Contact: Mike Virgintino, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, 914-941-7637 ext 2219

MARYKNOLL, N.Y., Sept. 20, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- Despite continuing efforts by adults to help resolve conflicts among youth, bullying continues to be a serious social issue that can result in emotional scars, physical injuries and sometimes death.

The 2011 Maryknoll Student Essay Contest from Maryknoll magazine for middle school and high school students is addressing the rising concern about bullying. The assignment for the 22nd annual contest asks students to tell a story about how they or someone they know experienced bullying and then to explain how Jesus might tell those involved to handle the situation.

Maryknoll is published by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, the chief mission outreach of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States that serves a variety of people in 28 countries that include the U.S. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers share God's love combating poverty, providing healthcare, building communities and promoting human rights.

More than 5,000 students competed for $2,900 in cash prizes during the 2010 Maryknoll Student Essay Contest. The awards remain the same for the 2011 contest, with $1,000 provided to each of the two first place finalists, $300 awarded to each of the two second place finalists and $150 provided to each of the two third place award recipients.

The contest focuses on a specific Christian message each year and is open to all students in grades six to eight (Division I) and grades nine to 12 (Division II). Only one entry is permitted per student. One first place winner, one second place winner and one third place winner will be recognized from each of the two divisions. The division category must be clearly identified on each submission. Essay length is 500 to 750 words and the postmark deadline for all entries is Thursday, December 1, 2011.

Flyers announcing the 2011 contest have been mailed to approximately 38,000 Catholic schools and Catholic parish religious education programs in the U.S. Students of any religious denomination inside or outside the U.S. may enter. Essays must be prepared in English.

The flyers contain the complete contest rules and submission guidelines. For more information, call the Maryknoll Student Essay Contest hotline at 1-888-627-9566 x2368, or visit www.maryknollsociety.org/essay.  

Parents, teachers and students can learn more about this issue by listening to "Bullying: K thru Life" that aired on Maryknoll's Voices of Our World radio program on June 26, 2011. Visit www.voicesofourworld.org and click on "downloads."