From the University of Illinois Springfield

WUIS' "This I Believe"

This I Believe The This I Believe essay contest is designed to capture the viewpoints of area high school seniors and give those students an opportunity to share their thoughts with the community.

The This I Believe essay program was originally started by Edward Murrow in the 1950’s. When the program originally started, most of the essays were written by famous writers, politicians, and actors and gave the American people hope for the future and inspired them to do great things.

Today the organization gives a voice to a younger generation. WUIS has created an offshoot of the national program with the help of the Rotary Springfield - Sunrise and limits applications to high school seniors in our listening area. Ten essays will be selected by our panel of judges, recorded by their authors, and broadcast on WUIS. Selected authors will also have their essay published by WUIS and posted on WUIS.org. Selected essayists will also be eligible to receive a $100 scholarship from the Rotary Springfield - Sunrise.

  • Teachers – encourage your students to participate by incorporating the This I Believe curriculum into your classroom!
  • Students – to encourage your classmates and teachers to participate in this program!

2012 This I Believe Essay Program

Before submitting your essay, we recommend that you read the Submission Agreement. You will be asked to agree to these terms before we are able to accept your essay.

The ten essays (selected by a panel of judges) will be announced in February and essays will be played on WUIS during the last two weeks of February at 7:50am and 4:45pm.

The 2012 submission deadline has passed. The 2013 submission cycle begins January 2, 2013. The deadline to submit essays will be January 31, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this program or if you would like more information on how to get your student involved, please email Randy Eccles at reccl2@uis.edu.

WUIS Contest FAQs

Q: Is there a deadline to submit essays?
A: By 11:59 p.m., January 31, 2013.

Q: How long should essays be?
A: Between 350 and 500 words, or under three minutes when read aloud at a natural speaking pace.

Q: How do I submit my essay?
A: Through our online submission form at WUIS.org. If you are under the age of 18, ask your parents or guardians. After you receive your parents’ permission (through having them provide their name, phone, email and consent on the submission form), you can submit your essay online. When you begin the process, you will need to click the link at the bottom of the page that says “I Agree With the Terms of Submission.” When your parents provide their permission information, it is okay to click this link. On the next page, you can copy and paste your essay into the field provided. There is also a field for “reflections” on having written your essay. This is optional.

Q: How do I know you received my essay?
A: When you successfully submit your essay through WUIS.org, you will see an on-screen message that says the essay was received. In addition, you will receive an email with information about the review process. You will receive another email when their essays have completed the review process and have been posted to the This I Believe Essay Collection at WUIS.org.

Q: Will my essay be posted on the This I Believe web site?
A: Yes, all essays that are submitted through the online form will be posted to the This I Believe Essay Collection online. Essays are not automatically posted; they must first go through a review process, which can take up to six weeks.

Q: Will my essay be on WUIS?
A: The top ten essays as selected by a panel at WUIS will air between February 20 - March 2, 2012 once during Morning Edition at 7:50 a.m. and again during All Things Considered at 4:45 p.m. They will also be posted at WUIS.org and Facebook.com/WUIScommunity.

Q: May copies of essays be used in the classroom?
A: This I Believe, Inc.,and WUIS generally grant permission for copies to be used in classrooms as long as the text is being used in a single classroom and a fee is not being charged for the materials. If you wish to make copies of essays beyond these terms, please feel free to contact WUIS with details of your request.

Q: How may I contact someone at WUIS?
A: The WUIS staff is available to assist you with specific questions about bringing This I Believe to your classroom. Please email us at WUIS@WUIS.org.

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