The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest is a state-wide essay contest for high school students, grades 9 - 12. Students are asked to select a “Law of Life” or maxim (such as “Honesty is the best policy,” or “To give is better than to receive”), and to write about how the character value contained in the quote applies to the student’s life. In short, the Laws of Life Essay Contest challenges students to examine and reflect upon core values such as generosity, courage and compassion, and rewards those students who are willing to take a stand for their beliefs.

For more information about the contest, email .

Facts about the Program

• The national model for the contest was created in 1987 by international investment manager Sir John Templeton for his hometown of Winchester, Tennessee.
   
• The Georgia Laws of Life Contest is one of many local, regional, and national Laws of Life contests. There are Laws of Life contests across the U.S. and around the world, in countries such as Canada, Russia, Ghana, Sri Lanka and China.
   
• The Laws of Life contest is approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Georgia Department of Education.
   

Benefits of the Program

• Challenges young people grades 9-12 to think about important character values.
   
• Provides high schools with an effective, easy-to-implement character education program that enables their students to win significant cash prizes.
   
• Complements any existing English curriculum and is not an "add-on."
   
• Improves classroom climate using an engaging writing activity that helps teachers and students to get to know each other better.
   
• Offers a community an opportunity to honor and recognize young people who have strong character values.
   
• Builds stronger community-school ties by enabling educators and community members to work side-by-side on a positive and affirming activity.
   

The 2009-2010 Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest would not have been possible without the generous support our sponsors.