creativity of writing and competent use of English as a written language. This includes a good standard of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• The decision of the Judges’ are final, and no appeal, verbal or written, shall be entertained.
• All winners will receive a Certificate of Award, and all other participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
• Competition prize winners will be announced on 6th August 2022 through Zoom platform. All participants will be emailed beforehand on the exact time of the announcement via email. Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the prize winner(s) for the following 14 days after the announcement. If the winner fails to respond to our notification attempts or unable to comply with the competition terms and conditions, we reserve the right to disqualify that entrant and offer the prize to the next eligible entrant and thereafter until a winner is found.
• AUG Student Services and SIM Global Education reserve the rights to amend, terminate or add on to the terms and conditions at any point of time by placing a notice in the relevant website or any designated area.
• AUG Student Services and SIM Global Education will not be responsible or liable for any delay and/or failure in participating in this competition due to any reason beyond the control of the organizers.
• The participant agrees and provides consent to AUG Student Services and SIM Global Education for the use of any personal data as provided by the participant for the purposes of participation in this contest in line with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and other applicable laws, to the extent that any personal data provided shall by processed and be used by AUG Student Services and SIM Global Education for lawful purpose directly related to the running of this Contest, including but not limited to the purposes of promotional event, advertising , marketing and any administrative matters.

For more information, please contact AUG Student Services at 012- 969 9486.

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Public Speaking Competition

The search is on for the next Malaysian representative to the ESU International Public Speaking Competition. Come forward and show off your verbal prowess and gift of the gab! Who knows, you could walk away with a trip to London to represent Malaysia in the English Speaking Union (ESU) International Public Speaking Competition.

Essay Writing Competition

The ESUM Essay Writing Competition are held to encourage students and young adults to think critically and coherently and be able to write creatively on the theme presented. This builds confidence in their research and structural skills in parallel to their oracy education. The competition is open to age ranging from 13 to 18 years old.

Debating Competitions

“Debating, however, goes beyond merely standing up and airing your views. It involves extensive research and preparation. To be a debater, you have to be keen in reading, research habit, have an interest in the field, a good grasp of general knowledge and current affairs.

About ESU Malaysia

The English Speaking Union (‘ESU’) is an independent, non-political, educational charity with members throughout the world and branches in 50 countries. Its purpose is to promote international understanding and human achievement through the widening use of the English Language.

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Mailing Address : ESU Malaysia Secretariat Office 2nd Floor, Wisma BGAM, 15B, Jalan Sungei Besi Indah 1/18, Taman Sungei Besi Indah, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Selection for IPO is through MyPO by Persatuan Pendidikan Falsafah dan Pemikiran Malaysia (PPFPM).

Register now!

Official PPFPM website

Official IPO website

Introduction to IPO

IPO is a philosophy essay writing competition that is held on an international level involving more than 50 countries. IPO was founded in 1993 and is held around May annually. The IPO competition is under the management of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP).

Each country can send 2 contestants to IPO chosen through national competitions that are hosted by FISP-appointed organizations. Malaysia’s participation in IPO started since 2018. The selection process of Malaysian contestants is managed by PPFPM: this process starts with MyPO and is followed by a few series of trainings and follow-ups. 

You can know more about IPO here .

<This introduction is translated from the PPFPM website> 

Selection Process

Contestants to represent Malaysia in the IPO are chosen through the Malaysian Philosophy Olympiad (MyPO). Participants will need to register for MyPO (when registration opens) ,which takes form as an essay writing competition. Winners of MyPO will undergo a training camp, from which two representatives will be selected to participate in IPO.

Before the day of MyPO, participants will be invited to join a series of workshops introducing some basics of philosophy, including epistemology, ethics, metaphysics and so on.

During MyPO, participants will receive a set of 5 questions, from which participants will have to choose one question and write a 1000-2000 word-long essay response to it. Participants are not required to have prior knowledge in philosophy to write the essay, meaning they should not be quoting or referencing other philosophical thoughts. 

A common misconception : A philosophical essay is an original and personal analysis of the writer towards a specific issue using philosophical thinking as a structure. It is not an essay that summarizes opinions that can be obtained through outside sources such as books or the Internet (even though these sources are referenced) towards the aforementioned issue.

Eligibility 

All Malaysian nationals who are studying at a high school level or pre-university level (those who are studying abroad are also considered)  and  aged 18 and below are eligible to participate in MyPO. 

