Submit your essay

Entries for the 2026–2027 contest are due by November 30, 2026. Everything marked with an asterisk is required.

Judging is blind

Judges read your essay under an anonymous entry code. They never see your name, school, or sponsoring club — so please make sure your name does not appear anywhere inside the essay file itself.

Student

Judges never see any of this. It is used to contact you and to confirm eligibility.

First name

Last name

Student email

Phone(optional)

Home address

Street, city, state or province, and ZIP or postal code.

Grade

This contest is open to students in their final two years of high school.

School

School name

City

State or province

Teacher name(optional)

Teacher email(optional)

Principal name(optional)

Sponsoring Rotary club

Entries are sponsored by a District 5580 club — usually the one nearest your school. If there is no club near you, choose that option and the district contest chair will match your entry with a club.

Rotary club

Not sure? Choose the club nearest your school.

Your essay

Essay title

The title is the only part of your entry a contest official can edit later.

Preamble

Copy the 1–3 sentence preamble from the start of your essay. It briefly explains how your topic relates to all four questions of the Four-Way Test, and it does not count toward the 500–1,000 words.

Essay file

PDF or Word (.docx), up to 10.0 MB. 500–1500 words. Please do not put your name anywhere in the essay — judging is blind.

Consent, certification and signature

Together with the details above, this is the district's Student Information Form. All of it is required by contest rules.

Parent or guardian name

Parent or guardian email

My parent or guardian knows I am entering this contest and consents to my name, school, and essay being shared with Rotary District 5580 for the purpose of judging and announcing results.

I am familiar with the Four-Way Test. My essay focuses on one, two, or all four principles, and its preamble briefly relates my topic to all four questions. The final ideas, ethical reasoning, conclusions, words and voice are my own. I have identified any AI tools I used, and how, below. I understand that plagiarism or undisclosed AI-generated content may be disqualified, and any prize forfeited.

Did you use any AI tools?

AI may be used for brainstorming, research, organizing an outline, and checking grammar, spelling, punctuation and clarity — including tools like Grammarly. It may not write the essay, or any substantial part of it. Telling us how you used it is part of the rules, and does not count against you.

No — noneYes, and I will say how

Student signature

Type the student's full name. This is your signature on the Student Information Form; it is dated automatically when you submit.

Confirmation email

We send the confirmation here. Use a teacher's or parent's address if you would rather they receive it.