NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK
Second Annual Acuity Trucker Appreciation Essay Contest
As we gear up for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we want to hear from your child about how his or her life has been impacted by having a parent or family member in the trucking industry. Share your story with us for a chance to win.
Essay topic
Acuity is sponsoring an essay contest for children to celebrate truck drivers and their families.
Your child's essay should answer this question: "How the trucker in your family is a hero to you or others?"
Essay contest details
See official rules for complete contest details.
- Contest is open to all children ages 19 and younger within applicable school categories as of 2017-2018 school year shown below. Contestants must be legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. School group categories include:
- Elementary school - grades K-4
- Middle school - grades 5-8
- High school - grades 9-12
- One entry per child.
- Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company employees and their children are not eligible to enter.
- No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win.
- Winners will be solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes on winnings.
- A fully completed W-9 is required prior to all winners claiming a prize.
- Failure to adhere to the contest rules or submission guidelines will result in disqualification from the contest.
Entry requirements and format
- Requirements by category:
- Elementary school, 200 word limit
- Middle school, 400 word limit, typed
- High school, 1,000 word limit, typed
- Non-fictional stories should highlight how the trucker is a hero to the child or others.
- Entries must be the original and unpublished work of the child and will not be returned.
- Illustrations may accompany writing, but we recommend only submitting them in a digital format as they cannot be returned.
- If written by hand, entries can be scanned and sent electronically or mailed.
- Entries will not be accepted if they contain:
- Inappropriate topics
- Inappropriate words
- Inappropriate images
- Mean, cruel or hateful behavior or attitudes
- Disrespect towards others, whether it be parents, authority figures, or anyone else, including other kids
- Violence or other dark or frightening subjects
- This Contest is conducted in American English
Submission instructions
- Contest entries are accepted from May 1 through July 21, 2018.
- Entries may be submitted electronically by emailing them to: thankyoudrivers@acuity.com
- TIP: Copy and paste email address into your preferred email account if the link does not work.
- Entries that are not submitted electronically must be mailed to and postmarked by July 21st, 2018:
Acuity Insurance
Marketing Department
Truck Driver Appreciation Essay Contest
2800 S Taylor Drive
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Judging
All eligible entries will be evaluated and scored by the Contest judges based on the following criteria:
- Originality and uniqueness of the story.
- Use of language relevant to the topic.
- Creativity in how ideas are expressed.
The entry with the highest total score in each category will be deemed the First Place Winner in that category. Entries with the second highest scores will be deemed Second Place Winners in each category. Entries with the third highest scores will be deemed Third Place Winners in each category. Entries with the fourth and fifth highest scores will receive Honorable Mention. In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score for originality, followed by creativity, will be deemed the winner from among all tying entries. Winners will be notified on or before August 10, 2018.
Prizes by category
Elementary School (K-4)
- One (1) First Place Winner - $750 Check
- One (1) Second Place Winner - $500 Check
- One (1) Third Place Winner - $250 Visa Gift Card
- Two (2) Honorable Mention Winners - $100 Visa Gift Card
Middle School (5-8)
- One (1) First Place Winner - $1,500 Check
- One (1) Second Place Winner - $1,000 Check
- One (1) Third Place Winner - $500 Check
- Two (2) Honorable Mention Winners - $100 Visa Gift Card
High School (9-12)
- One (1) First Place Winner - $2,500 Check
- One (1) Second Place Winner - $1,500 Check
- One (1) Third Place Winner - $1,000 Check
- Two (2) Honorable Mention Winners - $100 Visa Gift Card
Prize acceptance
Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company will use reasonable best efforts to notify the winners. In the event a winner cannot be located within five days of the judging period, the winner shall forfeit the prize and we may elect another winner. A parent or guardian must submit a completed W-9 prior to winner claiming a prize; instructions can be found here.
FAQs
Have questions? We have answers.
No, you do not need to be an Acuity insured to have your child enter their essay. This contest is open to all legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. Policyholder status has no bearing on the judging process. The only people who cannot enter are employees of Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company and their children.
Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company employees and their children are not eligible to enter.
Yes, illustrations or drawings that help tell the story can accompany the written essay. We recommend submitting any images in a digital format as they cannot be returned. Please do not send photos of your child.
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