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Anti-Bullying Essay Contest

Join the conversation and compete for a $2,500 educational award by sharing your vision for a bullying-free future.

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Official Rules

Get Started in 3 Simple Steps

Ready to make your voice heard? Follow these steps to enter the Defeat The Label Anti-Bullying Essay Contest.

1. Choose Your Prompt

Whether you want to talk about being an Upstander, standing for change, or the importance of the UMatter philosophy, choose the topic that resonates most with your personal experience or vision for a kinder school.

See how it works

2. Write & Review

Ensure your name and contact info are on the first page only, and check that you've met all the judging criteria. Remember, we are looking for original voices—while you can use tools for research, the essay must be your own work!

3. Submit Your Entry

Fill out the digital submission form below with your parent or guardian. You will need to upload your essay as a PDF document. Make sure to submit before the April 1, 2026 (11:59 PM EST) deadline to be eligible for the $2,500 award.

Official Rules & Procedures

The Defeat The Label Anti-Bullying Essay Contest invites students to share their stories, ideas, and solutions for creating safer, more inclusive school communities. The contest reflects the heart of our Upstander and UMatter programs by empowering students to speak up, support one another, and take meaningful action against bullying.

Eligibility

Open to students enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school in Michigan.

All Michigan students in Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12) are eligible.

Only one entry per student is permitted; multiple submissions will not be considered for the award.

Essays must be original work; plagiarism or inappropriate use of AI tools will result in disqualification.

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Contest Requirements & Guidelines

To ensure your essay is eligible for the $2,500 educational award, please follow the formatting and eligibility rules outlined below. These guidelines help our judges review every submission fairly while maintaining the integrity of the contest. All entries must be original works that reflect your personal perspective on creating a safer, more inclusive school environment.

Essay Requirements

Prompt Options (choose one or a closely related topic):

  • What does it mean to be an Upstander, and how can you take that role in your school?
  • How can students stand for change and help prevent bullying?
  • UMatter Prompt: How can noticing, supporting, and reaching out to others improve connection and help reduce bullying or social isolation at school?
Essays may include personal reflections, real experiences, or thoughtful solutions.

Essay Length

  • Middle School & High School: 400–600 words.

Identification

  • Student name, grade, school, and contact information (email and phone) must appear on the first page.
  • No identifying information should appear in the body of the essay.

Citations

  • Any quotes or non-original material must be properly cited.

How to Submit

  • Students must complete and sign an entry form with a parent/guardian.
  • Essays are submitted through the Defeat the Label website via an upload form.

Judging Criteria

Essays will be evaluated by a panel of educators, community leaders, and Defeat the Label staff using the following criteria:
  • Relevance to the prompt and anti-bullying theme.
  • Originality and creativity
  • Clarity and organization
  • Impact and persuasiveness
  • Grammar and mechanics
All judging decisions are final.

Judging Criteria

  • One winner will be selected in each category (Middle School and High School).
  • Each winner will receive a $2,500 educational award, to be used for tuition assistance, technology, school supplies, or another educational need determined with the student and family.
  • Winners will be notified by email and announced publicly.
  • Winning essays may be featured on the Defeat the Label website, social media, and educational materials.

General Rules

  • There is no entry fee.
  • Submissions become the property of Defeat the Label and will not be returned.
  • Participants release Defeat the Label from liability related to participation or prize use.
  • Immediate family members of contest staff or judges are not eligible.

Ready to submit your essay?

Please complete the secure form below to officially enter the Defeat The Label Anti-Bullying Essay Contest. We use encrypted submission technology to ensure that your personal information and your essay remain private and protected throughout the judging process. Once you hit submit, you will be transferred to a confirmation page.

Notice: All submissions must be received by 11:59pm on April 1, 2026.

Submit Your Anti-Bullying Essay

Your personal information will not be sold or shared with others.

Upload your essay in PDF format.
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Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 25 MB, Max. files: 1.

    Official Terms, Conditions & Privacy Disclosure
    Submission Ownership and Usage: By submitting an entry to the Defeat The Label Anti-Bullying Essay Contest, participants and their parent/guardian acknowledge that the essay becomes the property of Defeat The Label. We reserve the right to edit, publish, and use the submitted content—including the student’s name and school—in promotional materials, social media, and educational curricula without further compensation.

    Academic Integrity and AI Policy:
    All entries must be the original work of the student. While external research is encouraged, the use of AI-generative tools to write the essay or the submission of plagiarized material is strictly prohibited. Any entry found to be in violation of these standards will be disqualified immediately. Decisions made by our panel of judges regarding eligibility and winners are final and binding in all respects.

    Award Distribution:
    The $2,500 educational award is restricted to educational expenses, which may include tuition assistance, technology (laptops/tablets), or essential school supplies. Defeat The Label will work directly with the winning student’s family to facilitate the distribution of these funds. Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes related to the prize.

    Liability and Data Privacy:
    Participants release Defeat The Label, its staff, and its partners from any liability regarding participation in this contest or the use of the prize. Information collected through the submission form (including names, emails, and phone numbers) is used solely for the administration of this contest and will not be sold or shared with third-party marketers. For questions regarding the contest or technical issues with the submission form, please contact the Defeat The Label team directly.

    Defeat the Label is a 501(c)3 organization that is empowering students in classrooms around the globe. We believe that in order to end bullying we have to put the power back where it belongs, in the hands of the students.

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    Defeat the Label is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating safer, more inclusive school communities by empowering students to lead change from within. We believe bullying cannot be eliminated through rules alone. Real impact happens when students are equipped with the confidence, language, and tools to stand up for themselves and each other—transforming school culture at the peer level. Your privacy matters, and we never sell, trade, or misuse personally identifiable information. Data is shared only with carefully vetted partners who help us operate our website or deliver our programs, and only under strict confidentiality standards. Information may be disclosed when legally required, to uphold our policies, or to protect the safety and rights of students and our community. Aggregated, non-identifiable data may be used for outreach, storytelling, and awareness initiatives that amplify our mission and expand our global reach—without ever compromising individual privacy.

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