2023 JUDGE JOHN “JACK” RUFFIN, JR. TRAILBLAZER SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST
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DREAM BUILDERS OF AMERICA’S YOUTH INC. AND THE AUGUSTA CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ATTORNEYS (ACAAA)
2023 JUDGE JOHN “JACK” RUFFIN, Jr. TRAILBLAZER SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST
In honor of Judge John “Jack” Ruffin Jr., Dream Builders and the ACAAA are sponsoring their Twelfth Annual Judge John H. Ruffin Trailblazer Scholarship Essay Contest. The essay contest is for graduating college-bound seniors only throughout the CSRA.
This year the students must address the questions listed below, based upon actual research, about the ABA Law Day Theme Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.. In addition to the research based essay, students should submit a personal statement. An award of $1000.00 each will be given to one male and one female high school senior, and one female and one male student who is enrolled at Augusta Technical College or Paine College. The winners will receive their checks at the Law Day Dinner held by the Augusta Bar Association on May 4, 2023.
DUE DATE: Sunday, April 30, 2023
Email to DreamPlanAchieve.jeffords@gmail.com or mail to Dream Builders at 437 Walker Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901, or drop your essay off at the Dream Builders office. If mailed, emailed or dropped off the essay must be received by Sunday, April 30, 2023 at 5:00 pm.
DATE FOR AWARD: The winner will receive notification by May 3, 2023 and will receive checks at the Law Day Dinner on Thursday, May 4, 2023. The winner must be present at the dinner to receive the award. The $1000.00 award must be used for school related purposes. (i.e., tuition, books, tests, college rent).
If you have questions, please contact Tanya Jeffords or Elana Galvan at 706-722-3019.
Part One: Essay
On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first
comprehensive piece of gun-related legislation passed by Congress in over 30 years. The legislation followed several mass shooting incidents that left dozens of people, including children, dead.
Provisions in the law include:
- funds to help states implement “red flag” laws to remove firearms from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others, as well as other violence prevention programs;
- funds for a variety of programs aimed at shoring up the nation’s mental health apparatus and securing schools;
- enhancing background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21 by giving authorities up to 10 business days to review the juvenile and mental health records of young gun purchasers, and makes it unlawful for someone to purchase a gun for someone who would fail a background check; and
- closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole” so individuals in “serious” “dating relationships” who are convicted of domestic abuse will be prevented from purchasing a gun.
Is gun violence a crisis in the United States today? What changes could be made in our community to better address security, safety, and individual rights?
Essay Requirements: Maximum 2 pages, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font. Essays and personal statements will be reviewed for content, development of ideas, as well as sentence structure, word choice, and grammar. It is highly recommended that you have your essay reviewed by one of your teachers. Please include that educator’s contact information on the second form attached.
Part Two: Personal Statement
What life experiences helped you develop your educational and professional goals? How would winning this award help you in your pursuit of achieving them?
Personal Statement Requirements: No less than 1 and no more than 2 pages, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font. Essays and personal statements will be reviewed for content, development of ideas, as well as sentence structure, word choice, and grammar. It is highly recommended that you have your essay reviewed by one of your teachers. Please include that educator’s contact information on the second form attached.
Please complete the next page and submit it with your essay. The information on the 2nd page must be included with your email. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON YOUR ESSAY.
If you have questions, please contact Tanya Jeffords or Jodi Thigpen at 706-722-3019.
Please download THIS FORM and include with your essay
Posted by Dream Builders on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 @ 3:45PM
Categories: News, Scholarship