The 2016 Basket of Cheer Contest: 4 Categories, 4 Winners

The 2016 Basket of Cheer Contest: 4 Categories, 4 Winners

We have our finalists!

This 2016, we launched a special contest for Seton high school students; a basket of cheer contest with four categories, and we’re excited to showcase our four finalists! You can read their entries in the winter issue of the printable Bulletin.

Congratulations finalists!

About this Contest

The ‘Basket of Cheer’ is something Seton has celebrated each year with our Seton families, inviting them to share recipes, news and Christmas greetings from around the world.

Now, Seton is launching a new contest with 4 prize categories and a single winner for each. You can enter as many as you wish!

Open to Seton High School students, grades 9-12.

Category 1: Christmas Art

(Formerly the Winter Quarter Art Challenge)

In any medium you like – painting, sketch, pencil, charcoals. The theme is the annunciation of the angels to the shepherds, Luke 2:8-15.

One finalist will be selected from this category. If there are sufficient entries of note, we will have honorable mentions published here online.

Category 2: Christmas Story

Any story you like relating to Christmas. Word counts must cap at 3000 words. Submissions will be reviewed for the best quality and attention to the craft of writing, grammar, and composition, apart from being a story of note to share with the Seton community.

One finalist will be selected from this category. If there are sufficient entries of note, we will have honorable mentions published here onlin.

Category 3: Christmas Poetry

Explore any theme you like regarding Christmas. We are not looking for free verse at this time. Entries must display a competent handle of rhythm, rhyming and good use of alliteration and assonance. Only submissions of the highest quality will be selected for the finalist position.

One finalist will be selected from this category. If there are sufficient entries of note, we will have honorable mentions published here online.

Category 4: Christmas Tradition

Write about a Christmas tradition that you and your family have enjoyed celebrating. Word count is capped at 1200 words. Structure your piece properly like an essay, with an introduction paragraph, several body paragraphs explaining the observation of the tradition, perhaps its historical practice, and why you would like to see more popularity for this tradition. End with a final paragraph briefly summarizing the points you made.

One finalist will be selected from this category. If there are sufficient entries of note, we will have honorable mentions published here online.

How to Enter

Register for free to enter the contest. All registrants will be part of a special emailing list to keep you updated and informed about the contest.

Prizes:

All submissions will be judged by grade level, with the potential for first and second place finalists for each grade.

  • 1st place: $50
  • 2nd place: $35

Contest Rules

Open to Seton high school students, grades 9-12. Research and write about an obscure, ethnic and/or forgotten Christmas tradition. (We are not looking for family traditions that you/your family may have invented, however wonderful they may be.)

This year, instead of celebrating aspects of the Christmas season that we are all familiar with, explore your family history, your county or country’s traditions, or learn more about a tradition that is no longer remembered. Topics can include cultural activites, particular rites, certain foods and their preparation, etc.

We see this as an opportunity for us all to learn more about how Christmas is celebrated around the world, and a way to revive interest in our many beautiful and rich traditions.

Contestants must:

  • Not use Wikipedia. You can start there as a point of reference, but do not base your article on it/use it as part of your bibliography.
  • Show your Bibliography/list of books & websites cited at the end of your submission. You should try to have around 5 sources.

For their article, contestants must:

    1. Show the origin of the tradition
    2. Discuss the way it is currently observed, if at all
    3. Explore how your and your family may observe this tradition, or what it has been like to start.

Maximum Length: 5000 words Any questions? Ask away!

'Basket of Cheer' Finalists

Round 3 | Finalists

Bernadette Rowe

Bernadette Rowe

Art

Annunciation of Angels to Sheperds

Regina Peters

Regina Peters

Poetry

Song of the Silent Night

John Regnier

John Regnier

Short Story

I Carried the Woman Who Wore the Sky

Claire Amaya-Parra

Claire Amaya-Parra

Essay

A Mixed Tradition

'Basket of Cheer' Art

Round 2 | Category: Art

Natalie Pratt

Natalie Pratt

'And the Glory'

Sarah Padovani

Sarah Padovani

'You Shall Find the Babe Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes'

Bernadette Rowe

Bernadette Rowe

'Annunciation of Angels to Sheperds'

'Basket of Cheer' Poems

Round 2 | Category: Poems

Regina Peters

Regina Peters

'Song of the Silent Night'

Abigail Pulatie

Abigail Pulatie

'All Through the Night'

Katherine Wieczorek

Katherine Wieczorek

'Winter in Bethlehem'

'Basket of Cheer' Stories

Round 2 | Category: Stories

Eleanor Fisher

Eleanor Fisher

'Christmas Inside the Walls'

John Regnier

John Regnier

'I Carried the Woman Who Wore the Sky'

'Basket of Cheer' Essays img

Round 2 | Category: Essays

Jillian Van Daele

Jillian Van Daele

'The Forgotten Christmas Tradition'

Sonja Hiserman

Sonja Hiserman

'A Cheery Christmas Eve Tradition'

Claire Amaya-Parra

Claire Amaya-Parra

'A Mixed Tradition'

