The Laws of Life Essay Competition in The Bahamas

The first Laws of Life essay competition was founded by Sir John Templeton in 1987 in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. He said, “This is what the Laws of Life Essay Contest is all about: offering young people an opportunity to reflect and write about their beliefs and principles, and then publicly recognizing them for affirming the values by which they want to live.” Over the years, the essay contest grew from Templeton’s hometown of Franklin to communities around the world, including The Bahamas.

In early 2008, the late Dr. John M. Templeton Jr. met with the former Minister of Education, Hon. Carl Bethel to discuss, among other things, his father, Sir John Templeton’s book, Worldwide Laws of Life, and how it could be used by the Ministry of Education. This led to the re-establishment of a successful and beneficial partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Templeton World Charity Foundation, with the annually anticipated Laws of Life Essay Competition now widely accepted as the country’s premier essay competition in public and independent schools across The Bahamas.

The first Laws of Life essay competition was founded by Sir John Templeton in 1987 in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. He said, “This is what the Laws of Life Essay Contest is all about: offering young people an opportunity to reflect and write about their beliefs and principles, and then publicly recognizing them for affirming the values by which they want to live.” Over the years, the essay contest grew from Templeton’s hometown of Franklin to communities around the world, including The Bahamas.

In early 2008, the late Dr. John M. Templeton Jr. met with the former Minister of Education, Hon. Carl Bethel to discuss, among other things, his father, Sir John Templeton’s book, Worldwide Laws of Life, and how it could be used by the Ministry of Education. This led to the re-establishment of a successful and beneficial partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Templeton World Charity Foundation, with the annually anticipated Laws of Life Essay Competition now widely accepted as the country’s premier essay competition in public and independent schools across The Bahamas.

Following the 2008 meeting, the Writing Unit of the Department of Education—comprising Education Officers, Ms.Liesl Wright, Mrs. Linda Collie (retired), and Mrs. Annamaria Smith (deceased)—was approached to submit a proposal for the re-launching of the essay competition based on the book.

The proposal was accepted, and the Templeton World Charity Foundation pledged funds to cover the costs of the competition. Each year, the foundation has increased its support, with current funding exceeding $100,000.

Mrs. Mena Griffiths, a long-time Templeton employee, along with Mrs. Elma Garraway, retired Permanent Secretary, serve as liaisons in this successful public–private partnership. Laws of Life Essay Competitions are conducted throughout the United States of America.

The number of participants has gradually increased over the last decade, from a mere 80 entries in 2009 to close to 3,000 entries in 2019.

Winners

2023 Winning Submissions

Temple Christian School
1st Place Primary Division
C.H. Reeves Junior High School
1st Place Junior Division
Aquinas College
1st Place Senior Division
Chanae Barr
The University of The Bahamas
1st Place College Division
Tambearly International School
1st Place Video Division

2022 Winning Submissions

1st Place Primary Division
1st Place Junior Division
1st Place Senior Division
1st Place College Division
1st Place Video Division
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2021 Winning Submissions

1st Place Primary Division
1st Place Junior Division
1st Place Senior Division

1st Place College Division

Vallyah Rolle & Celine Ferguson
Tied for 1st Place – Video Division

Shiloh Smith & Jasmine Hanna
Tied for 1st Place – Video Division

Student Prizes

In addition to the cash prizes listed below, the winner of each division will receive a $1000.00 scholarship

Accordion Content

1st Place$700.00
2nd Place$600.00
3rd Place$500.00
4th Place$400.00
5th Place$300.00
6th Place$200.00
Honourable Mention$100.00 (15 available)
1st Place$600.00
2nd Place$500.00
3rd Place$400.00
4th Place$300.00
5th Place$200.00
6th Place$150.00
Honourable Mention$75.00 (15 available)
1st Place$500.00
2nd Place$400.00
3rd Place$300.00
4th Place$200.00
5th Place$150.00
6th Place$100.00
Honourable Mention$50.00 (15 available)
1st Place $1,700.00
2nd Place $800.00
3rd Place $600.00
Honourable Mention $150.00 (3 available)
1st Place $1000.00
2nd Place $800.00
3rd Place $600.00
Honourable Mention $300.00 (3 available)
For Teachers & Schools
In recognition of the vital role teachers and schools play in their students’ success, we present the following:
  • $1000.00 to the school of each division winner, to be used by the English department
  • A floating trophy for the school with the top-scoring essay
  • The John Templeton Jr. Memorial Floating Trophy to the school of each division winner
  • Memorial Floating Trophies to the Public and Private Schools with Most Finalists Overall
  • $500.00 to the school with the highest number of finalists in each division
  • $500.00 to the teacher with the most entries receiving top scores in each division
  • District prizes for Family Island Participants – The top scorer in each division in school districts outside of New Providence will receive a $100 prize.
Learn more about the Laws of Life

Sir John Templeton wrote three books about the Laws of Life. Full of anecdotes and examples to illustrate the laws, these books may help inspire your own writing.

We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to download a complete copy of Worldwide Laws of Life by clicking here.

Discovering the Laws of Life and The Essential Worldwide Laws of Life are available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Sir John Templeton
And the Templeton World Charity Foundation

Sir John Templeton

When Sir John passed away in 2008 at age 95, he was honored around the world with tributes that extolled his vision and the extraordinary breadth of his career. Today, his charitable contributions continue to engender dialogue between science and spirituality.

As both a groundbreaking philanthropist and legendary investor, Sir John Marks Templeton spent a lifetime dedicated to open-mindedness. Born on November 29, 1912, in Winchester, Tennessee, he graduated near the top of his class from Yale University (1934) and won a Rhodes Scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned a law degree (1936).

Sir John Templeton

When Sir John passed away in 2008 at age 95, he was honored around the world with tributes that extolled his vision and the extraordinary breadth of his career. Today, his charitable contributions continue to engender dialogue between science and spirituality.

As both a groundbreaking philanthropist and legendary investor, Sir John Marks Templeton spent a lifetime dedicated to open-mindedness. Born on November 29, 1912, in Winchester, Tennessee, he graduated near the top of his class from Yale University (1934) and won a Rhodes Scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned a law degree (1936).

Templeton embarked on his Wall Street career in 1938, when he began conceiving and launching some of the world’s most successful international investment funds. In 1954, he established the Templeton Growth Fund, which pioneered the use of globally diversified mutual funds. Money magazine would hail him as “arguably the greatest global stock picker of the century.”

Convinced that our knowledge of the universe was still very limited, he sought to encourage open-mindedness about the character of ultimate reality and the divine. To this end, in 1972, he established the Templeton Prize, the world’s largest annual award given to an individual, to honor a living innovator of life’s spiritual dimension. He also founded three charitable entities (the Templeton World Charity Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Templeton Religion Trust) to carry out his philanthropic mission.

In the late 1960s, Templeton moved to Nassau, The Bahamas, where he became a naturalized British citizen. In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II named him a Knight Bachelor for his many philanthropic accomplishments. Throughout his long life, he wrote or edited more than a dozen books.

The Templeton World Charity Foundation

Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. (TWCF) was established in 1996 in Nassau, The Bahamas, to serve as a global philanthropic catalyst for discoveries relating to the big questions of life and the universe, in areas of science, theology, philosophy, and human society. Sir John Templeton established the Foundation to foster bold, ambitious thinking and creative communications on diverse topics in order to stimulate humility, curiosity, and enthusiasm for new discoveries. This is reflected in the Foundation’s motto: “How little we know, how eager to learn.”