Inspired by Jane: Youth Essays on Shaping a Better World

Contest Concluded

Thank you to all who participated in the Inspired by Jane essay contest. We received nearly 400 submissions that demonstrated the thoughtfulness and creativity of Utah's next generation of change-makers inspired by the likes of Dr. Jane Goodall. After three rounds of challenging review, a panel of judges selected Lily Petersen of Murray as the grand prize winner. Read Lily's winning essay and learn more about her trip to Seattle to meet Dr. Jane Goodall in this blog post. Runners up were Adric Moon and Rhys Violet Johnson de Lacy, both of Salt Lake City. 

Thanks again to our partners, the Jane Goodall Institute and my529, for helping make this contest possible.

Don't forget to visit Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall, open at the Natural History Museum of Utah through May 27, 2024.

Jane Goodall works at a typewriter in a tent.

Image by Hugo van Lawick, provided by Jane Goodall Institute.

In celebration of Dr. Jane Goodall's upcoming 90th birthday, the Natural History Museum of Utah is partnering with the Jane Goodall Institute and my529 Utah's Educational Savings Plan to host an essay contest to inspire a new generation of visionaries. One first place winner will receive a trip to Seattle, Washington, to meet Dr. Jane Goodall, and a my529 college savings certificate for $1,000!

Jane's list of life achievements is immeasurable, and it all started with the fulfillment of her childhood dream to study animals in Africa. Since those early days in Tanzania, Jane has helped humanity gain a greater understanding of our closest relatives, chimpanzees, and become one of their greatest advocates by founding the Jane Goodall Institute. (Much of her story is told in our current special exhibition, Becoming Jane.) 

Now, Jane is determined to encourage a new generation of change-makers by helping them envision the positive impact they can bring upon our world. With that in mind, we invite Utah's 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to respond to the following writing prompt in an essay of 500-600 words:

Knowing all that Dr. Jane Goodall has accomplished in her life so far; tell us what positive impact you hope to make in the world by your 90th birthday.

A portrait of Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall. Image by Vincent Calmel and provided by JGI.

Contest Guidelines

  • This contest is open to Utah students currently attending 6th, 7th, or 8th grade-level education at a public school, charter school, private school, or home school. 
  • The submission deadline is 9 a.m. MDT on Monday, March 11, 2024.
  • Winners will be announced by March 18, 2024.
  • Prizes include the following:
    • 1st Place (one prize awarded): 
      • A trip to Seattle, Washington, for an opportunity to meet Dr. Jane Goodall in advance of a public lecture on March 30, 2024, with hotel and airfare included for the contest winner and one parent/guardian. 
      • A my529 college savings certificate for $1,000.
      • A gift basket of Dr. Jane Goodall keepsakes including four tickets to see Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall at NHMU.
    • 2nd Place (two prizes awarded): 
      • A my529 College Savings Certificate for $500 
      • A gift basket of Dr. Jane Goodall keepsakes including tickets to see Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall at NHMU. 
    • Runners Up (10 prizes awarded):
      • A pair of tickets to see Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall at NHMU. 
         

Ready to go? Submit your essay by following the link below. Or keep reading for more writing tips and official rules. 

Writing Tips

If you need help getting started, consider the following writing tips to find your inspiration.

  • A lot can change in just a few decades! Use your imagination to think of global impacts you could make as technology and humanity continue to change. 
  • Think BIG and think small. You may aspire to reduce manmade global warming, protect wildlife habitat, or eliminate plastics polluting our oceans. But have you considered what life-changing improvements you might bring to neighbors in your community!
  • There is no right answer! We know that many of you will come up with ideas most adults haven't even dreamed of, so don't be shy to share your vision. 
  • Take one small step... Come up with an idea. Write it down. Then let your creativity take over and tell us how you might achieve it before you turn 90. 
  • And don't forget to tell us how icons like Dr. Jane Goodall inspired you!

Official Rules

  • In submitting an essay to this contest, contestants grant the contest organizers, NHMU and the Jane Goodall Institute, the right to use, reproduce, publish, translate, distribute, and display their essay (in whole or in part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, for the purposes of promoting and publicizing the contest and their respective institutions through various media channels, including but not limited to press releases, social media, websites, and publications. Contestants understand that their essay may be shared with the media and the general public, and they waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein their essay appears. Contestants agree not to seek any compensation for the use of their essay in connection with the aforementioned purposes.
  • Contestants must be enrolled in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade at a public, charter, or private school in the state of Utah, or be a homeschool student at the same learning level who resides in Utah.
  • A submitted essay must be solely the work of the qualified contestant. It cannot be plagiarized; produced by someone else; or inspired, written, or edited by artificial intelligence. Please keep it authentic—we want to hear your vision in your words! No teamwork is allowed. 
  • A submitted essay must be original for this contest and cannot have been used for other purposes, including other contests or school assignments. 
  • Submitted essays must be appropriate for reading by fellow contestants and the general public. 
  • Only one entry per contestant. 
  • Entries must be submitted by 9 a.m. MDT on Monday, March 11, 2024. 
  • Winners will be notified by March 18, 2024.
  • Submissions must be made with permission from the contestant's parent or guardian. See entry form. 
  • The first place winner must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when they travel to Seattle. 
  • The first place prize of a meet and greet with Dr. Jane Goodall will take place in Seattle, Washington, on March 30, 2024, prior to her public lecture. Due to Jane's demanding schedule, this portion of the prize cannot be rescheduled. 
  • Entries will be judged using a contest rubric to determine adherence to the contest guidelines; thoughtfulness of response; clarity of ideas; and proficiency in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
  • All prize winners plus a parent or guardian must sign separate media release forms provided by NHMU and the Jane Goodall Institute. 
  • No purchase necessary. However, college savings certificates must be deposited into a new or existing my529 educational savings account. Account holders must have a U.S. Social Security or Tax Identification Number and be at least 18 years old. Accounts are free to open and require no minimum or ongoing contributions to maintain.