LISTEN/™ Dear Cancer: Teen Essay Contest 2021
Creative expression allows us to think in new ways, confront difficult problems, and celebrate our own uniqueness. In 2016, Gilda’s Club Minnesota launched an initiative called LISTEN/™ – an arts-based program to provide creative opportunities to elevate our members’ voices and a platform to share their story. Read more about the LISTEN/™ Project here.
Two years ago Gilda’s Club Minnesota launched the LISTEN/™ Dear Cancer– a teen creative writing/essay contest that elevates the voices of teens impacted by cancer. It has become such a great tool for self-expression that we are doing it again this year! Eligible participants are middle and high school teens (ages 13-18) impacted by cancer, either through their own diagnosis or through a friend or family member. Essays must be in original voice – reflecting personal experience with cancer – insights, original thoughts, lessons learned, and individual character.
Entry Rules and Eligibility Requirements
- Open to teens in middle and high school aged 13-18. Must be a Minnesota resident.
- All essays must be new and original for this contest.
- Each teen may submit only one (1) essay. The essay must be authored by only one (1) teen.
- Essay length must be between 500-2,000 words.
- Not open to previous LISTEN/™ Dear Cancer contest award winners.
- Essays must be TYPED, DOUBLE SPACED, 12 POINT FONT, and submitted in .doc or .docx format.
- Late entries will not be accepted – deadline is midnight CST on January 31, 2020.
- Finalists will be announced Friday, February 19, 2021.
- Recognition ceremony for ALL entrants TBD.
How will my essay be judged?
Personal Voice: Judges will look for an interesting, engaging essay told in your own words. The essay should describe your experience and an overall message about how cancer impacted your life.
Clarity and Style: Judges will look for a clear and consistent focus in your writing and a logical progression of ideas. Good grammar, accurate word choices, correct punctuation, and sentence structure is required.
Ethics Statement
No purchase or obligation necessary. Essay submissions will be evaluated in a fair an unbiased multi-round judging process. Each teen may submit a single essay, and must be authored by only one teen. Family members of a judge or Gilda’s Club staff or board members are ineligible.
How To Enter
Once you have written a 500-2,000 word essay, submit your essay by midnight on January 31, 2020.
Prizes
A single grand prize will be awarded, judged among all submissions
Grand Prize – Laptop valued around $1,500
Middle School Prizes
- 1st Place– iPad valued around $750
- 2nd Place – Gift card for $250
High School Prizes
- 1st Place– iPad valued around $750
- 2nd Place – Gift card for $250
2021 Panel of Celebrity Judges
Shannon Gibney
Award-winning author of books of all kinds — from novels to anthologies to essays to picture books.
Kao Kalia Yang
A Hmong-American writer, teacher and public speaker. Her work is critically acclaimed and spans many genres. 2019 Sally Award for Social Impact recipient.
John Coy
Author of picture books, the 4 for 4 series, and YA novels such as Crackback and Gap Life.
Grace Wethor
Actress, TED speaker, author, brain stem glioma survivor & advocate, an past LISTEN/Dear Cancer Essay Contest Winner.
Thanks to our generous funders:
