The City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts

For the 2024 competition, we are focusing on the topic of forgiveness. We are eager to read examples of our citizens’ thoughts on forgiveness as either a fiction or a nonfiction submission.

Congratulations to our Language Arts 123 Competition 2024 WINNERS!

Adult First Place:   Janet Jaworski "The Flood"

Adult Runner-Up:  Aziza Bayou "Listening to Forgiveness"

High School Student First Place: Genevieve Greer "What's Done is Done"

High School Student Runner-Up: Ian Jang "Blue Crane"

Middle School Student First Place: Cameron Mangal "Forgiveness"

Middle School Student Runner-Up: Emma Puschmann "The Power of Forgiveness Can Change Lives"

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Eligibility: 

Contestants must be

• Fourth through sixth graders
• Seventh through ninth graders
• Tenth through twelfth graders
• Adults (college age and beyond)
• Individuals who do not derive their primary income from writing
• Neither related to nor household residents of any City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts member

Contestants must also meet any of the following criteria:

• Reside, are employed, or own property in the City of Fairfax
• Attend public or private high school in the City of Fairfax
• Reside and are home schooled within the City of Fairfax

Entries may be on either of two topics:

Nonfiction (essay): What does it mean to forgive genuinely? Is it possible (or even advisable) to forgive an offender who does not apologize? Is "forgive and forget" possible (or even advisable) no matter how grave an offense may have been committed? Choose a position and defend your argument.

Fiction: Share, in short-story form, a narrative that demonstrates the healing power of forgiveness.

Submission Criteria:

Fourth - Sixth Grade

• 800 – 1000 words
• Double Spaced
• In English
• Never commercially published

Seventh – Ninth Grade

• 1000 – 2000 words
• Double Spaced
• In English
• Never commercially published

Tenth – Twelfth Grade

• 1500 – 2500 words
• Double Spaced
• In English
• Never commercially published

Adult

• 1500 – 2500 words
• Double Spaced
• In English
• Never commercially published

Submission entries as email attachments addressed to: Christine.Vincent@fairfaxva.gov   

Judging Criteria: 

Entries will be judged on structure, clarity, originality, fluency, coherence, and persuasiveness. Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage, etc. are essentials of good writing and will be basic judging points for every competitive entry. Elementary school-level entries should reflect mastery of the Common Core English Language Arts Standards for entrant’s grade. 

Profanity, obscenity, or "hate speech" types of discriminatory language will be immediate disqualifiers.

Language Arts 123 Committee members will serve as judges for competition entries.

Competition winners will receive the following awards:

Adult First Prize - $300
Adult Runner-Up - $150

Tenth through twelfth grade First Prize - $200
Tenth through twelfth grade Runner-Up - $100

Seventh through ninth grade First Prize - $150
Seventh through ninth grade Runner-Up - $75

Fourth through sixth grade First Prize - $100
Fourth through sixth grade Runner-Up - $50

Deadline for submissions: 6:00 p.m. March 29, 2024.

The winners will be announced not later than 6:00 p.m. on April 12, 2024.