American dream essay contest
Submit Essays by March 17th, 2025
Awards Luncheon in Casper on April 13, 2025
For more than 20 years, students of Wyoming have been learning and growing through the American Dream Essay Contest.
In 1987, Sir John Templeton, a world-renowned investment manager, first established the Laws of Life Essay Contest in Franklin County, Tennessee. His vision was to encourage young people to reflect upon and write about one of the laws of life that makes an impact on their decisions, goals, and attitude. Similar contests now take place in communities and schools throughout the United States and abroad because of his inspiration.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming has hosted the Laws of Life Essay Contest, now called the American Dream Essay Contest, for over twenty years. This year, we continued our partnership with James P. Owen, author of Cowboy Ethics, Cowboy Values, and The Try, to bring our youth a way to pursue their vision regarding the meaning of their lives and the ethics that guide them.
The thematic transition of the contest has allowed Wyoming’s youth the opportunity to express how they use their ethics and values to achieve their own American Dream. These essays perfectly illustrate what it means to live by the Code of the West and to never give up when faced with adversity when trying to achieve their goals.
We are proud to be a part of this amazing and inspiring opportunity for our youth. The American Dream Essay Contest has become a revered state tradition, and we would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has made it possible, especially the wonderful sponsors who continually support the effort: the Zimmerman Family Foundation, Larry & Margo Bean, John Templeton Foundation, Kevin & Julie Murphy, and Hilltop National Bank.
Why You Should Participate
Writing Skills
Developing narrative writing skills and personal growth as young adults is at the center of the American Dream Essay Contest.
Cash Prizes
Students are eligible to receive cash winnings at the local and state level! Every school will have a winner, and educators have cash incentives as well for their time and effort. One winner in Wyoming will win $5,300 total!
Wyoming Tradition
This contest has impacted the lives of youth for more than 20 years in the state of Wyoming. Students have experienced life-changing discoveries about who they are and their potential for the future.
Our Vision
To encourage young people to reflect upon and write about one of the Cowboy Ethics that makes an impact on their decisions, goals, and attitude. The American Dream Essay Contest encourages youth to pursue their vision regarding the meaning of their lives and the ethics that guide them.
Requirements
To enter the American Dream Essay Contest, students must be in grades 9-12 and submit an essay on how personal virtues such as courage, perseverance, and integrity help them achieve their American Dream.
Must be attending high school in Wyoming or active in a designated organization
Must be attending a high school in the state of Wyoming, or be a high school homeschooler participating through the Homeschool Organization of Wyoming (HOW), or an active member of a Boys & Girls Club in the state of Wyoming. Students can only participate in one local contest per year.
All students must have a teacher/sponsor
All participants must have a teacher/sponsor to guide them through the writing process. If you do not have one, please contact the Contest Coordinator.
Must follow essay contest rules
The essay must be titled, between 300 and 2,000 words long, typewritten, double-spaced, and focus on one of the ten Cowboy Ethics.
Teachers must submit essays online by March 17th, 2025
Sponsoring teachers must submit essays online by March 17 2025
Photograph must accompany essay submission
Teacher/sponsors must submit the local first place winner’s photograph along with their winning essay in order to be honored. This photograph will be published in the American Dream Essay Contest booklet.
1st place winners must attend luncheon
In order to receive state awards, local 1st place winners MUST ATTEND the Awards Luncheon on April 14, 2024 in Casper, Wyoming in person. If the winner is not in attendance, the prize will go to the next highest placing winner.
Students can only win one finalist prize per contest year
Students may win only one finalist prize per contest year.
Local judging must be held by each school
A local judging conducted by each school must be held to determine the top three essays. The BGCCW committee will then judge the local first-place essays from each high school to select the state winners.
State winners may not use their essay in other contests
State winners may not use their essays in other contests.
All essays become the property of the American Dream Essay Contest.
Once entered, all essays become the possession of the American Dream Essay Contest, and therefore can be distributed partially or in their entirety to media outlets as the committee deems appropriate.
Past Winners
Congratulations to the state winners of the 2024 American Dream Essay Contest!
1st Place
Jase Bright
Heathrow Academy
2nd Place
Savannah Fagan
Encampment High School
3rd Place
Samantha Kelsay
Niobrara High School
Honorable Mention
Ashley Gross
Natrona County High School
Honorable Mention
Grace Good-Jessen
Powell High School
Our Sponsors
John Templeton Foundation
Larry & Margo Bean
The Zimmerman Family Foundation
Kevin & Julie Murphy
John Templeton Foundation
Contact
Call Vanessa Warner at 307.235.4079 or email vwarner@bgccw.org.