If you are an IPO alumnus, you can help us complete this page by registering first. Thank you.

What is IPO? Talk by Mr. Hazman Baharom

Get notified.

We will keep you updated with Olympiad registration, training materials, result announcements and more Olympiad news.

Subscribe now

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The Azmi Khalid Constitutional Law Essay Writing Competition 2023

THE AZMI KHALID CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2023

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya, and to honour the memory of the late Associate Professor Azmi Khalid, the Faculty is launching the “Azmi Khalid Constitutional Law Essay Writing Competition”. 

Associate Professor Azmi Khalid was a law lecturer at the Faculty of Law who was admired as a prominent constitutionalist and a pioneering human rights advocate. He passed away at age 42 on 24 May 1992. The fund for this competition has been established by the alumni of the Faculty’s Class of 1982 in fond remembrance of Azmi Khalid.  

This once-in-two-years competition shall be administered by the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya and judged by a panel of distinguished judges, lawyers and academicians whose decision shall be final.  Cash prizes shall be awarded to all winners. A Certificate of Participation shall be awarded to all participants.

TOPIC: The topic for the 2023 competition is: HUMAN RIGHTS IN MALAYSIA: IS THE CUP HALF-FULL OR HALF-EMPTY?

ELIGIBILITY : Any enrolled student of a law course in a public or private university in Malaysia may participate, whether a citizen or a non-citizen. An eligible candidate must provide proof of his/her status by supplying personal particulars on the Prescribed Form.

PRIZES : A distinguished panel of judges will evaluate each essay and award three prizes. First Prize: Ringgit Five Thousand (RM 5,000) and a Certificate Second Prize: Ringgit Three Thousand (RM 3,000) and a Certificate Third Prize: Ringgit One Thousand (RM 1,000) and a Certificate.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS  Originality:  The essay must be the author’s original contribution. Each source relied upon must be acknowledged in a footnote. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and any essay with a similarity index of more than 30% will not be accepted. Each essay must be accompanied by a TURNITIN REPORT. Language:  The essay must be submitted in the English language. Format:  The essay must be in the PDF format. Font style:  Font style and size is Times New Roman - size 14 for title; size 12 for the Abstract and Text; and size 10 for Footnotes. Spacing:  spacing should be 1.5. Word count:  The article must be between 2,500 to 3.000 words (excluding Footnotes and Bibliography).   Referencing:  Use “footnotes” and not endnotes. Use footnotes and not “in-text citations”.

Download the Prescribed Form and Declaration  HERE

Submission: The article must be submitted ONLINE by 5.00PM on February 28, 2023 to the following dedicated email: [email protected]

The submission should include the following:

• The Prescribed Form and Declaration as the top cover.  
• The essay’s title and the author’s full name on page 1
• An Abstract of 100-150 words.
• An Introduction
• A Conclusion or Summing Up
• Word count of the essay (to be indicated on the last page)
• A Bibliography (not exceeding 400 words)   
• The TURNITIN Report

We wish all participants good luck and a stimulating intellectual experience.

For further enquiries you may contact: 03 7967 6523 (Dr Hameedullah) or 03 7967 6532 (Dr Saw) or email at [email protected]

Guest Lecturers 13th & 20th Jan 2023

RM1 mln to provide legal service to underprivileged Malaysian Family: PM

Kebebasan badan kehakiman, legislatif dijamin terus dipelihara – PM

RUU Antigangguan Seksual diluluskan - 20 Julai 2022

147 'archaic' laws to be reviewed [NSTTV]

PM imbau nostalgia bergelar mahasiswa undang-undang UM

Writing Competition for Young Writers in Malaysia

Inspiring children and teens to write

The Merdeka Writing Competition was founded in 2020 to encourage children and teens to write. Many of the writing competitions in Malaysia are either organised to promote a brand or company or topics that not all children understand like energy and sustainability.

While there’s nothing wrong with those competitions and, in fact, they are lauded for their accomplishments in encouraging children to think and write critically, not as many kids will participate because the topic is non-fiction and it’s tough for them to understand. Additionally, many of those contests are only open to Malaysians.

The Merdeka Writing Competition has been designed with the children in mind. So, the entries must be fiction (which they love) and on themes/topics that they understand (freedom, community, kindness, self-confidence). In addition, this competition is not limited to Malaysians. Children and teens of all nationalities can take part as long as they are in Malaysia. The competition is also open to refugees.

