Posted in: Students & Educators
The SC Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is sponsoring a scholarship competition for South Carolina high school seniors called “Your Big Idea.” The contest, hosted by the YLD iCivics Committee, encourages students to actively think about and participate in their government by answering a prompt via Instagram video. The winner of the contest will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
“In the spirit of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s quest to use technology to restore civic education and participation in our nation’s schools, South Carolina’s young lawyers wanted to find a way to encourage high school students to think critically about the role they play in our society and the voice they have,” said Julie Moore, iCivics Committee Chair. “That is how ‘Your Big Idea’ was born!”
To enter the contest, students must submit an application and create an Instagram video answering one of the following questions:
- Which Amendment to the Constitution has had the most impact on your life?
- Which is more important to justice – liberty or equality?
- How would you describe our federal government’s job?
- If you had an unlimited budget to solve a problem facing our country, which problem would you choose, and how would you solve it?
Each contestant must post the video to his or her Instagram account using the hashtags #SCBarYLD and #YourBigIdea. The contest is open to all 12th grade public, private and homeschool students in South Carolina. Students must also be enrolled or plan to enroll in a post-secondary institution for the 2017-18 school year.
“In just 60 seconds, students get to creatively and comprehensively convey what they think about our federal government, how they evaluate justice or which problem facing the United States they would solve,” said Moore. “We want the students to know that they have an eager audience and we can’t wait to hear from them!”
Submissions will be accepted through April 19, 2017 at 5 p.m. Entries will be evaluated on original thought, substantive answers and creative presentation. Limit one entry per person.
To enter the contest, read the contest rules and see current entries, visit www.scbar.org/yourbigidea. Send inquiries to icivics4you@scbar.org.