Essay Contest

What is the High School Essay Contest?

Students prepare an essay of 500 words or less that addresses the theme, "Water is Life." The purpose of the contest is to encourage students to learn more about our water resources as well as provide them with the opportunity to recognize their own writing skills and abilities. A judging committee, comprised of three members of the Board of Directors, selects the winners from among the entries.

The District recently sponsored its eleventh annual High School Essay Contest for all students, grades 9 - 12, who reside within the District's service area and/or attend Walnut, Diamond Bar, Diamond Ranch, or Rowland High Schools. Awards were presented to the 2008 High School Essay Contest winners in conjunction with the Poster Contest awards in May.

2008 Essay Contest Winners!

Board Members Honor Essay Contest Winners and Their Teachers

Grand Prize: David Bell - Diamond Bar School - $500 Savings Bond & Plaque

Deprived of Water. My legs were weary, I was exhausted. Sweat was running down my forehead and stinging my eyes. Vision blurred, I trudged one tired foot in front of the other, and continued up the never-ending trail... Read more...

1st Place: Leslie Tsan - Walnut High School - $400 Savings Bond & Certificate

Water is Life. Benjamin Franklin wrote "When the well is dry, they know the worth of water", a statement that captures the true essence of water's significance on the modern world... Read more...

2nd Place: Riley Sixta - Diamond Bar High School - $300 Savings Bond & Certificate

She walked the dry land, miles away from any civilization. With each step the land beneath her feet gave way to the weight above it with a crack, while the sand against her shoes sent a shiver up her spine... Read more...

3rd Place (Tie): Chi Cao - Walnut High School - $200 Savings Bond & Certificate

Water is an enigma. What is it about this particular substance, so bland and tasteless, yet it flows through and beyond our veins, lubricating the gears that the human machine operates upon?... Read more...

3rd Place (Tie): Rita Patrick - Walnut High School - $200 Savings Bond & Certificate

Water is Life. Water is the common name given to the liquid form of the hydrogen and oxygen compound H2O. It is the only substance found on earth in the tree forms solid, liquid, and gas... Read more...

3rd Place (Tie): Joseph Woo - Rowland High School - $200 Savings Bond & Certificate

Water is Life. For centuries humans have taken resources for granted and have exploited nature for their own benefits. Humans have chosed to disregard the rules of nature by creating new standards where humans are considered above the law and not applicable to these same standards... Read more...

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How do I participate in the High School Essay Contest?

In January or February letters announcing the High School Essay Contest are sent to District area high school principals and department chairs with entry forms that are forwarded to teachers for distribution to students.

Participating students are required to compose an original essay using expository, descriptive, narrative, or persuasive writings addressing the theme, “Water is Life.” The essay must be 500 words or less and can be written legibly in ink or typed using double spacing on 8-1/2" x 11" paper. Each essay must have a label affixed to the back with the student's name clearly printed on the label.

The student should attach his/her essay to an entry form and submit both to the teacher. Using the District's contest guidelines, each high school selects its top four essays and submits these to the District by the specified date. Participants must reside within the District's service area or attend Walnut, Diamond Bar, Diamond Ranch, or Rowland high schools.

Contact your high school teacher for further information on participating in the High School Essay Contest.

What happens after the essays are submited?

Three members of the District's Board of Directors judge the entries based on overall effectiveness, organization, logic, accuracy, language usage, and originality. Each of the four finalists is invited to receive special recognition at the May Board meeting where prizes are awarded (Grand Prize, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd). A press release is then issued to local newspapers to recognize the students for their outstanding efforts in promoting the importance of water as a precious resource.

The District proudly displays the winning essays at one or more specific events during the month of May, California's Water Awareness Month.

The winning essays are displayed on the District's web site for the following year, along with group photographs of the winners.