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Contest Topics and Rules
Each year the club will announce its essay topic, usually in the fall. Essays will be evaluated on the strength of insight, originality, organization, style and technical correctness. The entry deadline is usually about 2 months after the topic is posted. Our winner will be announced soon after the close of the contest period. Winners will be invited to our monthly club meeting to be recognized and to read the winning essay.
The essay topics and deadlines for the current year’s contest will be posted here as soon as they are available with a notice of the current year’s application period.
The 2025 Essay Contest Topic is
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like me, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” —Thomas Paine
Applications and essays must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 15, 2025.
Submitting an Essay
During the contest period, all the information you need to enter is available at the Apply link.
If you have questions, please contact our scholarship chairman at wcrwscholars@gmail.com
Rules:
College-bound seniors who are residents of Wake County, NC are eligible to compete.
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The length of an essay should be 500-600 words, excluding the title and any footnotes used to source a quote.
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Essays must be the original work of the author. They should not be created using artificial intelligence tools.
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Essays must be submitted by the submission deadline.
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Misrepresenting any of the above requirements will eliminate an entry from the competition.
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Any award will be paid directly to a college or university in the name of the winner of the competition.
Suggestions for Writing a Narrative Essay
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Write with a clear purpose to illustrate the sincerity of your message.
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Pace your account. A short essay does not allow for much back story. Get straight to your point
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To create a dominant impression, include vivid details that appeal to the senses.
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Organize details in a logical fashion. Chronological order often works well.