Sharpen your pencils, young people. The Fleet Reserve Association Americanism Essay Contest accepts entrant essays now through November. Top prize for the contest's national winner is a $10,000 savings bond. In addition to the top award, contestants also compete for a number of other national awards plus regional and local prizes.
Open to students in grades 7 through 12, including homeschoolers, this essay contest is sponsored yearly by the Fleet Reserve Association. The FRA is a Congressionally-chartered, non-profit organization, representing the interests of enlisted members of America's seagoing military and former members of those branches. Navy personnel, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines participate.
A major emphasis of the FRA essay contest is to promote patriotism among youth. Annually the association chooses a topic for essay submissions along a theme that highlights ideals of Americanism. This year, essays will describe "What Memorial Day Means to Me".
Essays are grouped by grade level for judging. Entrants tag their essays with the school grade they are working through now in this 2009-2010 school year.
In the contest's last round, national winners from all grades are pitted together in one final heat. Last year, national top winner was Sara Anne Cole of Forsyth County, Georgia. Combined prizes to Cole amounted to a cash value well above $10,000.
Essays cannot exceed 350 words. Each essay must be submitted with an official cover sheet, and essay writers must be sponsored by an FRA member or organized branch.
The official cover sheet and essay contest rules are available via the Internet at www.fra.org/essay. And local FRA member, Wayne Barron, has offered to sponsor any Pickens County youth who wishes to participate in the contest. Barron may be contacted at 678-689-7921. |
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