We invite all high school and middle school students to use your creativity to make a video documentary telling an inspiring story about a service project you've been involved in. You can share about a volunteer activity you do in your community, interview a local hero, interview a local non-profit organization, interview people who's lives were impacted by you. This should be an inspirational video on why more students should do community service. Please make it captivating, documentary format, and use motion graphics and effects if possible.

This is the first year the East Villagers Non-Profit Community is offering a chance for young service scholars within the local community to express their passion for community service through essay writing and art. Our goal is to promote a spirit of volunteerism among the younger generation around the world. Winners from Northern California will be invited to read their essays at the annual Service Scholar Award Celebration hosted by the Ping & Amy Chao Family Foundation. Students must complete 5 hours of community service and fill out the Service Requirement Form to provide proof. All students enrolled in schools Kindergarten through High School in the United States and Canada are eligible to apply.

Choose one of the following prompts to write an essay:
Prompt 1: Please share a volunteer experience and its impact on your life.
Prompt 2: Why is community service important in your life?
Prompt 3: Share about an experience when someone helped you and how it impacted your life.
Poster Theme: Having Fun Helping Others

Community Service Requirement: All applicants must complete 5 hours of community service and show proof of service to qualify for the contest. 

Contest Deadline: Wednesday, May 31, 2010, 5:00pm

High School (1000 - 1500 words)
Middle School (500 - 750 words)
KG - Grade 5 Poster Contest (Maximum Size 16" x 20")

Awards
High School
1st Place $500, 2nd Place $350, 3rd Place $150
Middle School
1st Place $300, 2nd Place $200, 3rd Place $75
KG - 5th Grade
1st Place $100, 2nd Place $75, 3rd Place $50

Submission Instructions
1. Please fill out the Contest Entry Form and Community Service Requirement Form. Click here to download. Contest Entry Form, Service Requirement Form, and Essay should be mailed to 800 High Street, Suite 408, Palo Alto, CA 94301 or faxed to (650) 323-2179.
2. Essays should be posted as a blog entry on www.eastvillagers.org.  We encourage you to include photos of your service activities in your blog entries.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this open to only Northern California students? No, this is open to all students enrolled in K-12 throughout the United States and Canada.
2. How do I post a blog entry? Click create a blog entry at the top.
3. Why are there funny codes on my blog entry? First paste your word document into notepad, and then paste it into the blog editor to clear word formatting.
4. I am confused about the instructions, what am I supposed to do? Two simple steps: a) Mail the paper application, service requirement, and paper essay to us b) Post your essay as a blog entry
5. Can I send in past certificates and proof of community service instead of getting more signatures for the service requirement? Yes.