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 Sir John Templeton, a pioneer in global investments, a noted philanthropist, and the founder of The John Templeton Foundation.

The Georgia Laws of Life Contest is one of many local, regional, and national Laws of Life contests. The Georgia Contest is now the largest Laws of Life contest in North America, and the second largest in the world.

In 2010, the Contest became a program of the Georgia Rotary Districts Character Education Program, Inc. (GRDCEP), a Rotary-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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.

2010-2011 Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

The John Templeton Foundation
The Devereaux F. and Dorothy M. McClatchey Foundation
Outlaw Consulting, Inc.

Rotary Club Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Rotary Club of Atlanta
Rotary Club of Dunwoody

Gold Sponsors

Rotary Club of Henry County
Rotary Club of Gwinnett County
Rotary Club of Lawrenceville
Rotary Club of Peachtree City
Rotary District 6900

Silver Sponsors

Rotary Club of Macon
Rotary Club of Roswell

Host

Rotary Club of Barnesville
Rotary Club of Forsyth County
Rotary Club of North Fulton
Rotary Club of Northlake

Individual and Corporate Sponsors

Gold

First Degree Solutions, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. George Stewart

Bronze

Don and Marj Griffing
Gardiner and Susan Mason

Patron

Mr. Ranjan Raj
Dr. and Mrs. Don Robinson

Friend

Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Hardister
Ms. Kim Bragg
Ms. Lucinda Clark
Robert and Susan Schwall
Marsha and Richard Hyer
Ms. Anne Hayden

Silent Auction Donors

Thank you to our August 2010 Silent Auction Donors:
Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Hotel
Ms. Brenda Erickson
Mr. Don Griffing
Ms. Charlene Hall
Mr. Chadwick Kelly
INSIDE CNN
Ms. Susan Mason
Mr. Ed Outlaw
Ravinia Club & Spa
Wolf Mountain Vineyards

Founding Sponsors

The John Templeton Foundation * The J. B. Fuqua Foundation * The Emory University Center for Ethics

First Degree Solutions, LLC is our web hosting provider.

For information on how to become a 2010-2011 Contest Sponsor, contact .

Presented by the Georgia Rotary Districts Character Education Program, Inc.