21st ANNUAL GOODLARK EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION ESSAY CONTEST

Attention Class of 2027!

WIN A $2,000, $1,000 OR $500 SCHOLARSHIP

The Goodlark Educational Foundation is sponsoring an essay contest for all 2025-2026 homeschool and high school juniors living in Dickson, Hickman and Humphreys Counties in Tennessee.

TOPIC:

“What motivates people to do their best?”

RULES

• Entrants must be in the eleventh grade during the 2025-2026 school year, and must reside in Dickson, Hickman or Humphreys Counties.
• Essays must be no less than 800 and no more than 1,600 words.
• Essays must be typed and double-spaced and must include a cover sheet. The cover sheet must include the essay topic, the student’s name, address and phone number, email address and the name of the high school the student is attending. Homeschooled stu­dents should list “Homeschool” as their high school.
• Essay pages should not have the student’s name or any other identi­fying characteristics on them so that judging can be totally anonymous. Essay pages should be numbered “Page 1 of 3” etc. Do not number the cover sheet.
• The essay must be entirely the work of the entrant. One entry per student, please.

Typed essays should be emailed to: goodlark@bellsouth.net

Completed essays must be emailed by midnight on December 6, 2025 to be eligible.

The winners will be announced in January 2026.

JUDGING

Essays will be judged on content, creativity and style. The decision of the judges is final.

PRIZES

First prize is a $2,000 scholarship to the school the winner attends after high school.

Second prize is a $1,000 scholarship to the school the winner attends after high school.

Third prize is a $500 scholarship to the school the winner attends after high school.

Winners of the 20th Annual Goodlark Educational Foundation Essay Contest

CLASS OF 2026

1ST PLACE: MISS KATIE ROSS - MCEWEN HIGH SCHOOL - $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP

2ND PLACE: MISS KATHARINE HOOPER - MCEWEN HIGH SCHOOL - $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP

3RD PLACE: MR AIDEN BAKER - WAVERLY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL - $500 SCHOLARSHIP