[MysterE]

I wanted to add a bit to the post overall due to the fact that there are always new teams working on Chairman's Award.

Our general essay writing process is a bit interesting. Usually, our awards team meets together to make a very rough outline of what is being written. Only one person actually writes the initial first draft using the previous year's essay as a guide. Once done, the whole team rips it apart using knives and spoons. It is then re-written using those suggestions and ripped apart again.

Once this is done, its given to even harsher critics - our teachers - who rip it apart. We then edit it using each teacher's edits to help further refine how well it flows. Unfortunately, this does not catch every single error - but it helps.

Finally - we read the essay out loud - sometimes backwards. If it still sounds coherent, we are ready to submit.