VOICES OF NORTH ATLANTA: TEEN OPINION ESSAY CONTEST
Is growing up in North Atlanta as boring as old suburban stereotypes claim? We don’t think so—and we want to hear your story.
From the bustling international food corridors along Peachtree Parkway to the high-stakes classrooms of South Forsyth, North Fulton, and Northern Gwinnett, our region has become one of the most dynamic, multicultural, and modern suburban hubs in the nation.
The North Atlanta Star is looking for the next generation of local writers. We want to hear directly from middle and high school students: What makes growing up in North Atlanta unique, and why is it the best place to spend your teenage years?
🏆 The Prizes
- 1st Place (Winner): $50 Amazon Gift Card + Featured Publication in the North Atlanta Star.
- 2nd Place (1st Runner-Up): $25 Amazon Gift Card + Publication in the North Atlanta Star.
- 3rd Place (2nd Runner-Up): $15 Amazon Gift Card + Publication in the North Atlanta Star.
Sponsor Invitation: The rewards listed above represent our guaranteed minimum baseline prizes. We invite local businesses, community organizations, and individual sponsors to contribute to or expand our prize pool! If you would like to sponsor this contest or match/increase prizes for our student writers, please contact our team.
📝 Essay Prompt & Guidelines
The Prompt
In 300 to 600 words, write an opinion piece reflecting on your experience living and going to school in North Atlanta (North Fulton, South Forsyth, or Northern Gwinnett). You might touch on:
- The unique multicultural environment, global food, and cultural traditions in your neighborhood.
- What it’s like attending high-performing, tech-focused local schools and navigating academic ambition alongside your peers.
- How growing up here shapes your global perspective compared to traditional suburban stereotypes.
- Your favorite local hangouts—from boba shops and 24-hour bakeries to vibrant town centers like Avalon, Halcyon, or Suwanee Town Center.
- How you balance home culture and family origins with everyday life as a North Atlanta teenager.
- How watching your area rapidly transform into a modern tech and cultural hub influences your vision for the future.
- Your personal point of view on the hidden challenges, competitive pressures, or real daily truths of living in these suburbs.
Submission Requirements
- Word Count: 300 – 600 words.
- Format: Word document (
.doc/.docx), Google Doc link, or typed directly into our submission form. - Originality & AI Policy: Submissions must reflect the student’s authentic voice, personal experience, and original writing. AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Grammarly) may be used for initial brainstorming, outlining, or minor proofreading. However, the essay text itself must be written by the student.
- Deadline: September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
⚖️ How Entries Are Judged
This is a contest of skill, judged by the editorial staff of the North Atlanta Star. Entries will be scored based on:
- Community Connection (40%): How well you capture the specific spirit, places, and culture of North Atlanta.
- Originality & Voice (40%): A unique, engaging personal perspective.
- Clarity & Mechanics (20%): Organization, grammar, and readability.
📋 How to Enter
To submit an entry, complete our online form below. If you are under 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must review and check the consent box on the form prior to submission.
Voices of North Atlanta Teen Opinion Contest
📜 Official Rules & Legal Terms
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST.
1. Sponsor
The “Voices of North Atlanta Teen Opinion Contest” (the “Contest”) is sponsored by the North Atlanta Star (“Sponsor”).
2. Eligibility
The Contest is open to middle and high school students between the ages of 13 and 18 at the time of entry who currently reside in or attend school within Fulton County, Forsyth County, or Gwinnett County, Georgia. Employees, contractors, or immediate family members of the Sponsor are not eligible to enter.
3. Parental Consent
Participants under the age of 18 (“Minors”) must obtain explicit permission from a parent or legal guardian before submitting an entry. By checking the parental consent box on the entry form, the parent/guardian represents that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Official Rules on behalf of themselves and the minor participant.
4. Contest Period
The Contest begins on August 19 and ends on September 30 at 11:59 PM EST (the “Contest Period”). Submissions received after the Contest Period will not be considered.
5. Selection of Winners & Notification
Entries will be judged on skill, originality, and writing clarity by the North Atlanta Star editorial team. Winners will be notified via email at the parent/guardian email address provided upon entry on or about [Insert Winner Announcement Date]. If a winner cannot be reached or fails to verify parental consent within five (5) business days of notification, an alternate runner-up winner may be selected.
6. Prizes
- 1st Place (Winner): $50 Amazon Gift Card + Featured Publication in the North Atlanta Star.
- 2nd Place (1st Runner-Up): $25 Amazon Gift Card + Publication in the North Atlanta Star.
- 3rd Place (2nd Runner-Up): $15 Amazon Gift Card + Publication in the North Atlanta Star.
Prizes are non-transferable, and no cash equivalents or prize substitutions will be permitted, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Digital gift cards will be sent electronically to the verified parent/guardian email address.
7. Intellectual Property & Grant of Rights
Entrants retain the underlying copyright of their original essays. However, by submitting an entry, the entrant and their parent/guardian grant the North Atlanta Star a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish, reproduce, edit, format, display, and distribute the essay (in whole or in part) across North Atlanta Star digital platforms, print editions, email newsletters, and promotional social media channels. The Sponsor reserves the right to make minor edits to winning entries for grammar, style, length, and clarity prior to publication.
8. Originality & Disqualification
Submissions must reflect the student’s authentic voice, personal experience, and original writing. AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Grammarly) may be used for initial brainstorming, outlining, or minor proofreading. However, the essay text itself must be written by the student.
9. Privacy
Personal information collected during entry (including student and parent names, email addresses, and phone numbers) will be used strictly for the administration of this Contest, winner verification, and publication attribution. The North Atlanta Star will not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.
10. Limitation of Liability & Governing Law
By entering, contestants and their legal guardians agree to release and hold harmless the North Atlanta Star, its publisher (Zman Mekomi LLC), and its affiliates from any liability, loss, or damage arising out of participation in this Contest or the acceptance/use of any prize. This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Void where prohibited by law.