Spring 2023 Essay Scholarship Contest

Contest Rules:

Students participating in the contest must enter an essay that meets the following requirements:
o A maximum of 1000 words and a minimum of 500 words,
o 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins,
o Must be submitted as plaintext
o Each entry must be done individually and independently, representing each student’s own research thinking and writing, and.
o Essay content is at the student’s discretion but must answer the question posed by the Office of the Securities Commissioner. Students may discuss what they hope to implement in their own life from the lessons learned in the financial literacy courses provided by their organization as it pertains to the question posed.

The 2023 question is as follows: Making proper investments can be a major life decision that can determine your financial trajectory for years to come. What would be your goals when investing. Describe ways to research investments when building a portfolio. What are key elements in long-term investments. Explain what red-flags one might see when investing and how you would mitigate risk.

Each student who submits an essay to the contest must be:
o a legal resident of Kansas in grade nine through 12; and
o a participant in the organization’s financial literacy program.

The three students with the top three essays submitted by the Kansas Council on Economic Education will receive the following awards:
o First-place Essay – $5,000
o Second-place Essay – $3,000
o Third-place Essay – $2,000

The First-place essay will be automatically evaluated with essays submitted from other organizations to determine overall statewide scholarship awardees, with the same awards as those at the organizational level (i.e., $5,000 for the statewide first-place essay, $3,000 for the statewide second place essay, and $2,000 for the statewide third-place essay.

Scholarships will be awarded to a Kansas 529 account for use by the student as allowed by law.

Submission to KCEE is required by Friday, March 31. To enter, teachers must submit their student’s essay and entry form (found at link below) online at https://forms.gle/kTyp9cdoUEerXgAb9. Only submissions made before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 31 will be eligible.

Students must complete the form below and return to their teacher to submit with their essay.

Consider these resources when conducting your research:

https://smartinvestks.com

https://econedlink.com

Contact Charlene Nichols at charlene.nichols@wichita.edu with any questions.