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Honor Code

Creative Expressions

The Office of Honor is hosting a contest for students to showcase their creativity and promote peace. The theme of the contest is "Peacemakers Needed," a talk given by President Nelson in 2023. Students participating in the contest will be expected to represent this theme through their choice of the following categories: art, music composition, or creative writing.

Submission Date and Prizes
Rules
Scoring Rubric

Important Dates:

  • Submissions Open: August 1, 2024
  • Submission Deadline: November 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
  • Award and Showcase Ceremony: November 20, 2024, 6:00 pm

Prizes For Each Category:

  • 1st Place: $300
  • 2nd Place: $200
  • 3rd Place: $100

General Rules:

  1. The contest is ONLY open to BYU–Hawaii students enrolled in the Fall 2024 Semester.
  2. All entries must be submitted by Monday, November 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm. No late submissions will be accepted.
  3. Participants can submit entries in any combination of the following sections: musical composition, art, and creative writing. However, they are limited to one submission per category.
  4. All submissions must reflect the theme "Peacemakers Needed."
  5. Participants agree to allow their work to be displayed or performed as part of the competition.
  6. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is NOT allowed in the creation of these original pieces of expression.

Musical Composition Rules

  • Compositions must be no longer than 3:30 minutes.
  • Submissions should be in MP3 or WAV format.
  • Include a written description and lyrics, if applicable.
  • Compositions can be instrumental or include vocals.
  • Participants may perform solo or with a group.

Art Rules

  • Entries can be in any visual art medium, including painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, digital art, and more.
  • Physical art pieces should not exceed 36 inches in any dimension.
  • Digital submissions should be high-resolution images (minimum 300 dpi).
  • Artworks must be ready for display (framed, mounted, or otherwise prepared for exhibition).
  • Include a title and a brief description of the piece.

Creative Writing Rules

  • Submissions must be typed, double-spaced, and in a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt).
  • Include a title, BYUH ID, and the author’s name on the cover page.
  • All genres are accepted (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc.), but the work must align with the theme.
  • The written piece should not exceed 1,000 words. This does not include the cover page.

Each category will have a designated judge who will score students' work based on the following criteria:

Musical Composition

Relevance30 PointsThe piece must be able to convey messages of peace and harmony effectively. It should be able to reflect the theme, "Peacemakers Needed."
Originality and Creativity25 PointsThe music piece must be an original composition that is appealing to a BYU–Hawaii student audience.
Technical Skill20 PointsThe musical composition must demonstrate creative use of melody, harmony, and rhythm.
Emotional Impact15 PointsThe compositions evoke emotion related to peacemaking and are engaging and moving for the audience.
Presentation 10 PointsPerformance needs to be polished and professional. Performers need to be well-prepared and expressive.

 

Art

Relevance30 pointsThe piece must be able to effectively convey messages of peace and harmony. It should be able to reflect the theme "Peacemakers Needed." Symbols and imagery used need to be clear and meaningful in their relation to the theme.
Originality and Creativity25 pointsArtwork must be unique, and innovative, and must demonstrate originality.
Technical Skill20 PointsArtwork executed with technical proficiency in the chosen medium (painting, sculpting, digital art, textile, etc.) and elements of art (line, color, texture, form, etc.) are used effectively.
Emotional Impact15 PointsThe artwork evokes emotions related to peace and peacemaking. It is engaging and thought-provoking for the viewers.
Presentation10 PointsThe artwork is presented in a professional manner (framed, mounted, or displayed appropriately) and includes a brief artist description explaining the connection to the theme.

Creative Writing

Relevance30 PointsThe piece must be able to effectively convey messages of peace and harmony. It should be able to reflect the theme "Peacemakers Needed." The message of peace and peacemaking is clear and powerful.
Originality and Creativity25 PointsWritten pieces must be original and innovative. Must demonstrate creative thinking and unique perspective.
Technical Skill20 Points

The piece is well-written with proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The structure of the writing (plot, character development, dialogue, etc.) must be strong and coherent. Does not exceed the 1,000-word limit.

    Emotional Impact15 PointsThe writing evokes emotions related to peace and peacemaking. It is engaging and memorable for the readers.
    Presentation 10 PointsWriting is presented professionally (typed, double-spaced, APA format, with a title, BYUH ID, and author name). It includes a brief written statement explaining the connection to the theme.