Dates
Saturday, April 22
Time
11:59 pm
About this event
Deadline: April 22, 11:59 p.m.
As a highly diverse population with more than 23 million members, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have significantly contributed to American history, society, and culture. In 1992, the US. Congress passed a law that designated May as AAPI Heritage Month. In May 2022, the AAPI organizations in central Iowa held an inaugural celebration of AAPI Heritage Month on the ISU campus, intending to promote diversity, equity, and harmony in our communities. We are excited to announce our second annual AAPI Heritage Celebration to be held in May 2023.
An integral part of the celebration, last year’s essay contest received enthusiastic participation and numerous high-quality essays. Built on last year’s great success, the AAPI organizations are announcing the second essay contest, in conjunction with the annual celebration event. All students attending Iowa’s elementary, middle, and high schools and colleges are eligible to participate, regardless of ethnicity, race, or nationality.
REQUIREMENTS
For participants under 18, the submission must include a consent form (https://tinyurl.com/4n89uu4x) signed by their parents/legal guardians. The essay must be originally written by the participants solely for this event, avoiding plagiarism. The essay must be written in English. Only typed essays (doc or docx) are accepted.
LENGTH
Elementary school participants: 300-500 words
Middle school participants: 500-800 words
High school participants: 800-1200 words
College students: 1200-1800 words
FORMAT
A cover page including your name,
school affiliation, and email address.
Please do NOT reveal your identity in the
main text.
Double-spaced, Times New Roman, and
one-inch margins.
Citations (if there are any) need to use
footnotes following the MLA style.
TOPICS
Possible topics include but are not limited to the following: How AAPI heritage may inspire and enrich our lives through the introduction and/or adoption of a unique culture (e.g., literature, art, film, celebration, etc.), practice (e.g., custom), or value. How AAPI heritage may contribute to your personal and intellectual growth. How AAPI heritage enriches American culture as a nation. AAPI’s contributions toward building and strengthening the nation and society. The American experience and the transformation of AAPI heritage. Ways to help promote interaction and mutual understanding between AAPI and the broader communities.
PRIZES
Elementary school participants: 1st Prize ($100), 2nd Prize ($75), 3rd Prize ($50)
Middle school participants: 1st Prize ($200), 2nd Prize ($150), 3rd Prize ($100)
High school participants: 1st Prize ($300), 2nd Prize ($250), 3rd Prize ($150)
College students: 1st Prize ($400), 2nd Prize ($300), 3rd Prize ($200)
SUBMISSION
Please submit your essay as an attached file to AAPIStory@gmail.com, with “AAPI Essay Contest” as the subject line. For questions or inquiries please write to the same email address. Deadline: April 22, 2023, by 11:59 p.m.