The person behind the Merdeka Writing Competition is former journalist Brigitte Rozario. She is currently a freelance writer, editor and trainer. She founded the Junior Writers Programme in 2018 as a way to get talented writers in Malaysia published. Each year, the programme has a new batch of students who publish an anthology.

Brigitte also uses the Merdeka Writing Competition to source for talents for JWP.

The Merdeka Writing Competition 2023 has concluded. The next one is planned for August 2024.

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THE ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2023

The results of the essay writing competition, organized by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Penang and co-organized by Nanyang Siang Pau, Sin Chew Daily, China Press, and Guang Ming Daily under the theme "My Love, My Connection between China and Malaysia" have been announced.

Out of the four participating students from the Engineering Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, three received honorable mentions, and one student earned the appreciation of excellence. Congratulations to all participants and their supervisor, Madam Khor Gek Suan from the School of Languages, Literacies, and Translation.

The winners are listed below:

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ESSAY WRITING CONTEST

Why we need modern day abolitionists: the next generation’s response to human trafficking.

1st place winners for middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) will each receive $300. 2nd place winners for middle and high school will each receive $150.

Winners will be recognized at the Elijah Rising Gala on Thursday, October 17, 2024! Winning essays will be shared on ElijahRising.org and social media. 3 tickets to the Gala will be provided to each winner.

Judging criteria (for a maximum score of 30 points):

• Interpretation of the topic: Why We Need Modern-Day Abolitionists:  The Next Generation’s Response to Human Trafficking (10 pts) 
• Level of originality and creativity (10 pts)
• Quality (10 pts)

Essays should be 500-1000 words.

Submit essay entries to: [email protected] with the subject line “essay contest submission” by 5:00 PM CST on Monday, September 23. Late entries will not be considered. Include name, school, and grade level. Winners will be notified via email no later than Friday, September 27.

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Winners of the 2023 Essay Contest

“A Funny Thing That Happened to Me”

Thank you to everyone who submitted an essay. Here are the 2023 winners featured in The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac.

“A Funny Thing That Happened to Me” 

First prize ($250), read next, a southern vegetable garden plan and layout, my most memorable wildlife experience, my most memorable animal experience.

–Bruce Kubec, Longwood, Florida 

Second Prize ($200)

My son was 6 years old, about halfway through first grade, and he was in that magical stage when learning to read permeated every aspect of his life: reading street signs, reading posters in store windows, reading cereal boxes. He would focus, squint, and silently mouth the printed letters, then decode them into language. He’d do it again and again, the ratio of success creeping up with practice.

So it was that Mom had an evening meeting, and my son and I headed to a local family restaurant for dinner. The menu became his prized focus, a small universe of words and pictures, puzzles to be solved, and a playground for exercising his current favorite sport. He got “french fries” and “ice cream,” but stumbled on “spaghetti” and “appetizer.”

Then, as we neared the end of our dinner, a look of concern wrinkled his face. He scanned the dining room with mild confusion. His eyes lingered on an adjoining, smaller dining area. Finally, he asked, “Do we have to go there if we get ice cream?” I asked what he meant. He then pointed to the menu and read, “It says here, ‘Leave room for dessert.’”

–Rick Schnable, Dover, New Hampshire

Third Prize ($100)

The night before Thanksgiving, one year before, my husband sent our young daughters out to the freezer in the garage with instructions on how to bring in the turkey to defrost. They came back to report that there was no turkey. He told them to look again, adding that it was smaller than usual. They came back with a shrink-wrapped Cornish game hen, asking, “Is this really our turkey?” He assured them that it was, explaining that he’d learned about a new product called Expand-O Turkey.

They put the wrapped bird in the sink with water, and he assured them that—like their fun bath sponges—it would be full size by morning. After they were asleep, he cut open the shrink-wrap to look like it had burst wide open, wrapped up the game hen, and returned it to the freezer.

Before they awoke, he took our real turkey from a cooler where it had been defrosting, removed its shrink-wrap, and placed it in the sink. The game hen’s torn tiny shrink wrap was placed in the water to await the girls’ discovery. Their eyes widened at the scene. Expand-O Turkey was amazing. They spread the word far and wide.

–Cindy Dobrez, Grand Haven, Michigan

Honorable Mention

We were on the road to the Renaissance Festival in Sterling, New York. Upon arriving, my husband parked the van on a large grassy field. We headed toward the entrance. We presented our tickets at the gate, walked into the wooded grounds, and made a beeline for the food stands—pulled pork pockets with creamy coleslaw; turkey legs; strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, and much more. We chose our desired delicacy, and off we ran to see the sights.

