High School Division Winners
First Place:
Christina Haynes (12th grade)
Alamance Christian School - Graham, NC
Read the essay
Second Place:
Daniel Jochims (12th grade)
Centerville Public School - Centerville, SD
Read the essay
Third Place:
Nicholas Liu (10th grade)
Broughton High School - Raleigh, NC
Read the essay
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Middle School Division Winners
First Place:
Patrick Parker (7th grade)
Faith Christian School - Rocky Mount, NC
Read the essay
Second Place:
Molly Fox (7th grade)
Home School Student - Raleigh, NC
Read the essay
Third Place:
Matthew Salit (6th grade)
Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School - Seekonk, MA
Read the essay |
High School Division Finalists
Patrick Avery (12th grade)
Alamance Christian School - Graham, NC
Katie DeChant (9th grade)
Ardrey Kell High School - Charlotte, NC
Ryan DiMartino (9th grade)
Ruth's Chapel Christian School - New Bern, NC
Sam Fortson (9th grade)
Covenant Day School - Matthews, NC
Mike Hernandez (11th grade)
Ardery Kell High School - Charlotte, NC
Kayla Jones (12th grade)
Ruth's Chapel Christian School - New Bern, NC
Mackenzie Moser (9th grade)
Covenant Day School - Matthews, NC
Jacob Schexnayder (11th grade)
David W. Butler High School - Matthews, NC
Walter Strickland (12th grade)
South Columbus High School - Tabor City, NC
Sid Ward (9th grade)
Covenant Day School - Matthews, NC |
Middle School Division Finalists
Reagan Bigelow (6th grade)
Martin Middle School - Raleigh, NC
Mary Katherine Cobb (6th grade)
Sugarland, TX
Olivia Davis (7th grade)
Gaston Day School - Gastonia, NC
Council Dawson (8th grade)
Canterbury School - Greensboro, NC
Elise Denney (8th grade) - Rock Hill, SC
Westminster Catawba Christian School
Nick Henderson (8th grade) - Rock Hill, SC
Westminster Catawba Christian School
Spencer Jones (8th grade)
Gaston Day School - Gastonia, NC
Kristen Solt (7th grade) - Charlotte, NC
Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School -
Cole Stanley (7th grade)
The Academy At Lincoln - Greensboro, NC
Alaina Stansfield (8th grade)
Home School Student - Millersburg, PA
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Laws of Life Contest and Program
What are the laws of life?
The Laws of Life Essay Contest offers middle and high school students the opportunity to express the values that are important to them, through an emphasis on reflection and writing. Participants write essays to identify the laws of life which mean the most to them. The "laws of life" are the rules, ideals, and moral principles by which we live. Literally hundreds of such laws exist - some are so clear that almost all people can agree that these laws are true. For instance, honesty and compassion rank as universal values in all cultures and societies, regardless of religious beliefs.
In their essays, students are encouraged to explain their choices by offering examples of experiences they have had, lessons they have learned, and people who have made an impact on their lives. The Laws of Life program is unique because the best essays are not necessarily written by the students with the best grades, but by the students who can best express what is in their heart. Any student can participate without respect to class standing or grade point average.
The Laws of Life program is designed to help teachers and school officials improve the "moral ethos" of their classrooms. But ultimately, Laws of Life is about concerned adults in a community working together to support, honor, and publicly recognize young people who reflect upon good character and values.
How to participate
In the past, the Jesse Helms Center has been a statewide sponsor of this contest. However, in 2010 the Helms Center will not be sponsoring a contest, accepting essays, or awarding prizes.
Nonetheless, we still encourage and hope that teachers will continue to be a catalyst for this program! Teachers have always been a vital part of Laws of Life and have continued to use it as part of character education lessons. If you would like to use this contest as a teaching tool in your classroom, as an assignment for your students, or as a mini-competition within your classroom, please feel free to download a Laws of Life Manual at the top of the page. This contains suggested rules and guidelines as well as information on how to use the Laws of Life curriculum in your classroom.
If you are a teacher, and your classroom participates in this program in 2010, please let us know! We support positive character education and development in students and would still like to recognize your students' efforts through recognition on our website. Please contact Lindsay Hollandsworth at (704) 233-1776, ext. 8 or at lindsay@jessehelmscenter.org with your name, school and participation information (i.e. number of students who wrote essays, the suggested topic, and winners or top performers if a mini-competition was conducted). We will post this information on a continual basis on the Laws of Life page.
For More Information...
Please contact Lindsay Hollandsworth at (704) 233-1776 ext. 8 for more information about the Laws of Life Essay Contest and Program.
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