Write an Essay
Thoroughly read the essay topic below and compose your best entry using at least 1,000 words.
Submit Your Entry
Use the form included on this page to submit your entry no later than September 30, 2014 in order to be eligible for the Fall Semester award.
Win a Scholarship!
If your entry is chosen, we will contact you and your school’s financial aid office to arrange disbursement of your award.
Your Topic
Small businesses are often referred to as the heart of the American economy — and with good reason. Currently, small businesses employ 49.2% of the US workforce and pay out 42.9% of private-sector wages. Their economic impact is sizable.
But the impact of small businesses would be discredited if we only looked at the employment numbers. We’re interested in the stories behind small businesses — how they help to support vibrant communities, set stellar examples of entrepreneurship, and inspire excellence.
That’s where you come in. We want to hear, in at least 1,000 words, how your life or career aspirations have been impacted by a small business in your community. Your entry will be evaluated by a team of editors and if you’re selected as a winner, you’ll receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Submit Your Essay
Rules & Guidelines
Essay Criteria
In order to be eligible for this award, essays must pertain to the following topic:
Small businesses are often referred to as the heart of the American economy — and with good reason. Currently, small businesses employ 49.2% of the US workforce and pay out 42.9% of private-sector wages. Their economic impact is sizable.
But the impact of small businesses would be discredited if we only looked at the employment numbers. We’re interested in the stories behind small businesses — how they help to support vibrant communities, set stellar examples of entrepreneurship, and inspire excellence.
That’s where you come in. We want to hear, in at least 1,000 words, how your life or career aspirations have been impacted by a small business in your community.
Essays are required to be between 1,000 and 1,500 words in length and must be properly submitted no later than 5 p.m. EST September 30, 2014. All essays must be submitted online using the submission form located on this page.
Applicant Eligibility
All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents of the United States.
All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents of the United States.
Academic Requirements
All applicants must be either: (1) a high school or home school senior graduating or earning a GED between August 1, 2013, and September 1, 2014, who will enroll as a freshman at a two-year or four-year college or university in fall 2014, or (2) a student enrolled during the 2014-15 academic year on a full-time basis and in good academic standing at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university or in an accredited graduate school program.
All applicants must be either: (1) a high school or home school senior graduating or earning a GED between August 1, 2013, and September 1, 2014, who will enroll as a freshman at a two-year or four-year college or university in fall 2014, or (2) a student enrolled during the 2014-15 academic year on a full-time basis and in good academic standing at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university or in an accredited graduate school program.
Description of Funds
One (1) applicant (the “recipient”) will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship to be applied to qualified college or graduate school expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board) for the 2014-2015 academic year. Funds are provided by PayrollCompanies.us (the “Company”), and will be made payable directly via mail to the accredited or university last designated by the recipient after September 30, 2014.
One (1) applicant (the “recipient”) will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship to be applied to qualified college or graduate school expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board) for the 2014-2015 academic year. Funds are provided by PayrollCompanies.us (the “Company”), and will be made payable directly via mail to the accredited or university last designated by the recipient after September 30, 2014.
Recipient Selection and Announcements
After the September 30, 2014, deadline, the recipient will be selected by a team of judges following review of all entries received prior to the deadline. Entries are judged on creativity and insight, writing quality, and research quality and veracity. The recipient will be announced on or about October, 15 2014, on http://payrollcompanies.us/scholarship/ and notified directly by the Company by email at the email address provided by the recipient upon submission of his/her entry. The recipient’s essay may be posted on http://payrollcompanies.us/blog/. If the recipient is disqualified or fails to contact Company within 72 hours of being notified of the results, Company reserves the right to determine an alternate recipient or not to award the scholarship, in its sole discretion.
