BBB Central & South AL: BBB Education Foundation Student Essay Contest sees expansion to new schools

Today’s business leaders are in the boardroom, but tomorrow’s still in the classroom. As markets change, new technologies emerge, and up-and-coming business leaders take charge, one thing remains unchanged…the need for principled, character-focused employees and owners to lead businesses and our families and communities into the future.
 
BBB’s Laws of Life Essay Contest encourages and promotes core value development for younger generations. BBB believes core values like honesty, transparency, and integrity are at the heart of successful families, relationships, and communities but are also vital to healthy businesses and careers. “A lot of younger people don’t find out about our organization, resources, and value until after something’s gone wrong, which makes this program one of the most critical to our mission” according to Carl Bates, President and CEO of BBB Serving Central & South Alabama.
 
“We can’t think of a better way to encourage the development of these core principles for younger generations and have been impressed by the participation we’ve seen so far,” says BBB’s Education Foundation VP, Monde Donaldson.  “We look forward to every Alabama student knowing and taking advantage of this program because everyone benefits, winning submission or not, from developing strong, proven values and taking those with you through life and business.”
 
2022’s sophomore edition of Laws of Life prompted 9^th, 10^th, and 11th-grade students to contemplate how honesty, transparency, or lack thereof, impact personal relationships and business. Students were encouraged to interview family, business, and community leaders to obtain further insight on the importance of core values in professional settings and how principles drive success in life. into
 
The 2021 pilot program engaged select schools in Mobile County, but 2022 saw the contest expand into additional schools and counties, including Baldwin, Montgomery, and Jefferson. 
 
Thanks to a grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance, winning participants had cash prizes, with first place receiving $1000, second place winning $300, and third place taking home $200. All winning students’ teachers were also rewarded with a cash gift and the school with the most submissions. Program sponsor, and BBB Accredited Business, Herzing University, also offered access to their Transitions Program to all participants to allow them early access to post-secondary education credits.
 
Winning essays were submitted from St. Paul’s Episcopal School, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, and Hoover High School students. The school with the most submissions was Robertsdale High School. The second-place winner was quoted as saying “I've learned more about honesty in the workplace and how that plays a key role in success, and how I can learn from that".