Steps for TEACHER OR individual Entry
- Have your student(s) fill out the Student Entry Form directly in the editable PDF
- Ask them to include reactions to their essays from their dads or father-figures
- Collect and submit entries through the Essay Submission Form below by March 19, 2025
- Up to 40 entries can be submitted with each Essay Submission Form
- Forms can also be mailed to 1515 S. Grove Avenue, #3667, Barrington, IL 60011, postmarked by March 19, 2025
- NEW this year: $100 in BrightStart Scholarships for each of the 13 essay finalists
*If you run into any technical issues during the submissions process please contact info@4dads.org.
Contest Details
Each student is asked to write a 3000-character (or less) essay on the theme
“What My Father or an Important Father-Figure Means to Me,” describing their relationship with their father or father-figure.
Students should share their true feelings. Provide examples of joys, frustrations, or special memories they have as well as comment about what they would most like to see in their relationship. A father-figure can be a stepdad, grandfather, uncle, coach, pastor/rabbi/shaman, God, or an ideal vision of a father.
CRITERIA FOR ESSAY JUDGING
Submissions will be evaluated according to grade level. The judging criteria will consist of:
- How the essay describes the relationship.
- Detail and stories that demonstrate the character of the father/father figure.
- Honesty, clarity, simplicity of writing.
- Overall grade level appropriate writing skill.
JUDGING PROCESS
- Essays will be divided into the 13 grade levels (K-12).
- Volunteers will use the above judging criteria, reading every essay. Top essays from the first round will be sent to a final essay reading session.
- At the final essay reading, volunteers will then select 10 essays per grade. Up to 130 essay semi-finalists will receive special recognition.
- The top 13 essay writers will be invited to the IFI Fatherhood Dinner Celebration.
- All entrants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
- NEW this year: $100 in BrightStart Scholarships for each of the essay finalists.
RULES
- One entry per person.
- All essays must be original, unaided by AI and created by the student.
- All entries become the property of Illinois Fatherhood Initiative (IFI). IFI will not be able to return them.
- Entry into the contest transfers the copyright of the essay to IFI and grants IFI permission to reproduce without compensation all or any portion of the essay and response on an unlimited, worldwide basis in its publications and media channels.
- When appropriate and with parent/guardian permission, IFI will cite the name of the author(s) if significant portions of a positive essay/response are used. IFI will also change or conceal names to maintain confidentiality if requested.
- The contest is open to Illinois students (K-12).
- Completed forms can be uploaded on 4dads.org or mailed to 1515 S. Grove Avenue, #3667, Barrington, IL 60011.
- Deadline for upload or postmark is March 19, 2025.