2023 Arete Graduate of the Year Contest

The 2023 Graduate of the Year Contest is open to all 2023 Arete graduating high school seniors. To participate, seniors must submit a short video essay on the impact of your school experience – what it has given you so far, and how it will help you with your future goals. A panel of judges will choose one winning video essay. The winner will receive a new Apple MacBook just in time for the next phase of your educational journey!  

The Challenge

Create a video that best describes the impact your Arete partner school has had on your life.

The Prize

A new MacBook laptop computer

Guidelines

All creative video styles of expression are accepted-monologues, interviews, reenactments, music videos, animation, etc. Creativity is a factor in choosing a winner, so we encourage you to think about how you want to present your story.

Here are some sample questions to consider when creating your essay. You can choose to answer one or more of these questions, or you can choose to tell your story in a different way:

• What are your plans beyond high school? What is your dream job?
• What is a problem you see in the world, and how would you want to help fix it?
• What knowledge and/or tools has your school experience provided you with?
• What opportunities are accessible to you thanks to your school/education?
• How has your school experience impacted other members of your family?
• Describe the friendships you have developed at your school and how they have impacted your life.
• What would life be like without an Arete scholarship to your school?
• Tell us about someone who stood out as a role model or mentor at your school.

How to Enter

• Record your video (up to 3 minutes)
• Upload your video to YouTube
• Set video to “unlisted” in the video’s privacy settings (click here for instructions)
• Copy the video link
• Submit your video link using the form below no later than 5/22/23

Rules

• To be eligible to win, student must be a 2023 graduating high school senior on an Arete Scholarship.
• Video must not exceed three minutes.
• By submitting a video essay, participants grant Arete Scholars permission to share video entries on the Arete Scholars website, social media, and via email.
• Submission deadline has been extended to 5/31/23, 11:59pm CST. All entries must be received by this time.
• A panel of judges will review all eligible entries and vote on a winner; one winner will be chosen.
• Winner will be notified by 6/9/23; prize distribution arrangements will be made at time of notification.