Higher Education Resources and Opportunities for Exceptional Scholars a NJ Nonprofit Corporation was incorporated in the State of New Jersey on August 10, 2009 with the intent of applying for non-profit status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. We are in the process of applying for recognition as a tax-exempt organization. Please consult your tax advisor about the tax deductiblity of your contributions.
The Talent Search is open to any student born after May 22, 1994. Proof of age will be required for each student attending the Final Round or the Awards Ceremony.
Students who are not eligible for the Writing Talent Search may register and pay the registration fee to receive an evaluation of their writing but will not be considered for the competition.
Members of HEROES Executive Committee, Employees of Rutgers Continuing Studies or Rutgers-New Brunswick’s Writing Program and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the Writing Talent Search.
The registration fee for the Talent Search is $10 for individuals who are not members of HEROES. HEROES Members of are exempt from the registration fee. The registration fee will be waived for students who provide proof that they qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Registration forms along with the applicable fee or fee waiver must be submitted no later than midnight on March 26, 2010. No late registrations will be accepted.
When registering, students may request that copies of their results be sent to their teachers. HEROES will honor these requests only if the teacher’s complete contact information is provided.
At midnight on March 27, 2010 each registrant will receive an ID number, the writing assignment and a link to be used to submit their entries.
The assignment will consist of an assigned reading and related questions similar to those given in 355:101 Expositiory Writing. See Sample Assignments.
Student must read and agree to abide by Rutger’s Plagiarism Policy and certify that they completed the submitted essay independently, i.e., without assistance from family, friends, teachers or other individuals.
Students may not submit multiple entries.
Teachers may choose to have their students participate in the Writing Talent Search as a class project but may not edit, provide comments or in any way assist a student with the essay entry.
Completed essays must be submitted electronically no later than midnight on April 11, 2010. No late entries will be accepted.
All entries become the property of Rutgers Continuing Studies and HEROES and may be used for future Rutgers or HEROES programs without compensation to the author.
All entries will be graded by using the 355:101 Expository Writing Grading Rubric and will include scores for Thesis, Work with Assigned Text, Organization, Presentation, a Final Grade and comments from the grader.
Grades and grader comments will be posted by ID numbers on the HEROES web-site on April 30, 2010. Students' names will not be posted with the results.
Finalists will be chosen from the sixteen entries earning the highest grades. In the event that multiple entries receive the same qualifying grade, the selection of the finalists from the top entries will be at the discretion of the graders.
Semi-finalists will include all authors who earned a passing grade but were not selected as finalists.
Names of finalists and semi-finalists along with county of residence will be posted on the HEROES web-site unless a registrant requests otherwise. No other contact or identifying information will be provided regarding the finalists, semi-finalists or other registrants.
The Final Round will be held on Rutgers College Avenue Campus on Saturday, May 22 beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Finalists must register for the Final Round by midnight, May 7, 2010. No late registrations will be accepted.
In the event a Finalist does not register for the Final Round by midnight May 7, 2010, alternates will be chosen.
During the Final Round, students will attend a writing class taught by Michael Goeller, Associate Director, Rutgers Writing Program, take a writing placement test, complete additional writing assignments, meet a writer in residence and have breakfast and lunch.
The first and second place winners will be selected based on the additional writing assignments and test results during the final round.
All writing assignments completed during the final round will be the property of Rutgers Continuing Studies and HEROES and may be published by Rutgers or HEROES or used for Rutgers or HEROES marketing or other purposes without compensation to the authors.
Semi-finalists must register for the awards ceremony no later than midnight, May 7, 2010. No late registrations will be accepted.
The Awards Ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. on May 22 on Rutgers College Avenue Campus.
Semi-finalists will receive a certificate, a letter of achievement and a silver metal.
Finalists will receive a certificate, a letter of achievement and a gold metal.
The second place winner will receive a $500 Rutgers scholarship in addition to the awards bestowed on the finalists.
The first place winner will receive a $1,000 Rutgers scholarship in addition to the awards bestowed on the finalists.
Scholarships may be used for tuition for any Rutgers course or program any time prior to the winner’s twenty-first birthday.