Varsity Level Winners (9th – 12th Grade)

1st Place : Owen Zhang – Support, Benjamin Who – Oppose

2nd Place : Marco Ma – Support, Jason Gao – Oppose

3rd Place : Grace Zhang – Support

Participation Award: Yutai Long, Helen Peng

Booster Level Winners (Kindergarten – 8th Grade)

1st Place : Victoria Zhang – Support

2nd Place : Clement Ding – Support

3rd Place : Lawrence Li – Support

Participation Award: Charisse Ding, Amelia Liu, Sean Lu, Austin Pham, Chloe Shao, Qiran Zhang, Shella Zhang.

Award Ceremony

Due to the COVID-19, the award ceremony was cancelled. HCA has sent the trophies and award to the winners via mail. Congratulations and thank you all for participation!

Participant Requirements :

Greater Houston area school students with Chinese heritage from Grades K to 12.

Varsity Level (Grade 9 to 12)

Essay Topic : Mayor Sylvester Turner signed Executive Order No. 1-68 on Sep 28 2020, authorizing the City of Houston to join Harris County’s Cite and Release Program. The following Class A and B misdemeanors are eligible for tickets instead of jail time:

• Possession of a controlled substance, if the controlled substance is four ounces or less.
• Criminal Mischief, if the amount of pecuniary loss is $100 or more but less than $750.
• Graffiti, if the amount of pecuniary loss is $100 or more but less than $2500.
• Theft, if the value of the property stolen is $100 or more but less than $750.
• Theft of Service, if the value of the service stolen is $100 or more but less than $750.
• Contraband in a Correctional Facility, if the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
• Driving with an invalid license.

Do you support or oppose this Executive Order? Please do your own research and write an essay to support your opinion.

Essay requirements : 500-800 words (not including title and references)

Awards : Monetary awards for top Varsity Level essays (for both sides of the argument) will be
offered:

• $300 for 1st place
• $200 for 2nd place
• $100 for 3rd place

Booster Level (Grade K to 8)

Essay Topic : Should social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, should have the right to delete posts.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Please do your own research and write an essay to support your opinion.

Essay requirements : less than 500 words (not including title and references)

Awards : $20 for each winning participant (top 3 on both sides)

Essay format requirement for both levels :

• Essay Language : English
• File Type : Your essay should be submitted as a word .doc or .docx file.
• Font : Please use Times New Roman font, 12 pt font size.
• Spacing : Double spaced.
• References : Your essay must include a list of at least three references which you consulted. These references can be from printed or online sources.
• Style Guide: You may use either the MLA, Chicago or APA style manual for citations and reference formatting.
• Do: Please fill out the application form and sign the waiver by yourself and your legal guardian, and make sure to send it back with the essay.
• Don’t: Please do NOT type in your name within the essay, or in any other way convey or imply your personal identity in the essay, as all essays will be rated anonymously.

Judging criteria for both levels :

• 30% writing skills and grammar
• 35% arguments
• 35% research and supporting data

Please email your essay and application form to : hcatx2014@gmail.com

Download application form : HCA_Legislative Essay Contest_2020_E Form

Deadline for submission : February 28th, 2021 (Results of the contest will be announced in April 2021)

Reading material: How A Bill Becomes A Law In Texas (https://house.texas.gov/about-us/bill/)

Varsity Level Winners (9th – 12th Grade)

Essay Topic : HCR88 ( https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HCR88/2019) Urging Congress to pass stricter gun laws, including a ban on the sale of assault weapons. Do you support or oppose the bill? Please do your own research and write an essay to support your opinion.

1st Place : Katherine Chen – Support, Jason Gao – Oppose

2nd Place : Angela Zhong – Support , Natalie Pang – Oppose

3rd Place : Owen Zhang – Support, Anna Huang – Oppose

Participation Award : Daniel Chen, Rachel Gai, Amy He, Tracy Huang, William Liu, Selena Wang

Booster Level Winners (Kindergarten – 8th Grade)

Essay Topic : Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang said this in twitter: “We came up with the SAT during World War II to determine who to keep from the frontlines. Now every year is wartime. We should deemphasize standardized tests and evaluate kids more holistically.” (https://mobile.twitter.com/andrewyang/status/1181967264167448582?lang=en)
Do you agree or disagree with him? Please do your own research and write an essay to support your opinion.

1st Place : Chloe Weng – Support, Mingyi Chen – Oppose

2nd Place : Victoria Zhang – Support, Yutai Long – Oppose

3rd Place : Dylan Wang – Support, Grace Zhang – Oppose

Participation Award : David Chen, Leetyan Chen, Langdon Dai, Laura Huang, Matthew Li, Jaylon Ma, Emily Xu, Qiran Zhang, Dylan Zhong

Award Ceremony & Sponsors

Due to the outbreak of COVID – 19 (Coronavirus), the award ceremony will be held during the summer of 2020 instead of spring. Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to the winners.

We also thank our sponsors : Lucy Zhao from the AIG Financial Network and SpiderSmart Bellaire and Memorial Center.

Deadline for submission was January 15, 2019.  Entries were judged based on 30%Writing Skills and Grammar, 35% Arguments, and 35% Research and Supporting data. Monetary awards were given of opinions on both sides of the argument for top Varsity Level essays: $300 for top essays; $200 for 2^nd place; $100 for 3^rd place. Trophy awards and $20 cash awards were given for top Booster Level essays of opinions on both sides.

Winners of Booster Level (Grade K-8):

• First place: Leetyan Chen and Grace Zhang
• Second place: Aidan Zhu and Kevin Li
• Third place: Jessica Luo and Susanna Yang

Winners of Varsity Level (Grade 9-12): 

• First place: Katherine Chen and Eric Mao
• Second place: Oliver Lin and Rusell Li
• Third place: Jimmy Liu and Jason Gao

Four educational institutions in the Greater Houston area won the awards for the best efforts of organizing: SpiderSmart Bellaire & Memorial Center, Hua Sheng Academy, Advance Academy, and Top Star Academy.

At the award ceremony, state representative Gene Wu, HCA president Yingying Sun, and HCA vice president Gary Chen presented the awards to students. Mr. David Cao, former HCA president, provided feedback on the essays.

Please enjoy reading four selected winning essays below. HCA will continue to host the essay contest and encourages more students to participate.

Booster Level (Grade K-8)

• Support: Leetyan Chen – Marijuana – Texas Senate Bill SB 156
• Oppose: Grace Zhang – The cannabis flower

Varsity Level (Grade 9-12)

• Support: Katherine Chen – Decriminalizing the People’s Choice
• Oppose: Eric Mao – Red and Blue States – Not Green

Here is a video about 2018 HCA Legislative Essay Contest.