The Maryland Society
Sons of the American Revolution
George S. and Stella M Knight Essay Contest
The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2008-2009.
2008-2009 MARYLAND CONTEST RULES
1. This contest is open to all students who are United States Citizens or legal aliens. Contestants shall be attending public, parochial, or private high schools (including accredited home schools). Contestants shall be in the sophomore, junior, or senior grade of study during the contest year. The contest is conducted in three phases: local (Chapter), state (State Society) and National. The contest must be entered through a Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution near the student’s residence. In some cases, the contest may be entered at the State level (if a local chapter is not participating). Only one entry per student is permitted per contest year.
2. The contest is for an original researched and proven topic written in English. The topic of the essay shall deal with: an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United State Constitution. Students must source at least five (5) references with the minimum of three being published book sources to allow for verification of sources if necessary. References from Encyclopedias or Internet sites will be accepted, but are not considered as part of the three published book sources. If there are no book sources (i.e. all are from encyclopedias or internet sources) the essay will be disqualified.
3. The essay must have four parts: A) title page, B) essay pages, C) bibliography (works cited), and D) contestant’s biography. The title page, bibliography and contestant’s biography must be listed on separate pages and no reference to the contestant’s name or information can be part of the Essay pages or Bibliography. Please follow these rules exactly. Essays that do not conform to the rules may be immediately disqualified.
A) The title page must include the title of the essay, contestant’s name, address, telephone member, and email address (if available). In addition, the title page must include the name, address, and telephone number of the high school in which the contestant is enrolled, and the contestant’s grade level.
B) The essay must have a minimum of 800 words and not exceed 1,200 words (excluding title page, footnotes, bibliography page, and biography page). (Word counts based on a word processor are acceptable.) The First page of the Essay must include the title of the essay. (No contestant information must appear on these pages as they are separated and distributed to the judges for grading to prevent possible grading bias.) The essay must be typed double-spaced on white bond paper. No bindings or special covers are needed. Graphics are not permitted. An original copy of the essay must be submitted. Poor quality copies will not be accepted. Plagiarism will be grounds for immediate disqualification.
C) The essay and bibliography must be documented in accordance with the Modern Language Association publication, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (see www.mla.org) or Kate L. Turabian’s publication, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (see www.bridgew.edu/Library/turabian.cfm)
D) The contestant’s biography is limited to one page. Topics to be included in the biography are academic awards and achievements, school activities, community activities, and plans for college.
4. All essays for the Maryland contest must be submitted (postmarked) by December 31, 2008.
5. Essays which meet the Rules will be accepted and judged equally on the following:
A) Historical accuracy
B) Clarity of thought
C) Organization and proven topic
D) Grammar and spelling
E) Documentation.
6. AWARDS: National Society
First Place: $2,000; a winning recognition certificate and medal; airfare and one night hotel stay for the winner and a chaperone at the SAR Annual Congress (in Atlanta, GA in July 2009). The winning essay of the national contest will be submitted for publication in the SAR Magazine. Participants in this contest agree that their essay may be published in the SAR Magazine and on the NSSAR Knight Essay Contest webpage. Winning essay participants, on all levels, must supply a social security number or alien identification/green card number in order to receive their award. The first place National winner is prohibited from participating in following years’ contests.
Second Place: $1,000
Third Place: $500
Maryland State Society
First Place: $250; with the winning essay printed in the MDSSAR Yearbook.
Second Place: $150.00
Third Place: $100.00
7. Participants in this contest agree that the interpretation of rules and decisions of the NSSAR and MDSSAR and its judges must govern without reservation.
Each Chapter of the Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution holds a Knight Essay Contest at the local level. The chapters are divided by county line and the chairman to contact is based on the county in which the student’s school is located. All essays must be submitted to the local chairman directly before the deadline. Note: if any chapter is not holding a contest, then the essay can be submitted to the State Chairman directly to be included in a local contest determined by him
MDSSAR Knight Essay Chairman
Richard Funk
Local Contacts:
Prince George's County Baltimore County
Douglas B. Stuart To be Announced Soon
John Hanson Chapter, MDSSAR Nicholas Ruxton Moore Chapter, MDSSAR
12240 Arrow Park Drive
Washington, MD 20744-6209
Baltimore City Cecil County
Edward A. Foreman, Jr. Richard L. Funk
John Eager Howard Chapter, MDSSAR Col. Henry Hollingsworth Chapter, MDSSAR
40 Lyndale Avenue 37 Boyd Drive
Baltimore, MD 21236-4322 Colora, MD 21917-1523
Charles, St. Mary's, & Calvert Counties Frederick & Washington Counties
George C. Dyson, Jr. John C. George
Thomas Stone Chpater, MDSSAR Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter, MDSSAR
P.O. Box 217, 425N 214 Rockwell Terrace
Ironsides, MD 20643-0217 Frederick, MD 21701-4910
Queen Anne, Caroline, Talbot & Kent Counties Carroll County
B. Conway Gregory, Jr. William G. Hiatt
Col. Tench Tilghman Chapter, MDSSAR Westminster Chapter, MDSSAR
144 Sunset Drive 429 Myers Road
Denton, MD 20643-1441 Westminster, MD 21157-7611
Harford County Wicomico, Somerset, Worcester & Dorchester Counties
Charles L. Raborg Raymond Jackson
Col. Aquilla Hall Chapter, MDSSAR Capt. John Smoot Chapter, MDSSAR
714 Chestnut Hill Road 108 N. Church Streert
Forest Hill, MD 21050 Snow Hill, MD 21863-1202
Howard County Montgomery County
Thomas A. Mead Charles J. Wells
Charles Carroll of Carrollton Chapter, MDSSAR Gen. William Smallwood Chapter, MDSSAR
6681 Dasher Court 5526 Oakmont Avenue
Columbia, MD 21045-8204 Bethesda, MD 20817-3528
Anne Arundel County Allegany & Garrett Counties
Barrett L. McKown Paul R. Shockey
John Paul Jones Chapter, MDSSAR Little Meadows Chapter, MDSSAR
3580 South River Terrace 920 Broadford Road
Edgewater, MD 21037 Oakland, MD 21550-1403
Washington County
James G Ballard
Christian Ardinger Chapter, MDSSAR
13507 Cherry Tree Court
Hagerstown, MD 21742-2867
Questions regarding specific rules may be directed to the Maryland State Chairman:
Richard L. Funk
37 Boyd Drive
Colora, MD 21917
410-658-5645
For information on the National Contest visit http://www.sar.org/youth/knightrules.html
