Essay Contest

CONTEST DETAILS

Eligible high school students are invited to participate in an essay contest where winners will receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 dollars!

Eligibility: All high school juniors (11th graders) enrolled in a United States History Course attending public (traditional or chapter), private or parochial schools, or home-schooled students between the ages of 15-18. Winners must be able to attend the Freedom of the Seas Awards Gala on Saturday October 25th in San Pedro, California to receive their scholarships. 

Essay Requirements: 

  • Must be an original work written by the contestant
  • 700 minimum to 1,000 maximum words
  • Single spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt. font. 
  • APA Format with in-text citations and bibliography. 
  • Must be saved and submitted in PDF format. 
  • Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count.
  • In the email header provide: “Your last name, your first initial / 2025 Essay Contest”.
  • Papers must be reviewed by an adult before submission. Download PDF review document.

Overall Topic: Address the six (6) required criteria bullet points below in the context of Vice Admiral Gravely’s three keys to success: Education, Motivation and Perseverance. 

  • A brief introduction of yourself, the school you attend, your teacher, and how you learned about this essay contest.
  • Were you aware of VADM Gravely prior to this contest? If so, in what context and from whom? 
  • After learning about the contest, why did you choose to enter? 
  • Please provide examples of how VADM Gravely applied the principles of EDUCATION, MOTIVATION, and PERSEVERANCE during his life. You must provide a different example for each principle. Cite at least two sources for the element. Do not cite Wikipedia or this website. YouTube video sources will only be accepted from reputable organizations. Please use original source materials, such as Gravely’s biography (by author Paul Stillwell). Other historical information can be found in books or online.
  • Discuss one major issue facing our society today and how applying the principles of EDUCATION, MOTIVATION, and PERSEVERANCE could help resolve the issue. 
  • If you had the opportunity to meet Vice Admiral Gravely today, what would you say to him, or ask of him? Why? 

Deadline: Essays must be submitted via email to essaycontest@labattleship.com by, or before, 11:59pm on May 31st, 2025.