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Ethics Essay Competition

Increasing awareness of ethics among future generations of leaders.

The 2009-2010 Ethics Essay Competition sponsored by Rotary District 5960 and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC) is completed and we are pleased to announce the winners of the essay competition. Please join us in congratulating: 

Grand Prize of $1,000
Applicable taxes are the responsibility of the winner.
Erin Thompson
Princeton High School (Princeton, MN)
Essay: Portals of Discovery

Second Prize of $500
Applicable taxes are the responsibility of the winner.
Matthew Schwalen
River Falls High School (River Falls, WI)
Essay: Hit and Run?

2 Third Prizes of $250 each
Applicable taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

Ethan Heinzen
Mahtomedi High School (Mahtomedi, MN)
Essay: The Ethics of Gossip

Taylor Tefft
Mahtomedi High School (Mahtomedi, MN)
Essay: Face The Music

Information Regarding the 2009-2010 Competition

We welcome your participation in the Ethics Essay Competition, 2009-2010 organized by Rotary District 5960 and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC).

Eligibility

The essay competition is open to sophomore, junior and senior high school students within Rotary District 5960. Children of Rotarians are eligible to enter the competition.

Essay Topic

The topic for this essay competition has three components:

  • First, describe a situation when someone you know behaved in a way which might not have been ethical. Your topic might relate to school (example: cheating), extra-curricular (example: not following the rules), standards (example: sharing confidential information or gossiping) or any other aspect of your life. Include in your essay what your role was in the outcome. Or, if you were not a participant in the situation, reflect on how you could have acted in a way that might have resulted in a different outcome. (30% of Your Essay)
  • Second, state clearly the ethical issue(s) that you believe are raised by the behavior in your example. (30% of Your Essay)
  • Third, and most important, state and defend your position by using the Rotary 4-Way Test as a guideline. (40% of Your Essay)

In so far as it is possible, please draw on and share personal knowledge or experiences. Please do not use the real names of individuals as you describe situations or issues.

Judging

Essays will be judged by a combination of Rotarians, business leaders and educators. 

Authors are reminded that quality of writing is an important factor. As part of the writing process, it is permissible to ask for feedback on your essay from teachers and parents.

Each essay will be judged according to the following criteria:

  • 1 to 15 points: Understanding of subject matter. (i.e. ethical reasoning, application of Rotary Four-Way Test, etc.)
  • 1 to 7 points: Structure of essay. (i.e. persuasive argument, conclusions)
  • 1 to 3 points: Writing. (i.e. grammar, spelling, sentence structure, concise language, etc.)

A total of twenty-five (25) points is possible. The judges’ decisions are final.

Rules

  • Only essays submitted electronically will be accepted.
  • Each essay must represent the original work of the author.
  • Limit of one essay entry per person.
  • Essays are limited to 3 pages, not including the title page or bibliography.
  • Paper format: word document; double spaced; 12 pt. font size; 1” margins; pages must be numbered; and, each page, except the title page, must have a footer with the title of the essay.
  • Title page must include: title of essay; name of author; grade of author (sophomore, junior or senior); name of school; and, school address and telephone number.
  • Essays, sent as a word document attachment, must be submitted via email to the Center for Ethical Business Cultures at . Paper copies of essays will not be accepted.
  • Essays must be received by February 15, 2010.
  • Essays will not be returned.
  • Essays become the property of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures. Essays will be used to promote and/or publicize the competition.

Deadline

All entries must be received via email by CEBC no later than February 15, 2010. 

Awards will be announced in April / May 2010 at a Rotary meeting. Travel expenses are the responsibility of essay winners.

Prizes

One grand prize winner, one second prize winner and two third prize winners will be selected.* The monetary prizes are to be utilized to further a student’s education: 

  • 1 Grand Prize of $1,000
  • 1 Second Prize of $500
  • 2 Third Prizes of $250 each

What is meant by “prizes are to be utilized to further a student’s education”? Given the vast range of educational opportunities, and their associated costs, competition winners are responsible for deciding how best to invest their prize monies. For example, funds could be applied towards the:

  • purchase of a computer and related software and accessories
  • cost of an exchange program such as the Rotary Youth Exchange
  • cost of educational music camp, language camp, etc.
  • purchase of text books
  • cost of college application fees
  • cost of college entrance exams
  • cost of tuition
  • etc.

Applicable taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

*If in the opinion of the judges no acceptable essay is submitted, no awards will be given. 

Resource Materials

Rotary International Four-Way Test - www.rotary.org
“Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"*
*Source: Rotary International website - www.rotary.org.

CEBC’s Definition of Mission, Vision and Values
All organizations (and individuals) have a reputation, something that they are known for. This “reason for being” can be defined through its mission, vision and values.

Mission is an organization’s purpose. It is its reason for existence. It is how the organization sees its role in the context of the broader community. Missions of organizations are documented in a Mission Statement. Mission Statements typically define:

  • Who is the organization
  • What an organization does (the goods or services it provides)
  • Who it does it for
  • How it does what it does (performance bar, i.e. superb, excellent, etc.)

Vision, on the other hand, defines where an organization is trying to go. It is a compelling and conceptual statement as to the desired future state of an organization. Vision statements are both aspirational, they describe what the organization aspires to be, and inspirational, they inspire an organization’s stakeholders to follow it. Visions are longer term in nature and change only if an organization approaches realization, or the imposition of external restraints.

Values are the shared behaviors required by the organizations employees necessary to guide the organization in fulfilling its mission and achieving its vision. Values typically are statements that describe the behavior an organization wants to be known for. The consistent application of values by the members of an organization are what ultimately defines its culture.

Values typically may include statements that address:

  • People – the way people are treated,
  • Processes – the way work gets done, the group is managed, and decisions are made,
  • Performance – the expectations concerning responsibilities

Values may be framed in the context of an organization’s stakeholders: customers; employees; shareholders; suppliers; communities; and, competitors.

The Minnesota Principles – www.cebcglobal.org

About the Organizers

  • Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC) assists business leaders in creating ethical and profitable business cultures at the enterprise, community, and global levels. CEBC’s staff speak in numerous public settings and conduct public forums promoting ethical leadership; provide leadership and development services including board governance for corporate, non-profit and government organizations; and with its University of St. Thomas academic partner, facilitate research in ethical cultures and help to educate the next generation of business leaders. To learn more about CEBC, please visit www.cebcglobal.org.
  • Rotary District 5960 has 3,300+ members consisting of 64 Rotary Clubs and 4 Rotaract Clubs serving communities in southeastern and east central Minnesota as well as northwestern Wisconsin. To learn more about Rotary District 5960, please visit www.rotary5960.org
.