The Beacon Society
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  • The Jan Stauber Grant
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  • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Novels
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- His Last Bow
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
  • Junior Sherlockian Society
  • Joel Senter Essay Contest
    • Essay Contest -- Introduction & Copyright
    • Essay Contest -- Age Levels
      • Essay Contest -- 4th-6th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 7th-9th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 10th-12th Grade Form
    • Essay Contest -- Rules & Prizes
    • Essay Contest -- Resources
    • Essay Contest -- Submit
    • More about R. Joel Senter
    • Past Senter Essay Contest Winners
    • Who Was Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
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    • Learn About Sherlockian Societies
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    • Spotlight on Societies
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  • Home
  • First Time Visitor
    • I am a Student
    • I am a Librarian
    • I am a Sherlockian
    • I am a Teacher, Librarian, or Part of a Children's Musem or Theater
  • About the Beacon Society (Newsletters, Bylaws, Meeting Minutes)
  • Sherlock's Spotlight Gazette
  • How to Support the Society
  • The Jan Stauber Grant
    • Apply for a Grant
    • Past Grant Awards
  • The Beacon Award
    • Apply for an Award
    • Past Award Winners
  • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Novels
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- His Last Bow
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
  • Junior Sherlockian Society
  • Joel Senter Essay Contest
    • Essay Contest -- Introduction & Copyright
    • Essay Contest -- Age Levels
      • Essay Contest -- 4th-6th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 7th-9th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 10th-12th Grade Form
    • Essay Contest -- Rules & Prizes
    • Essay Contest -- Resources
    • Essay Contest -- Submit
    • More about R. Joel Senter
    • Past Senter Essay Contest Winners
    • Who Was Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
  • Library Display Project
  • Additional Resources for Educators/ Students by Age Group
    • Holmes for the Holidays
    • Beacon Booklist
    • Elementary School
    • Middle (Junior) School
    • High School
    • College / University
    • Library Programs
    • Any Age Group
  • Fortescue Scholarship Exams
  • Important Links for Sherlockians
  • Contact Our Officers / Committees
  • The Life & Times in Victorian London
  • The Puzzles of Sherlock Holmes
  • The 60 Stories of the Canon
  • Sherlockian E-Times Archives
  • Sherlockian Societies
    • Learn About Sherlockian Societies
    • Locating a Sherlockian Society Map
    • Spotlight on Societies
    • Scuttlebutt from the Spermacetti Press

The 2023 R. Joel Senter Sr. Memorial Essay Contest
Rules & Prizes

Picture

Students in the 4th to the 12th grade in the United States and Canada are eligible to participate in this contest. The contest is divided into three categories: 
4th to 6th Grade

Students are encouraged to choose from “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle,” or “The Adventure of the Red-Headed League.”
Essay Length: 300-500 words
Click here to
proceed to the
specific rules/
questions for
​4th to 6th Grade
NOTE:  Previous 1st Place winners in this Category are not eligible to compete again.
​7th to 9th Grade

Students are encouraged to choose from “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” “The Adventure of the Red-Headed League,” and “The Adventure of the Abbey Grange.”
Essay Length: 500 to 750 words
Click here to
​proceed to the
specific rules /
questions for
​7th to 9th Grade
NOTE:  Previous 1st Place winners in this Category are not eligible to compete again.
10th to 12th Grade

Students are encouraged to choose from “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton,” or “The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot.”
Essay Length: 750 to 1,000 words
Click here to
proceed to the
specific rules /
questions for
​10th to 12th Grade
NOTE:  Previous 1st Place winners in this Category are not eligible to compete again.
Each Entrant must have an adult sponsor, 21 years of age or older.  The role of the Sponsor is to ensure that the Entrant follows the Contest Rules and to provide guidance to the Entrant.
 
Sponsors may not write or edit the essay for Entrants.  The essays must be entirely the work of the students.  However, the Sponsor may make suggestions to the Entrant prior to the start of the essay composition as specified in this document.
 
