Free contest, My Hero Essay Contest, essays, top prize: $2,000 shopping spree

Deadline: 12 November 2010

“MY HERO” Essay Contest

Contest begins October 1, 2010 until November 12, 2010.

Send us an essay story of your nomination for “MY HERO” Essay Contest. This can be a military service member, either active duty or civilian support of military. Submit only one essay per category depicting the story and reason for nomination in less than 300 words. Essays should depict and/or explain why and what is extraordinary about the nominee that would qualify them as “MY HERO”.

Maybe you'll be the GRAND prize winner!

Prizes include:

* One overall Grand Prize Winner will receive an AAFES Shopping Spree for $2,000
* 1st Place in each category (6) will win a $500 EXCHANGE Gift Card

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open for submissions by military members and all military ID card holders, who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. (NOTE: a nominee in Category “Young Wonder (under 18)” is acceptable but cannot be the ‘submitter’ of the essay.) Employees of AAFES as well as the immediate family (spouses, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.

HOW TO ENTER: You may enter online by sending your essay, one per category, of (300 words or less) to PatriotFamily@aafes.com. You must include your name, address, daytime phone number, rank or occupation plus information regarding nominee (name, address, phone number or contact number such as email address, at the bottom of the entry essay. Last day to submit entry by email is November 12, 2010. Post the title “MY HERO + Category identifier” into the subject line. Failure to add your contact information to your contest submission will mean automatic disqualification.

Sample: “MY Hero – Peacemaker”
You may only submit one (1) essay per household per category. AAFES reserves the right to disqualify multiple entries. Incomplete or inaccurate entries are void. AAFES is not responsible for any lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, or misdirected registrations, which will be disqualified.

JUDGING CRITERIA AND SELECTION OF WINNERS: Submissions will be judged on the basis of uniqueness, quality and effectiveness in conveying the story of an individual’s military service or support thereof, either as active duty or department of defense civilian. Judging will be conducted in November, 2010.

More information here.