DEADLINE

March 31st | 2025

7:00PM

Has cancer affected your life?
Are you enrolled in a higher education program?

Are you a cancer survivor?
Have you helped a family member or friend deal with cancer?
Have you lost someone to cancer?

Every cancer experience deserves to be heard!

Open to students of all ages who are seeking higher education.  Entries should be high school seniors, college students, trade school / certificate program students or graduate students with a cancer connection.  Must be a member of CSCGP or sponsored by a member.  This education grant is graciously sponsored by the Ben Strauss Youth Program.

Write an essay sharing your story what you learned from your cancer experience, how you grew, and / or how cancer impacted your sense of community and family.

Please refer to the guidelines below for eligibility, rules and the judging process. 

COMPLETE DIGITAL ENTRY FORM

Contest Prizes

1st Place: Ben Strauss Higher Education Grant

$1500

– – –

2nd Place: Ben Strauss Education Grant

$500

– – –

3rd Place: Ben Strauss Education Grant

$250

2024

TEEN
ESSAY
CONTEST

WINNERS!

Click to read the 2022 winners!

Contest Guidelines

This contest is open to CSCGP members and their families, including students pursuing higher education.

Eligible Participants

  • Traditional students: High school seniors, students enrolled in 4-year colleges, trade schools, certificate programs, or graduate schools.

  • Non-traditional students: Adults returning to school.

A CSCGP member may also sponsor a family member or friend to enter the contest.

Important Note:
 If you are a high school senior entering the Teen Essay Contest, your submission for this contest must be a completely unique essay and not the same essay submitted for the Teen Essay Contest.

Essay Prompt

Write an essay (1,500–1,600 words) addressing the following questions:

        1.What did you learn from your experience with cancer?

        2.How did you grow because of it—or in spite of it?

        3.How did it impact your sense of community and family?

Essay Requirements

  • The essay must be between 1,500 and 1,600 words.

  • Do not include your name on the essay.

  • The essay title must appear in the header of every page.

 

Winning Essays/Awards Ceremony

  • Winners will be informed on Wednesday, April 23, 2025
  • Winner’s school will be notified of the scholarship at a later date.
  • Grants will be awarded during a reception on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 7:00pm.  All writers are invited to attend Awards ceremony.  CSCGP Gilda’s Club, 200 Kirk Rd. Warminster PA 18974

    Submission Requirements

    Submit the following materials by 7:00 PM on Monday, March 31, 2025:

       1. This completed form.

       2. A digital photo of yourself (JPEG format).

       3. Your essay (Word document only; Google Docs are not accepted).

       4.If you are not a CSCGP member, an email from your sponsor.

    Sponsor Email (if applicable)

    If you are not a CSCGP member, your sponsor must email a statement that includes:

    • Their name and email address.

    • Your relationship with them.

    • Why/How you played a role in their cancer experience.

    Submission Process

    • Email all required materials to Christina@cancersupportphiladelphia.org before the deadline.

    • After submitting all materials, you will receive a confirmation email verifying your submission and compliance with contest guidelines.

      Questions and submissions, please contact Christina@cancersupportphiladelphia.org

      All essays and photos will be posted on CSCGP website, social media and used in CSCGP programs and fundraisers.

      Judging Process

      Essays will be judged in a fair and unbiased process, with all submissions reviewed anonymously. Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

      • Clarity:

        • Is your message clear and easy to understand?

        • Does your essay capture the reader’s attention from the start?

      • Correctness:

        • Are grammar, punctuation, and spelling accurate?

        • Are words used correctly, and do they convey their intended meaning?

        • If scientific or historical facts are included, are they supported by credible references?

      • Flow:

        • Is the title interesting and suit the essay’s content?

        • Do the opening lines engage the reader and lead naturally into the essay?

        • Do the closing lines provide a thoughtful and fitting conclusion?

      • Originality:

        • Does the essay offer a unique perspective or stand out from others?

        • Does it feel authentic, reflecting the author’s own voice, rather than borrowed ideas?

      • Overall Impact:

        • Does the essay leave a lasting impression on the reader?

        • Is it memorable, resonating beyond the moment of reading?  A forgettable essay likely lacks the depth or emotional connection of an exceptional one.

      • Polish:

        • Does the essay feel polished and refined, with every word purposefully chosen?

        • Is it smooth and cohesive, with no awkward or clumsy phrasing?

        • Does it reflect time, care, and effort in its creation, or does it seem rushed and unedited?

       The Ben Strauss Education Grant is graciously sponsored by the Ben Strauss Youth Program.