Write About a Barrier You Have FacedEach year April 15 marks the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball in 1947. The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance for students from all backgrounds in grades 4–8 to share their personal stories and show how they use Jackie Robinson’s values to face their own barriers.

How to Enter:

1 Write an essay about a barrier that you have faced. Explain how you used one or more of Jackie Robinson’s nine values (listed below) to face this barrier.

• courage • persistence • justice • determination • integrity • commitment • teamwork • citizenship • excellence

2 On each entry, include the following information: • student’s name • school name

• student’s grade • school city/state • teacher’s name • name of your favorite MLB team* (to be

eligible for an MLB Club Prize Package).

*MLB teams for the MLB Club Prize Packages. Only one team to be included per entry.Arizona Diamondbacks • Atlanta Braves • Baltimore Orioles • Boston Red Sox • Chicago Cubs • Chicago White Sox • Cincinnati Reds • Cleveland Indians • Colorado Rockies • Detroit Tigers • Florida Marlins • Houston Astros • Kansas City Royals • Los Angeles Angels • Los Angeles Dodgers • Milwaukee Brewers • Minnesota Twins • New York Mets • New York Yankees • Oakland Athletics • Philadelphia Phillies • Pittsburgh Pirates • San Diego Padres • San Francisco Giants • St. Louis Cardinals • Seattle Mariners • Tampa Bay Rays • Texas Rangers • Toronto Blue Jays • Washington Nationals

3 Submit your essay in one of two ways: Mail entry to: Enter online at: Breaking Barriers Contest www.scholastic.com/ Scholastic Inc. breakingbarriers/kids P.O. Box 713 New York, NY 10013-0713

• All entries must be postmarked by February 21, 2012. • Each essay must be between 200 and 700 words. • All essays must be factual and based on the student’s

real-life experience. Fictional stories will be disqualified.

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www.MLB.com/BrEakINGBarrIErS

Grades 4–8

2012STUDENT ESSAYCONTEST

Essays will be evaluated according to the following criteria: • How well does the essay express the

student’s barrier?• How well does the essay express how

one or more of the values—courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence—is used to face and/or overcome the barrier?

• How well is the essay organized to express what the writer wants to say?

• How effective is the essay in expressing the writer’s point of view?

• Correct grammar and spelling will also be considered.

Judging Criteria:

www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers

You Could Win:• A trip to the 2012

Major League Baseball® All-Star Game®

• A laptop computer for you and one for your teacher

• A class visit from Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson

• One of 30 MLB Club Prize Packages

(See next page for complete prize list.)

Meggie Zahneis, 2011 Grand Prize winner, with Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

COURAGE: Doing what you know is the right thing even when it is hard to do

DETERMINATION: Staying focused on a plan even though the path to its end may be difficult

TEAMWORK: Working with other people toward a common goal

PERSISTENCE: Working toward a goal and continuing to move forward even though you face obstacles or barriers

INTEGRITY: Sticking to your values, regardless of what others think you should do

CITIZENSHIP: Making a contribution that improves the lives of others

JUSTICE: Treating all people fairly, no matter who they are

COMMITMENT: Making a promise and following through on it

EXCELLENCE: Doing the best that you possibly can

Jackie Robinson’s Nine Values

FOR TEACHERS: Free Printables and LessonsVisit www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers/teachers for downloadable free materials on Jackie Robinson and Breaking Barriers.

www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers

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rULES: NO PUrCHaSE NECESSarY. All students who are legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) and who are currently enrolled in grades 4-8 are eligible to enter, except for those who have family members employed by Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., Scholastic Inc., and other related companies (see the Official Rules for a complete listing). Visit www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers for complete Official Rules. Limit one entry per person. All prospective winners and their respective parents/legal guardians will be required to sign, notarize, and return an affidavit of eligibility/release of liability within ten (10) days of date of notification or an alternate winner may be selected.

In the event of prize unavailability, a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded as determined by the sole discretion of MLB. No cash substitutions for prizes. Prizes are nontransferable. Void where prohibited.

One (1) GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a trip for two to the 2012 MLB All-Star Game; one laptop computer and one laptop computer for his/her teacher; a class visit from Sharon Robinson; and one class set of Promises to Keep books and Breaking Barriers T-shirts.

Four (4) FIRST PRIZE winners (two in grades 4–5 and two in grades 6–8) will each receive one laptop computer and one laptop computer for his/her teacher; a class visit from Sharon Robinson; and one class set of Promises to Keep books and Breaking Barriers T-shirts.

Four (4) SECOND PRIZE winners (two in grades 4–5 and two in grades 6–8) will each receive one laptop computer and one class set of Promises to Keep books and Breaking Barriers T-shirts.

Thirty (30) MLB Club Prize Package winners will each receive a class set of baseball tickets, a framed certificate, and a class set of T-shirts.

2012 Breaking Barriers Prize List

2011 Winners robert Luchay and Savannah Galati. With Sharon robinson, daughter of Jackie robinson, and Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies.