Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
is pleased to announce its annual
International High School Essay Contest
As an element of the Annual International Achievement Week Observance, we invite high
school seniors to participate in our annual High School Essay Scholarship contest.
Three College Scholarship Awards:
1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $300; 3rd Place: $100
Essay due to the Gamma Gamma Gamma Chapter by October 31, 2025

2025 Essay Topic: "In a World Powered by Artificial Intelligence, What Does it Mean to Lead with Integrity and Purpose?

Eligibility & Rules: The Contest is open to all college-bound, high school seniors in the Dane County area who submit an essay application. The essay must be original and neither previously published nor secured by copyright. The essay must be between 700 and 750 words in length. The type-written, double-spaced essay may be submitted via postalservice or email in Microsoft Word. Use of assistance software and/or technology (i.e. AI) in creating this original work is strictly prohibited. The Committee will be using software to detect the usage of Artificial Intelligence to assist with the essay. If the content is found to be above a 40% threshold the essay will be disqualified.

Rating Criteria: The Gamma Gamma Gamma and Epsilon Theta Chapters will assemble a review panel to assess submitted essays based on the following criteria. Essays may earn a maximum rating of 100 points.

1. Development of Topic/Thesis: (30 possible points)
Topic is well-developed (covers and develops major points, supplying enough information for understanding)
2. Progression: (20 possible points)
Composition progresses from beginning to end in a logical flow of information
3. Readability: (25 possible points)
Concise language that sticks to the point in a coherent writing style (holds reader’s attention)
4. Grammar: (15 possible points)
Agreement of subject and verb; proper tense; correct sentence structure with transitional phrases, and accurate paragraphing and citations.
5. Spelling: (5 possible points)
6. Punctuation: (5 possible points)

The following information for the contestant must be present on the title page in this manner:

Title:__________________________________________

An Essay By:__________________________________________

Home Address:__________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________

Name of High School:__________________________________________

Address of High School:__________________________________________

Student Email:__________________________________________

Contest Name: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity International High School Essay Contest

Name of Sponsoring Chapter: (Gamma Gamma Gamma) OR (Epsilon Theta) 

Location of Chapter: Madison, Wisconsin

 

Additional Information: Applicants must complete both the Essay Release Form and the Media Release & Consent Form. By completing both of the included forms, any persons submitting manuscripts thereby grant to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. the right to keep the manuscripts and to exercise full publishing rights to them.

Local awards will be announced on or about November 7th, 2025, and the decision of the judges will be final. Winners may be required to furnish written proof that they were enrolled in their respective high school at the time the essay was submitted. Awards will be released to each winner, upon written verification from an institution of higher education that the individual has enrolled. A current college class schedule may be required to verify actual enrollment. Awards must be claimed within 18 months after the announcement date to be valid. Awards will not be processed without completion of both forms. The Fraternity will publish winners, images on the International Website and social media Pages.

Submission Process: All submissions will be reviewed by the Gamma Gamma Gamma and Epsilon Theta Chapters. Submissions will not be accepted after October 31, 2025. 

The 1st place winner of the local award will be entered in the Talented Tenth District High School Essay Contest.

The manuscript must be submitted through this jotform and must be submitted no later than 11:59 P.M., October 31, 2025.

I, the undersigned, as Parent or Guardian of the essay applicant, declare that the Essay/Manuscript authored and submitted by him(her) to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for purposes of consideration in its International High School Essay Contest is an original work. I hereby grant to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity a non-exclusive right to publish said work for distribution to members and the public for
the purposes of advertising or publicizing the contest and any winners. Distribution may include and not be limited to print, oral or web based, internet distribution.

I, further acknowledge that I have been apprised of the Fraternity’s policy relating to its use of the Essays of participants at the time of application to the Essay Contest. The Essay Application document states:

Persons submitting manuscripts hereby grant to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. a non-exclusive right to keep essay manuscripts and to publish them for the purpose of advertising and publicizing the Essay Contest to members and the general public.

I hereby grant to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. an irrevocable, worldwide license to use, reproduce, distribute, or modify the article in its entirety or portions thereof. I also declare that if any parts of my child’s submission are copyrighted, permission has been sought and received by us, or appropriate attribution has been made. I further
agree that the name, likeness, and biographical material, including affiliations of the author, may be used in connection with, and promotion of, the essay/manuscript and/or the Essay Contest itself.

I hereby grant Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and [insert name of chapter or foundation] (“the Organization”) permission to use my likeness in photographs, video recordings or electronic images in any and all of its publications, including website entries, without payment or any other consideration. I understand and agree that
these materials will become the property of the Organization and will not be returned. I hereby irrevocably authorize the Organization to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish or distribute these images for purposes of publicizing the organization's programs or for any other lawful purpose. In addition, I waive the right to inspect or approve the
finished product, including written or electronic copy, wherein my likeness appears.

Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of my image. I hereby hold harmless and release and forever discharge the Organization from all claims, demands, and causes of action which I, my heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, or any other persons acting on my behalf or on behalf of my estate have or may have by reason of this authorization.

I am 18 years of age and am competent to contract in my own name, or if I am under age 18, a parent or guardian has signed below. I have read this release before signing below and I fully understand the contents, meaning andimpact of this release.

Ifthe person signing is under age 18, we would ask that that person sign but there must also be the signed consent by a parent or guardian, below:

I hereby certify that I am the parent or guardian of this scholar named above, and do hereby give my consent without reservation to the foregoing release on behalf of this person.