The Georgia Rotary Clubs Laws of Life Essay Contest today announced State and  local school winners for the 2020-2021 contest. At the State level:

• Corbin Austin of Bainbridge High School is the State winner
• 1st Runner-Up is Eriyel Fisher of Loejoy High School
• 2nd Runner-Up is Ian Kligora of Rome High School
• 3rd Runner-Up is Adrian Whitlock of Heritage High School
• 4th Runner-Up is Lily Griner of Colquitt County High School
• 5th Runner-Up is Christopher O'Neal of Thomasville High School
• Winner of the George A. Stewart Jr. Character in Action Award (sponsored by RC Dunwoody) is Jamea Harris of the ME Stillwell School of the Arts.

In addition to the State Awards, local awards go to 135 school winners and grade winners from 48 high schools throughout Georgia. Additional students receive honorable mention recognition. More than 25,000 high school students across Georgia shared their personal values in their Law of Life essay for this year’s contest. 

Rotary clubs across Georgia conduct the Laws of Life Essay Contest in partnership with local high schools through the nonprofit Georgia Rotary Districts Character Education Program, Inc (GRDCEP). Rotarians volunteer to read and judge essays, serve on the contest’s Board of Directors, and volunteer their professional expertise to help build positive character traits and strong (?) ethical literacy among students. The essay contest aligns with Rotary’s emphasis on education, high ethical standards and service above self.

Educators with partnering high schools value the experience for their students. “I really think the Law of Life Essay ends up being the most meaningful piece of writing that most of my students produce -- probably out of all writings done while in high school. It's exciting to see students put so much care into their writing!” expressed Diana Powers of Brunswick High School. (or another teacher comment? In 6900 or 6910?)

For the 2020-21 contest, a total of 25,112 students wrote essays, and 54 participating Rotary clubs in Georgia will award over $17,000 in cash prizes. Throughout the spring, winning students will share their essays with enthusiastic audiences at local and district-wide Rotary Club meetings and at regional Rotary conferences.

Since 1999, the Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest has impacted over 750,000 students. Inspired by the power of simple, pithy quotes, or Laws of Life, Sir John Templeton established the writing competition in the 1980s to encourage young people to embrace the wisdom of these sayings and live their best lives. In their essays, students use a law to reflect on values that mean the most to them – values such as generosity, courage, perseverance, honesty, integrity, and compassion.