Except that I don’t run. I can’t even walk quickly. I have multiple sclerosis and walk with a limp. Climbing stairs is especially difficult, and this festival had plenty of stairs built into the ground. I was ascending one set of stairs as a woman going down stopped me. “How’s the leg?” she asked. I did a quick memory jog: “Do I know her? Apparently, she knows me and knows that I have MS . Is she from church? The neighborhood?”

I didn’t know, but I answered her: “The leg’s a little weak, but I’m sure it’ll get better.” She nodded, smiling strangely at me. She went along her merry way, as I lifted a huge 1-pound turkey leg to my mouth.

–Geraldine Bereziuk-Lowrey Buffalo, New York

Carol Connare

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AZ529 2024 Essay Writing Contest

Dream. Write. Win.

Your 5th or 6th grader could win $529 towards an AZ529 Education Savings Plan.

CONTEST RULES

CONTEST IS OPEN AUGUST 26 THROUGH OCTOBER 6, 2024.

Tell us how you’d make the world a better place.

For the fifth year, Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee and the AZ529 Education Savings Plan are hosting an essay contest for kids. The 2024 Essay Writing Contest invites Arizona 5th and 6th graders to submit essays explaining their dream job and the steps they’ll take to reach it. Winners will receive $529 toward an AZ529 Education Savings Plan to fund their future educational aspirations!

Contest Details

All current 5th and 6th grade students in Arizona, including students from district, charter, private schools, tribal schools, and homeschools.

Answer the question, “What is your dream job and how do you plan on achieving it in the future?” Responses should be a minimum of three (3) paragraphs with a maximum of 350 words. The more creative, unique, and thought-provoking the better!

Entries will be accepted through October 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM (MST).

Online: Essays can be submitted online at AZ529.gov/EssayContest using the upload button on this page. (Accepted file types: Microsoft Word, PDF, JPG and JPEG. Max. file size: 256 MB).

Or you can mail entries to: 5th and 6th Grade Essay Writing Contest Attention: Jeffrey O. Office of the State Treasurer 1700 West Washington Street, #102 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Because winning $529 towards a new or existing AZ529 Education Savings Plan is an incredible way to launch your 5th or 6th grader’s future!

Twenty (20) prizes, each in the amount of $529, will be awarded towards a new or existing AZ529 Education Savings Plan. Winners will be selected from each of Arizona’s 15 counties and there will also be winners representing all types of schools, including students from district, charter, private schools, tribal schools, and homeschools. We’re excited to help 20 young writers start saving for their educational plans beyond high school!

Official Contest Rules

One (1) original entry per person.

HOW TO ENTER:

Online: Upload entries using the “Upload Here” button on this page. (Accepted file types: Microsoft Word, PDF, JPG and JPEG. Max. file size: 256 MB).

All entries must be received by October 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM (MST).

JUDGING CRITERIA:

• Entries will be judged and scored by a panel of judges, including representatives of the AZ529 Plan Advisory Committee.
• Entries will be anonymously judged based on a scoring rubric of: 40 percent for overall content, 30 percent for originality, and 30 percent for organization. Any ties will be broken based on an additional score for overall readability and grammar.
• Judges will also ensure that a student is selected from each of the five (5) main types of schools in Arizona: district, charter, private schools, tribal schools, or homeschools.

ELIGIBILITY: All participants must be Arizona residents, currently enrolled in 5th or 6th grade as of August 2024 in an Arizona school. The parent or legal guardian submitting an entry on behalf of the minor must also be an Arizona resident. Employees and families of the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office and Davidson Belluso are not eligible to win.

PRIZES: Twenty (20) awards, each in the amount of $529, will be awarded toward an AZ529 Education Savings Plan, across Arizona. All prizes will be conveyed through a direct contribution to a new or existing AZ529 account in the name of the winner or their parent/guardian. No cash prizes will be awarded.

WINNER SELECTION/VERIFICATION: Winners and their parents/guardians will be notified by phone and/or email after the close of the contest and completion of judging. To receive AZ529 funds, parents/guardians must submit verification of an open AZ529 account within 90 days after the award notification. If verification is not completed within 90 days of the notification, the prize will be forfeited.