After the September 30, 2014, deadline, the recipient will be selected by a team of judges following review of all entries received prior to the deadline. Entries are judged on creativity and insight, writing quality, and research quality and veracity. The recipient will be announced on or about October, 15 2014, on http://payrollcompanies.us/scholarship/ and notified directly by the Company by email at the email address provided by the recipient upon submission of his/her entry. The recipient’s essay may be posted on http://payrollcompanies.us/blog/. If the recipient is disqualified or fails to contact Company within 72 hours of being notified of the results, Company reserves the right to determine an alternate recipient or not to award the scholarship, in its sole discretion.
College/University Approval
Each applicant’s designated institution must be accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education (http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx). Applicants attending military academies are ineligible for this scholarship. All school transfers are subject to accreditation approval.
Each applicant’s designated institution must be accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education (http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx). Applicants attending military academies are ineligible for this scholarship. All school transfers are subject to accreditation approval.
Responsibilities of Applicants/Recipients
By participating in this program, each applicant expressly: (A) releases the Company and its employees and agents from any liability or claim of any kind or nature for any loss, claim, damages, or injury of any kind associated with participation in the program and acceptance, possession or use of any prize; (B) accepts and agrees to be bound by these rules and Company’s decisions relating to participation in the program, selection of recipients, and awarding of scholarships, all such decisions being final; and (C) agrees that South Carolina law governs this program without regard to conflicts of law principles, and consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state, and local courts of Lancaster County, South Carolina, for the resolution of all disputes pertaining to or arising from this program. The recipient must complete an affidavit of eligibility and release (to be signed by his/her parent or legal guardian, if the recipient is a minor), on forms to be provided by the Company. The recipient must be actively enrolled full-time as a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student in the fall semester of 2014 and for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency or military service. It is the recipient’s responsibility to verify receipt of funds with his/her designated institution and notify the Company should the award check not arrive on or about 30 days from the issue date. By entering, each applicant represents that his/her submission is a work of the applicant’s own original authorship, and agrees that the Company will have a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide right and license to use the submission in any manner. The Company reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason, including without limitation: materials not suitable for general public viewing; obscene, lewd or offensive materials; the use of third party content or other materials not authored by the applicant; and materials previously published or entered into any other competition. The Company reserves the right to alter, discontinue or cancel this program at any time without notice for any reason, including in the event of fewer than 20 applicants. The Company is not responsible for lost, late, damaged or illegible submissions, faulty transmissions, or submissions containing any virus or other system malfunction. Judges’ decisions are final. Any taxes are recipient’s responsibility. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
By participating in this program, each applicant expressly: (A) releases the Company and its employees and agents from any liability or claim of any kind or nature for any loss, claim, damages, or injury of any kind associated with participation in the program and acceptance, possession or use of any prize; (B) accepts and agrees to be bound by these rules and Company’s decisions relating to participation in the program, selection of recipients, and awarding of scholarships, all such decisions being final; and (C) agrees that South Carolina law governs this program without regard to conflicts of law principles, and consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state, and local courts of Lancaster County, South Carolina, for the resolution of all disputes pertaining to or arising from this program. The recipient must complete an affidavit of eligibility and release (to be signed by his/her parent or legal guardian, if the recipient is a minor), on forms to be provided by the Company. The recipient must be actively enrolled full-time as a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student in the fall semester of 2014 and for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency or military service. It is the recipient’s responsibility to verify receipt of funds with his/her designated institution and notify the Company should the award check not arrive on or about 30 days from the issue date. By entering, each applicant represents that his/her submission is a work of the applicant’s own original authorship, and agrees that the Company will have a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide right and license to use the submission in any manner. The Company reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason, including without limitation: materials not suitable for general public viewing; obscene, lewd or offensive materials; the use of third party content or other materials not authored by the applicant; and materials previously published or entered into any other competition. The Company reserves the right to alter, discontinue or cancel this program at any time without notice for any reason, including in the event of fewer than 20 applicants. The Company is not responsible for lost, late, damaged or illegible submissions, faulty transmissions, or submissions containing any virus or other system malfunction. Judges’ decisions are final. Any taxes are recipient’s responsibility. Only one entry per person will be accepted.