Topic: The Importance of Community.
Tell us your thoughts about community. Put your thoughts in an Estonian context.
Estonians are familiar with many communities, ranging from family to social and political groups. Some communities have fixed boundaries. There are other communities that have no fixed boundaries. There are song, dance and folk-tale communities. The number of possible communities sometimes seem endless. Are some communities more important than others? Do we need to build communities or do they just happen? How do the communities you belong to impact your life? What is your most important community? How are communities formed? What characterizes communities? These are just thoughts to get you started.
Language: English.
Eligibility: All students, wherever geographically located, who are enrolled in either Middle School or High School or their equivalent when the essay is written.
Length: As long as it takes to say what you want but no more than 2,500 words.
Deadline for submission: May 5, 2023.
Submission: Submit completed manuscript electronically to . In the subject line, write “Essay Contest.” As part of your email, give us your name, age, grade level, email address, the name of the school you attend and the school’s address.
Winners will be announced on June 14, 2023.
Judges: An international panel of judges, reflecting various communities, will select the winning essays. Pamela Anchang, founder, The Immigrant Magazine. Sini Harkki, Program Director, Greenpeace Nordic. Juuli Hiio, Consul, Consulate General of Estonia, San Francisco. Eva-Maria Liimets, former Estonian Foreign Minister. Jaak Treiman, Estonia’s Honorary Consul, Los Angeles.
Prizes: First place – $1,000.00. Second place – $750.00. Third place – $250.00.
The winning essay will be published in the Estonian Society of Los Angeles Newsletter, global online magazine, Estonian World, Vaba Eesti Sõna and also in the Estonian-American Business Alliance newsletter.
Any questions or issues related to the rules of this contest will be decided by the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Estonian Society. The Board has the exclusive authority to interpret the contest rules and the eligibility of essay writers. Their decision is final.
