MATTERS OF LIFE & DEATH SCHOLARSHIP WRITING CONTEST 2011-2012

Thank you for your interest in the Matters of Life & Death Scholarship Writing Contest. The 2011-2012 contest is closed and we are no longer accepting submissions. This year we received over 300 thought-provoking essays on "Why should I have an advance directive by the time I turn 18?". We look forward to announcing our winners on the website in June 2012.

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WRITING CONTEST OBJECTIVES
The goals of the Matters of Life & Death Scholarship Writing Contest are to expose students to the issues surrounding aid in dying and to financially assist college-bound scholars. This contest is designed to help students develop awareness of issues surrounding end-of-life decision-making. The contest is open to California high school students in grades 11 and 12 during the 2011-2012 academic year who are college-bound.
 
WRITING CONTEST PROMPT
Each student participant must answer the question:

Why should I have an advance directive by the time I turn 18?

USEFUL LINKS
Use the useful links below to familiarize yourself with what an advance directive is, how it benefits you to have one, and how it might be detrimental if you do not have one.

• Compassion & Choices Northern California’s advance directive for California
  
  
• To learn more about Compassion & Choices Northern California
  
  
• Compassion & Choices’ website on end-of-life planning
  
  
• To think about what to consider in completing an advance directive
  
  
• To read about end-of-life cases where a person did not have an advance directive, please see:
  • Synopsis of Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health as well as Summary of In the Matter of Quinlan
  • The Terri Schiavo case

Prizes to be awarded – $1,000 for First Place, $500 for Second Place, and $250 for Honorable Mention – will be judged on quality and clarity of presentation, correct use of terminology, familiarity with the issues, original application of research, and potential shown by the author. Winners will be featured in our newsletter and on our Website. The first-place winner may be invited to present the winning essay at one of our open meetings.

WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES
Please follow these guidelines when submitting your entry:

1. Submit a typewritten essay (please include a title), no more than 1,500 words, preferably using Microsoft Word. (You may also send it in PDF.)  The essay must be in 12-point Times New Roman font and single-spaced.
2. Provide a cover letter with the following information: Your name, address, phone number, email address, school’s name, and your grade level.
3. This contest is open to California college-bound students in grades 11 and 12 during the 2011-2012 academic year.
4. All entries must be submitted by April 16, 2012.  (If you are using US mail, all entries must be postmarked by that date.)

1. Email your entries to admin@compassionandchoicesnca.org and in the subject line, write: Your Last Name, Your First Name.
2. Or you may mail your entries to:
   Matters of Life & Death Scholarship Writing Contest
   Compassion & Choices Northern California
   3701 Sacramento Street #439
   San Francisco, CA  94118

All entries submitted to the Matters of Life & Death Scholarship Writing Contest become the property of Compassion & Choices Northern California. Compassion & Choices Northern California reserves the right not to award prizes.

For more information about the Matters of Life & Death Scholarship Writing Contest, please email admin@compassionandchoicesnca.org.

ABOUT COMPASSION & CHOICES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Compassion & Choices Northern California seeks to educate terminally-ill individuals and their families about their rights to a dignified, humane, and peaceful death. We provide services appropriate to a diverse community with a focus on comfort care and pain management. Additionally, we strive to increase awareness of, and access to, the full range of end-of-life choices by educating the public at large and by advocating for change to existing laws.