'Basket of Cheer' Art

Round 1 | Category: Art

Amelia Coleman

Amelia Coleman

'A Child Is Born'

Mary Ingram

Mary Ingram

'The Annunciation of the Angel to the Sheperds'

Sarah Padovani

Sarah Padovani

'You Shall Find the Babe Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes'

Ashlianna Kreiner

Ashlianna Kreiner

'The Shepherd's Angel'

Ann Pham

Ann Pham

'The Heavenly Host'

Natalie Pratt

Natalie Pratt

'And the Glory'

Colette Corkery

Colette Corkery

'Be Not Afraid'

Isabella Kercher

Isabella Kercher

'The Annunciation'

Josephine Raphaelle Ng

Josephine Raphaelle Ng

'Fear Not'

Maria Pratt

Maria Pratt

'Glad Tidings'

Olivia Schemmel

Olivia Schemmel

'Luke 2:9'

Sarah Hynfield

Sarah Hynfield

'And They Were Sore Afraid'

Gabriella Moore

Gabriella Moore

'Luke 2:9'

Eleanora Peters

Eleanora Peters

'Surprise of the Shepherds'

Elise Asan

Elise Asan

'To You A Child Is Born'

Carmen Payne

Carmen Payne

'Sore Afraid'

Bernadette Rowe

Bernadette Rowe

'Annunciation of Angels to Sheperds'

Therese Hickman

Therese Hickman

'Journey to Bethlehem'

Regina Peters

Regina Peters

'Be Not Afraid'

'Basket of Cheer' Poems

Round 1 | Category: Poems

Sara Caughron

Sara Caughron

'Fire of Christmas'

Gabrielle Brounstein

Gabrielle Brounstein

'Christmas Means More'

Anna Regnier

Anna Regnier

'One Night in Bethlehem'

Abigail Pulatie

Abigail Pulatie

'All Through the Night'

Dominique Sheffield

Dominique Sheffield

'Christmas Shoes a Size Too Big'

Claire Mullan

Claire Mullan

'Miracle'

Regina Peters

Regina Peters

'Song of the Silent Night'

Lauren Mullan

Lauren Mullan

'The Donkey'

Katherine Wieczorek

Katherine Wieczorek

'Winter in Bethlehem'

Emily McKinnon

Emily McKinnon

'I'll Be Home for Christmas'

Noelle Isermann

Noelle Isermann

'A Birth in Bethlehem'

Maria Pratt

Maria Pratt

'A Christmas Gift'

Clare Marie Fitzpatrick

Clare Marie Fitzpatrick

'A Christmastide Train of Thought: The Nativity'

Elizabeth Laux

Elizabeth Laux

'On Christmas Night'

'Basket of Cheer' Stories

Round 1 | Category: Stories

Eleanor Fisher

Eleanor Fisher

'Christmas Inside the Walls'

Maria Pratt

Maria Pratt

'The Song My Heart Sings'

Gracie Winter

Gracie Winter

'Joseph's Gift'

Emily McKinnon

Emily McKinnon

'One Christmas Wish'

Elodie Pierlot

Elodie Pierlot

'A Soldier's Honour'

Samantha Miller

Samantha Miller

'The Advent Flame'

Hailey Dodson

Hailey Dodson

'28 Days'

Madalynn Bourque

Madalynn Bourque

'Merry Christmas, From the Rich and the Poor'

Robert Rowe

Robert Rowe

'Carol Peril'

John Regnier

John Regnier

'I Carried the Woman Who Wore the Sky'

Kate Kirstein

Kate Kirstein

'Merry Christmas'

Joshua Lorigo

Joshua Lorigo

'Christmas: Behind the Scenes'

Chantal LaFortune

Chantal LaFortune

'The Joy of Giving'

Abigail Pulatie

Abigail Pulatie

'Angels We Have Heard on High'

Amelia Coleman

Amelia Coleman

'Through Joseph's Eyes'

Kate Kirstein

Kate Kirstein

'Finding Christmas'

Claire Mullan

Claire Mullan

'Highway Christmas'

Martha Blank

Martha Blank

'The Shepherd's Song'

'Basket of Cheer' Essays img

Round 1 | Category: Essays

John Regnier

John Regnier

'The Nativity Scene: What It Is, Where It Came From, and Why It Still Matters'

Genevieve LaFosse

Genevieve LaFosse

'Fasting and Abstaining Before the Christmas Feast'

Sonja Hiserman

Sonja Hiserman

'A Cheery Christmas Eve Tradition'

Daniel Usakowski

Daniel Usakowski

'A Polish Christmas Eve'

Lisa Gray

Lisa Gray

'Italian Family Christmas'

Claire Amaya-Parra

Claire Amaya-Parra

'A Mixed Tradition'

Annie Outman

Annie Outman

'The Yucky Dinner'

Jillian Van Daele

Jillian Van Daele

'The Forgotten Christmas Tradition'

Josephine Raphaelle Ng

Josephine Raphaelle Ng

'Simbang Gabi'

Emily McKinnon

Emily McKinnon

'The Tradition of Grandma's Presents'

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