HudsonWay Essay Contest
Celebrating 20 years Developing Global Citizens
To have another language is to possess a second soul
- Charlemagne
Multilingualism is a Superpower ESSAY CONTEST
Multilingualism is important because it enhances cognitive abilities, fosters cultural understanding, expands career opportunities, and promotes communication and collaboration in a globalized world.
The “ Multilingualism is a Superpower” essay contest challenges students between grades 3-8 to share their real world experiences on the value of learning a second language.
Don’t miss this opportunity to let the world know you have made a difference through your ability to speak, read and write another language.
TIMELINE
March 24th: Multilingualism is a Superpower Essay Contest is OPEN
May 31st: Essay submission deadline, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Jun 16th: Winners Announced
Submit your essay today.
For any questions, email info@hwis.org.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
The competition is open to public and private school students in grades 3-8 living in the greater NY/NJ area.
To participate students must submit an original essay of 300 words or less by May 31, 2025. A distinguished panel of judges will evaluate entries based on originality, depth and clarity.
Awards
There will be 4 awards categories:
Mandarin - submit your essay in English and Chinese
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Spanish - submit your essay in English and Spanish
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
For each category there will be 3 winners:
First place
$250 and a t-shirt
2nd place:
$100 and a t-shirt
3rd place:
$50 and a t-shirt
Criteria
- Participants must submit an original essay that shares a real anecdote on how knowing another language has benefited you and others.
- Essays must be written in English and either Chinese or Spanish and submitted via online form at hwis.org
- Only one entry per student is allowed
- Essays must be the original work of the participant. Plagiarized content will result in disqualification. Entries must not contain offensive, defamatory, or inappropriate content.
- By submitting, participants grant HudsonWay Immersion School the right to use, publish, or distribute their essays for promotional or educational purposes.
- Submissions must have a title.
- Essays must be proofread and should follow the rules for standard English (grammar, punctuation, mechanics) in writing.
- Plagiarism: any submission that is in part or wholly plagiarized will be disqualified
- A cover page MUST be included with the following information: title of essay, student name, grade level, student’s complete mailing address, student’s email address, school’s name.
Judging Criteria
- Creativity and originality (30%)
- Clarity and organization (25%)
- Grammar and writing mechanics (20%)
- Relevance to the topic (25%)
The decisions of the judges are final and binding.
General terms
Winner Notification & Announcement:
Winners will be notified via email/phone before Jun 16th, 2025. If a winner does not respond within 10 days, an alternate winner may be selected. Winners may be required to sign a consent and release form before receiving their prize.
Publicity Release:
By entering the contest, participants grant the HudsonWay Immersion School use their name, essay, and image (if applicable) for promotional purposes, without additional compensation
Privacy Policy:
Personal information collected will only be used for contest administration and will not be shared with third parties.
General Conditions:
HudsonWay reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the contest if necessary. Any attempt to manipulate the contest will result in disqualification. By entering, participants release the HudsonWay Immersion School from any liability related to their submission or participation.
Contact Information:
For questions or concerns regarding the contest, please contact info@hwis.org
Submit Essay