The essay contest is open to all students in grades K-12. All students in public, private, parochial, home, or virtual schools are invited and encouraged to participate. Maximum length of the essays are:
- 75 words in length for grades K-3
- 150 words in length for grades 4 and 5
- 250 words in length for grades 6-8
- 500 words in length for grades 9-12
The theme of the 2024 Gaslight Festival is “Love your City.”
All entries must be original and should reflect on the prompt: Why I love Anderson, Indiana.
Judging criteria is:
Composition points and emotional description 70%
Creativity 20%
Mechanics and clarity 10%
Please, provide a cover sheet with the essay that includes the contestant’s name, grade, name of school, home address and phone number. Please do not put any personal identifying information on the actual essay.
Submissions are due: Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Please note: Submission of an entry indicates a consent for the winner's name, school, and home town to be published on the Gaslight Festival site. Winners will also be invited to read their essay at the Gaslight Festival on August 24, 2024.
Winning essays may be published in Gaslight Festival media, including the Gaslight Festival Website, Gaslight Festival Social Media, the Gaslight Gazette, and future essay competitions.
Prizes will be awarded to each age group that include:
First place
$100
Gaslight T-shirt
Trophy
Second place
$50
Gaslight T-shirt
Trophy
Winners will be notified by May 31, 2024.
Please submit entries by May 15, 2024 via:
Email: [email protected] or mail to:
Jill McMillen
120 E. 8th Street
Anderson, IN 46016