Thank you for being patient, as we have worked through this time.
About
The Desert Heritage Writing Contest is open to grades 5-12 and college students throughout the Barstow area. We encourage teachers to work with their students to produce competitive work in which they can take pride. Three different categories allow students to write according to their preferred style. Below, you’ll find more detailed information regarding the contest requirements and procedures.
Eligibility
+ K-12 students
Baker Valley Unified School District, Barstow Unified School District, Helendale School District, Lucerne Valley Unified School District, Silver Valley Unified School District, Barstow Christian School, Ironwood Christian Academy, Mojave River Academy Barstow, Excelsior Charter School, Barstow Career Technical Education Academy
+ College
Students registered during Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017 at the following colleges: Barstow Community College, Park University
Divisions
+ 5th & 6th grades
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry
+ 7th & 8th grades
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry
+ High school
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry
+ College
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry
Guidelines
+ Rules
• Up to 3 submissions per category (9 total)
• Up to 10 pages, double-spaced
• Written in English
• Original work of entrant
+ Criteria
• Originality
• Clarity of expression
• Organization
• Literacy
• Grammar
Judging
+ Evaluators
Judges are local educators, writers, and qualified community members with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Judges read entries “blind”: they never know who the author is until winners are announced.
+ Method
All entries are read by two judges. Any ties are read by a third reader.