AGREEMENT TO THE OFFICIAL RULES: By participating in the Contest, each Entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to accept these Official Rules and the decision of the sponsor and judges which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

AGREEMENT TO USE OF CONTENT: By submitting an entry, each participant (and their parent or legal guardian) agrees to allow The Office of the Arizona State Treasurer , AZ529, Arizona’s Education Savings Plan and its agents to use the content of each essay. Verbiage from selected essays may be shared online or in print for marketing purposes, either in full or in excerpts. The child’s last name will not be shared or posted online or in a social message but may be used in news releases or media coverage. Further, by submitting an entry, a parent or legal guardian agrees to allow AZ529 to use their own or their child’s likeness, photograph(s), video, voice, or name without costs of advertising, publicity, social media, or any other lawful purpose in any medium now known or hereafter, without any review or approval.

DISCLOSURE OF SPONSORS: The AZ529 Education Savings Plan is managed by The Office of the Arizona State Treasurer . Approved AZ529 Plan providers include Fidelity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. This contest is being managed by Davidson Belluso, marketing partner of the Arizona Education Savings Plan.

TAX LIABILITY: The Sponsors and their agents make no representations as to the tax liability or deductibility of a prize. Each participant (and their parent or legal guardian) shall be solely responsible for filing and paying any taxes arising from the receipt of a prize.

Who will judge?

The 20 winners will be declared by a panel of judges from the AZ529 Advisory Committee. The panel will read and judge each essay based on content, originality, and organization.

What is an AZ529 account?

The AZ529 Education Savings Plan is a designated account to save for qualified higher education expenses at universities, colleges, vocational, and technical schools. Contributions to this account grow on a tax-deferred basis. Funds in an AZ529 account can be used for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, a computer, internet services and other related educational expenses.

Does my child have to attend an Arizona university to use the AZ529 funds?

If your child wins, you will receive a $529 deposit into an AZ529 Education Savings Plan. AZ529 funds can be used to pay for higher education institutions across the country and some schools abroad. There is no obligation to use the winning funds at a specific vocational school, college, or university.

AZ529 funds can be used for education expenses including tuition and fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for an accredited postsecondary institution or participation in an apprenticeship program registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under section 1 of the National Apprenticeship Act. AZ529 account funds can also be used for qualified student loan repayments, up to a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per beneficiary. Students who are enrolled at least half-time may use AZ529 account funds for room and board expenses.

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The 2022-2023 Average College Attendance Costs as provided by the College Board were used to estimate current college costs.

National Average College Attendance Costs*

Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

Books & Supplies

Annual Basic Expenses

Private College / University

Public University (In-state)

Public University (Out-of-state)

Community College (In-state)

*Source: College Board, 2022 – 2023

The Savings Goal is calculated by multiplying the Shortfall by the savings percentage selected.

If the account owner wanted to make a one-time investment now to save enough to cover the shortfall, the amount needed was calculated by multiplying the Shortfall amount by an investment index multiplier that corresponds to the selected number of years until college as seen in the Necessary Investment Index.

Necessary Investment Index

Years Until College

Contribution LumpSum

If the account owner wanted to make monthly investments to save enough to cover the shortfall, the amount was calculated by multiplying the Shortfall amount by an investment index multiplier that corresponds to the selected number of years until college as seen in the Necessary Investment Index.

Contribution Monthly

The Monthly Savings Goal Amount was calculated by multiplying the Savings Goal amount by an investment index multiplier that corresponds to the selected number of years until college as seen in the Necessary Investment Index.

The Value of Current Investments When College Starts was calculated by multiplying your current college savings by a growth index multiplier that corresponds to the selected number of years of possible investing (e.g. years until college), assuming a 7% annual rate of return as seen in the Growth Index table.

Growth Index (Assumes 7% Annual Rate of Return)

Years Investing

Multiply By:

Future Annual College Costs are calculated by multiplying the current annual college costs by an 8% inflation rate multiplier that corresponds to the selected number of years until college as seen in the Rising Cost Index.

Rising Cost Index

8% Inflation Rate Multiply By:

Most families set a goal to save for a percent of the total cost of college, not necessarily the whole amount. Some save 25%, some want to cover 30%, others 50% and some families aim for 80%. Use this calculator to find out what amount works best for your current budget.

The Shortfall was calculated by subtracting the Value of Current Investments When College Starts from the Projected Total Cost of College.

Projected Total Cost of College was calculated by multiplying the future annual college costs by the planned number of years of attendance. The projection does not allow for inflation rate adjustments beyond the first year of college.