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Curious vulnerable You Are Resilient Strong A Survivor hopeful Tell us your story ambitious 2011 Andre Sobel Award
2. In troThe 2011 Andre Sobel Essay Award A juried competition for young survivors of a catastrophic illness Young people who are diagnosed with a life threatening illness experience an extraordinary journey and one common consequence is isolation from their peers. In recognition of Andres struggle with this challenge, and realizing that this happens all too often for others, the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation oers an annual Essay Award to young survivors of a catastrophic illness as a chance to express the reality of their experiences. Dear Friends,We know that your journey extends beyond the physical, and that you have become quite a dierent person because of your profound experience. We believe that only those like you, who have already been there, understand best how to encourage and uplift others who will face the same intense trials in the future. Your unique story and the insights you gained from it have a lot to oer!We hope that you will submit your response to our essay topic in the coming weeks. While this is a competition with prizes awarded, selected entries from across all submissions will be chosen for a publication intended to help other newly diagnosed young people and be a comfort and guide to their friends and family. With appreciation for your time and participation, All of us at the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation 3. A bo ut A ndreAndre Sobel was a remarkable young man who had natural dignity, a promising future and an unconventional sense of humor. Andres young life ended just one year after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was 19. He was the beloved son of Erwin and Valerie Sobel and brother to Simone.Andre was well traveled, often seeking destinations that were frequented by his favorite authors, like Samuel Beckett, St. Augustine and Franz KaLa. The books Andre treasured were lled with his margin comments, underlinings and asterisks, the stamp of his rich intellectual curiosity. But the nest of all his gifts were his qualities of mercy and compassion. To honor Andre, and out of their deep love and respect for him, his family established the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation and shortly thereafter the Andre Sobel Essay Award. The purpose of this competition is to honor the young survivors of a catastrophic illness. If you consider yourself to be a survivor, we celebrate with you and look forward to your submission. This year, several cash awards will be granted, with the the rst place winner receiving a $5,000 cash prize. Smaller cash prizes will be awarded to the runner-ups and to a participating Companion Writer of any of these winners. The cash award can be used in any way the recipient chooses. 4. F orm atRules and Submission GuidelinesThis is not an English class. We want you to be true to yourself and express your thoughts in any form that feels natural and comfortable to you. Therefore, we have expanded the range of choices so that you may best express yourself in a style that is comfortable for YOU. For example, you may present your entry as an essay, a short story, a leAer, an email, a recorded conversaBon, a cell phone call or text message, a blog, a Facebook post, TwiAer communicaBon or any other wriAen format (as opposed to video or audio recorded format) you wish to use because you feel that it best captures your message and voice. Create your entry keeping in mind that you are talking to your peers or family. We encourage you to be honest and personal about your thoughts. This is the Bme for you to say what you may have felt unable to share before. What you have lived through and learned could prove invaluable to a new paBent somewhere whose experience is perhaps very similar to yours. The Companion Writer Op0on*: While essays are usually the work of one author, relaBonships obviously involve the interacBons between two or more people. For this reason, we oer you a choice to invite a friend or relaBve to interact with you from his or her perspecBve. The way your illness aected you AND someone close to you is an important story. Perhaps exploring this together and recording the resulBng interacBon may even provide you with new insights about each other. We welcome this important perspecBve! *If you choose this op>on and your combined entry is selected, your Companion Writer will also receive an award. All entries will be judged equally, no maAer which essay opBon you choose. All we ask is that you end up with an entry that is in wriAen format (please, no video or audio recordings), and that you limit your submission to 1,000 words or less [4 double-spaced typed pages]. 