Skip to main content

Follow Us

Support Us

Join  |   Donate  |   Contact Us

Contact Us

Email: info@lwvdeschutes.org
LWV Deschutes County
PO Box 1783
Bend, Oregon 97709
541.931.9096
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Terms of Use Powered by ClubExpress
Voter Info Join Us Donate
HomeY-Essay New
Category name

Y-Essay Student Contest

2024 FALL Y-ESSAY CONTEST POSTPONED UNTIL FALL 2025 DUE TO 2024 ELECTION SEASON



Each winner receives
a check for $500.

With permission, a photo op is scheduled with a member of the league's Leadership Team.

Y-Essay_Winners_2023-24.png

The contest is open to Deschutes County's  high school seniors. 

The contest begins soon after school starts. The winner(s) are announced before the end of the calendar year. 

CONTEST

The League of Women Voters of Deschutes County believes students are the best advocates to increase the voting turnout in their age group. To encourage that advocacy, the League sponsors an annual student essay contest: Y-Essay!

The subject of the essay is “Why Vote?” (The ‘Y’ is for Yes, Youth, and Why?)

PURPOSE

The purpose of the essay is to persuade others to exercise their right to vote. Two examples of ways students might approach their persuasive/inspiring essay are "Why you should vote" and "Why I will vote".

The contest is open to high school seniors in Deschutes County. 
The contest begins soon after school starts. The winner(s) are announced before the end of the calendar year.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Persuasiveness/inspiration to the reader

 Originality of thought and voice

Clarity, logic, and cohesiveness of ideas

Technical accuracy (spelling, grammar, citations if used, etc.)


A panel of community and League members judge the essays. A minimum of three judges review each essay. Each criterion is ranked on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest rating.

Y-ESSAY Donation Fund


The awards for the winning essay(s) come from the donation fund dedicated to the Y-Essay Contest. The number of winners depends not only on the judging criteria but also the amount of money in the donation fund. 

Donation funds are collected year-round for the annual Y-Essay contest.  Donate here:   Y-Essay Donation Fund

All donations to League of Women Voters Deschutes County, a 501(c)(3) corporation, are fully tax deductible.
We thank you for your contribution to defending democracy and for our local high school seniors.