During last week's RCD meeting, we heard from this year's Laws of Life winners. The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest is a character education and ethics literacy program for high school students. The contest challenges students to write their own story, utilizing a personal motto or “Law of Life” of their own choosing, such as “Be the change you wish to see in the world” or “Never let defeat rob you of success.” In their essays, the students reflect on the values that mean the most to them – values such as generosity, courage, perseverance, honesty, integrity and compassion.

A Law of Life is a quotation or saying that summarizes an ideal, principle about life, or core character value such as honesty, courage, perseverance, compassion, or respect. If followed by everyone, the Law of Life would make the world a better place. The Georgia Laws of Life contest invites students to select a Law of Life and to use it as a prompt to write about a core character value such as honesty, generosity, courage, compassion, or perseverance. As a program of Rotary clubs in Georgia, the contest reflects Rotary’s emphasis on values, high ethical standards, and service to others. Laws of Life can be anything from literary quotations to simple sayings: “Smile and the world smiles with you,” “No pain, no gain,” “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

2016 – 2017 Contest:

• Largest essay contest in North America
• 64 Georgia high schools
• 48,836 students wrote an essay
• $22,000 in cash prizes
• Sponsored by Rotary Clubs, businesses, foundations & individuals
• Run by GRDCEP Board & Rotary volunteers

Contest Benefits:

• Encourages young people to discover for themselves the core values, principles and ideals important to their lives.
• Lets students share their own “lessons learned from life” with friends, family, and Rotarians.
• Gives our Rotary Club the opportunity to recognize and express our gratitude to students, teachers and parents.

Dunwoody High School Winners--From 1,165 essays written!

• 9th Grade – Sara Jane Borcherding
• 10th Grade – Gartia Vwizeye
• 11th Grade – Riley Parks
• 12th Grade – Jordan Hope (School winner)

Teacher Contest Chair – Mrs. Tenesha Ukomadu
Principal – Mr. Tom McFerrin