In September 2007, WomanTalk Live launched the very first Girls Gone Great Scholarship Essay Contest. Why? Because we believe there are a lot more girls going great than girls going wild. The problem is we usually don't get to hear about all of the wonderful things young women are doing. So, we want to continue to recognize young women making a difference in their world right now and who have a big vision for the future.

You have a voice, you have great ideas, you contribute, you have hopes and dreams...and, WomanTalk Live wants to hear all about it!

Our 2010 Girl Gone Great will receive:

• A $1,000 Scholarship generously donated by Talkradio 680 WCBM Baltimore
• A guest appearance on WomanTalk Live Radio
• A write-up, photo and her winning essay in On Purpose Woman Magazine

Who is eligible to submit an essay for the 2010 contest?

All young women living in Maryland who are in their junior or senior years of high school in the Fall of 2009.

How to Enter the 2010 Girl Gone Great Scholarship Essay Contest:

Step 1

Your essay should address all of these questions:

1. How are you making a difference in your community?
2. Why is making a difference important to you?
3. How do your actions support your vision for the future?

Your essay should be 800 words or less, single-spaced in 12-point font and checked for grammar and spelling.

At the top of your essay, be sure to include the following information:

Your name
Your grade level
What high school you attend and what town it's located in
Your home mailing address
A phone number where you can be reached
A working email address

Step 2

Submit a reference from someone who is not a family member.

At the top of the reference, please include the following information:

1. The name of the "girl gone great" they are supporting
2. The reference's name, mailing address, phone number and email address
3. Their relationship to "girl gone great"
4. How long they have known "girl gone great" and in what capacity
5. What makes her a "girl gone great"?

Step 3

Submit your essay and reference together (as either an attached single document/pdf or as 2 attached documents/pdfs) and email it to GirlsGoneGreat@yahoo.com.

The deadline for submission is midnight, Thursday, December 31, 2009.

When your submission is received, you will receive a confirmation email within 3 days.

All essay submissions become the property of WomanTalk Live. Excerpts from your essay may be read on Talkradio 680 WCBM. In addition, excerpts from your essay may be used on the WomanTalk Live website, or in the WomanTalk Live newsletter, social media pages, or other printed materials.

Step 4

Really important: Review the above guidelines and instructions to ensure compliance. Failure to follow all guidelines will result in your essay being returned or disqualified.

The 2010 Girl Gone Great will be announced on the WomanTalk Live radio show airing Saturday, March 6, 2010.

Thanks for your interest in our 2010 Girl Gone Great Scholarship Essay Contest. Good Luck! We look forward to learning all about you!