Sponsors and Entrants should read the Essay Questions carefully before starting the essay.  It includes questions that Sponsors may wish to suggest to the Entrants as the subjects of their essay.
 
Essays must include a fully completed Cover Sheet/Entry Form as included on this website.   Essays received by the Beacon Society without this completed form will not be read and will not be eligible for prizes.
 
Essays are to be written in English, using word-processing software such as Microsoft Word or an equivalent, in a 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced. Sponsors may guide the Entrants in complying with this requirement.
 
The Entrant’s name, email address and the page number (page x of x) must appear in the lower left-hand corner of the footer of each page following the Cover Sheet.  A Sponsor may assist the Entrant in formatting the pages.
 
Entrants will be judged on the quality of their essays.  Judging criteria are accessible under the JUDGING tab.  Sponsors and Entrants are encouraged to review the judging criteria before beginning their essays. 
 
Teachers may sponsor multiple Entrants per classroom per Essay Contest Category for judging. 
 
Parents may sponsor an essay for each of their children in any Essay Contest Category.
 
Entrants may email their own essays, or they may be emailed by the Entrant’s Sponsor on the Entrant’s behalf.
 
Essays must be emailed and received by the Beacon Society by  March 1, 2023 to be eligible for the prizes.  Essays may be submitted at any time during the contest period and need not wait until the end of the contest period.
 
Essays received by Beacon Society will not be returned to the Entrant or the Sponsor.
 
If you have additional questions, please email Dan Andriacco at tankervilleclub@gmail.com
 
Prizes in each Category Prizes will include:
            1st Place – a Plaque and Cash Prize ($500 for 10-12th grade winner; $300 for 4-9th grade
​                               winner)
            2nd Place - a Plaque and $200 Cash Prize
            3rd Place - a Plaque and $100 Cash Prize

 
The winners will be announced shortly after the contest deadline.  If possible, the Beacon Society will have a member of the Society present the Senter Prizes at the contest winner’s school.  If an in-person presentation is not possible, the Senter Prizes will be mailed to the winners.
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  • Home
  • First Time Visitor
    • I am a Student
    • I am a Librarian
    • I am a Sherlockian
    • I am a Teacher, Librarian, or Part of a Children's Musem or Theater
  • About the Beacon Society (Newsletters, Bylaws, Meeting Minutes)
  • Sherlock's Spotlight Gazette
  • How to Support the Society
  • The Jan Stauber Grant
    • Apply for a Grant
    • Past Grant Awards
  • The Beacon Award
    • Apply for an Award
    • Past Award Winners
  • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Novels
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Return of Sherlock Holmes
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- His Last Bow
    • A Comprehensive Look at the Stories of the Canon -- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
  • Junior Sherlockian Society
  • Joel Senter Essay Contest
    • Essay Contest -- Introduction & Copyright
    • Essay Contest -- Age Levels
      • Essay Contest -- 4th-6th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 7th-9th Grade Form
      • Essay Contest -- 10th-12th Grade Form
    • Essay Contest -- Rules & Prizes
    • Essay Contest -- Resources
    • Essay Contest -- Submit
    • More about R. Joel Senter
    • Past Senter Essay Contest Winners
    • Who Was Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
  • Library Display Project
  • Additional Resources for Educators/ Students by Age Group
    • Holmes for the Holidays
    • Beacon Booklist
    • Elementary School
    • Middle (Junior) School
    • High School
    • College / University
    • Library Programs
    • Any Age Group
  • Fortescue Scholarship Exams
  • Important Links for Sherlockians
  • Contact Our Officers / Committees
  • The Life & Times in Victorian London
  • The Puzzles of Sherlock Holmes
  • The 60 Stories of the Canon
  • Sherlockian E-Times Archives
  • Sherlockian Societies
    • Learn About Sherlockian Societies
    • Locating a Sherlockian Society Map
    • Spotlight on Societies
    • Scuttlebutt from the Spermacetti Press