5. To pic What I needed from others when I was ill:Notes From Someone Whos Been ThereIdeas to stimulate your thinking: Did your relationships change during your illness in ways the made you feel isolated, or perhaps closer? How? Why? What kind of interactions, support, recreation, games, engagement, etc., helped you most? Or the least? Did close friends seem withdrawn or changed, as if they were frightened or unsure about how to behave around you? How did that make you feel? Where there things you wanted to talk about with others, but felt you could not or should not? What can you tell others now that might help them understand what is going on in a sick adolescents mind? How did your understanding of relationships change because of your illness?Be as serious, humorous, chatty or as formal as you want. Be comfortable and REAL. It is a guarantee that YOUR TRUTH is exactly what someone else is craving to hear!*If you are a participating companion writer (see rules and submission guidelines), the above essay dialogue ideas still apply, except tell us about how YOU experienced the relationship during your friends/relatives illness. Of course, you will be referring to my friends illness and what your struggles and insights were.For the Survivors Companion if the applicant opts to participate in the Companion Writer Option: What I needed to know when you were ill: Notes From Someone Whos Been There. 6. S ub mis s ionsAll submissions must be in written format. No other formats (such as audio or video) will be accepted. All submissions must be received in their entirety by midnight PT on Friday, April 29, 2011. A complete submission is dened as a packet that includes the essay, the submission form (found on page 6 of this document) and a photo of the applicant all submitted TOGETHER. The photo must be submitted in a .JPG format. * If a Companion Essay is to be considered, the participating partner in the Companion Essay must provide his or her own entry form and photo, and both applications must be submitted TOGETHER.Submissions should be emailed to Rick Welshiemer at [email protected] If you are unable to email a complete submission, you may mail the hard copy to:Andre Sobel River of Life FoundationAndre Sobel Award Submission c/o Anne Swire, CEO201 North Indian Hill Blvd., Suite 202Claremont, CA 91711 Notications: An email notice will be sent to your email account providing acknowledgment that we received your essay. Award recipients will be notied by phone before July 1, 2011. A list of all winners will be posted on our website. Qualications: Applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 21 as of February 1, 2011, and consider themselves cancer survivors or survivors of a critical or life-threatening illness. Companion Writers ages may vary, but Companion Writers must age 13 years and older. All applicants must reside in the United States. 7. S ubm is s ions Because this is not a scholarship, please DO NOT send school transcripts, letters of recommendation or nancial records. All we want is YOUR essay! Equal Opportunity: The awards will be presented without regard to race, religion, gender, citizenship, sexual orientation or national origin. For more information: Email your inquiries and questions to Rick Welshiemer at [email protected] As we receive a large number of inquiries, please allow at least 72 hours for a response. No phone calls please. Winners: Winners will be asked to submit biographical information and additional photos for public relations purposes. They may be asked to speak to media and to participate in video recordings to promote the Andre Sobel Award. These terms are a condition of receiving an Award. 8. Fo rmPlease ensure that your form is legible and complete and submit it at the same time as your essay and photo. All submissions must be received by midnight PST on Friday, April 29, 2011. Please review the 2011 Rules and Submission Guidelines for more information. Submission Date:Age as of March 1, 2011: Name: Birth Date:Telephone:Fax:Email Address:Home Address:City: State:Zip Code:Parent/Guardian Name:Brief DescripBon of illness, including date of diagnosis, treatment, treaBng hospital and current status: Thank you so much for your submission. 9. Fo rmName and address of current or last school aAended:How did you hear about the award?Thank you so much for your submission. 10. Rele asePICTURE, LIKENESS and PRINT MATERIALS RELEASE 2011 Andre Sobel Award I, __________________ hereby grant the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, a California corporation, and its agents the right to use the picture/likeness of _________________ (name of individual/groups) in connection with the production and distribution of its print, web and video materials. I agree that you may copyright said print, web and video materials.I further agree that my name(s) picture/likeness(es), Andre Sobel Award written submission and biographical material as provided by me may be used in connection with publicity of its print, web and video materials.I release the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, and their agents, successors and assigns from further claims or demands arising from the uses of materials you may use in which I/we appear.If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian must sign below.Date: _______________Signature: ___________________________Parent/Guardian Signature:
