CHARACTER COUNTS!  

ESSAY & ARTWORK CONTEST GUIDELINES  4th Grade Students can win Savings Bonds of $500, $250, $100

The objective of the contest is to promote ethics among children using the "Six Pillars of Character," to encourage students to improve their writing and drawing skills, to create public awareness in the achievement of students and to create an opportunity for local FCE members to participate in a nationwide project and to promote and market FCE to the community during FCE week.

Any current fourth grade student attending a public, private or home school is eligible to participate in the FCE Essay and Artwork Contest.

The contest encourages students to strive for excellence in:

• Reading and writing skills
• Drawing skills
• Understanding the CHARACTER COUNTS! program

Dates for contest: September 1 - January 31, with promotion announced during National FCE Week (Second full week in October)

Contest Guidelines:

• Use #2 lead pencil drawing on 8 ½" X 11" unlined white paper
• 50-100 word short story explaining the drawing, handwritten or printed or on lined 8 ½" by 11" notebook paper
• Entry must be signed by student
• Attach signed permission from parent or guardian to the entry
• Submit all entries for judging by April 15th

First place entry will be submitted to State Contest, with first place State winner forwarded to National FCE Headquarters for judging. The same judging criteria of creativity, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, content, vocabulary, presentation and handwriting/ printing are used on all levels.

First, second and third place National Winners of the Essay and Artwork Contest receive Savings Bonds of $500, $250 and $100. The winners will be announced at the National FCE Conference.

We encourage you to promote the contest with 4th grade students.

Contact State and County FCE Presidents for more information, or call National FCE Headquarters at 877-712-4477.