The scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding members of the Alpha Delta Phi Society and Fraternity for academic achievement and campus leadership. Scholarships are awarded in amounts of $500 and $1000. For more information, please click here.

2011 LITERARY COMPETITION

Greetings!

I am writing to remind you of the great opportunity you have to participate in one of our largest and most treasured traditions of our great organization. Of course, I am talking about the annual Literary Competition! Attached to this mailing, you will find the rules for this year's Literary Competition. Please note that all entries are due on Monday, May 30, 2011.

This year we are continuing to require ALL entries be sent to SELEF Headquarters ELECTRONICALLY (via e-mail or on CD-ROM - literary@samueleells.org). As I reported last year, it was my goal to get the Foundation website up and running so we can showcase each entry and honor the winners of competitions past. I can now say that goal is now a reality. Thanks to the generous help of Andrew Burton and the Foundation Board of Directors, we have a place to archive the entries for years to come. We've also gone social! This year also marked the first year for our new Facebook page! By using social media, we are able to display the winning entries as well as advertise this competition year-round.

Please note that, by entering the competition, you are giving your permission for the Foundation to place your entry on its website.

I am also pleased to announce the continuation of last year's new categories. I have been continually listening to your feedback and requests to add some categories to make the competition more universal. I am hopeful that these categories will be just as successful as they were last year.

Please read the rules very carefully and make sure you have followed directions (as the judges will not be forgiving if you do not).

As you may know, the Literary Competition has been gaining strength within the last few years. We have received more entries, of higher quality, from more participants around the country and Canada. I would like to thank you and congratulate you for making the effort to support our literary tradition. I wish you the best of luck in the contest, and in the development of your own individual literary endeavors.

Please be sure to contact the Foundation Headquarters if you have any questions.

Regards,
Steve Ehrfurth
Chairperson--Literary Programing
Samuel Eells Literary and Educational Foundation

Official rules and information

1. The 2010 SELEF Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with SELEF at select schools.
2. A $1,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the six categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, film, and music/lyrics. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
3. First prize of $100 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second, third and fourth prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts smaller than $100, based on funds available and the number of awards granted.
4. There are six categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Photography, Film, and Music/Lyrics.
5. Entries must be originals, submitted via e-mail or on a CD-ROM as a Word document. Entries in the Photography category may be submitted by mail or via email in color or in black and white; slides are acceptable. Photographic entries must not exceed 10 x 14 in size, and entrant is responsible for mailing entries with proper backing to prevent damage to the photographs. Photographs will be returned only if return is requested. Film entries must be submitted via shipped postage in DVD format. Music/Lyrics may be submitted electronically or via shipped postage in CD-ROM format only, with audio file and accompanying lyrics. All entries must be shipped postage or as an e-mail. The judges are absolutely intolerant of poor spelling or grammar.
6. Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. The entrant must attach a separate document, as a cover sheet to the original manuscript that gives the following information: category in which entered; title of entry; entrant's name, address and telephone number; and entrant's college and anticipated graduation year.
7. Previously published manuscripts and photographs are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original written material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. No entrant may submit more than five entries in any single category. All manuscripts must be typed. Handwritten materials will be rejected. Manuscripts must be sent electronically, either as an e-mail attachment or on CD; no facsimile copies will be accepted.
8. Manuscripts of less than 1,500 words are strongly recommended; however, manuscripts of up to 5,000 words will receive consideration. All manuscripts should be intended for the general well-educated reader; none should require highly specialized or technical knowledge.
9. All entries become the property of SELEF and none can be returned except by special request.
10. Manuscripts will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with SELEF at select colleges.
11. By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure SELEF that the submitted work is his or her own, and that all sources are correctly referenced. In addition to this, all participants grant the Samuel Eells Literary and Educational Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on a SELEF website or within a printed SELEF literary journal.

Address all photography, film, and/or music/lyrics entries and correspondence to:

Samuel Eells Literary and Educational Foundation
ATTN: Literary Competition
6126 Lincoln Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053

literary@samueleells.org