COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 63

October 8, 2002

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Essay Contest for High School Juniors

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced an essay contest for high school juniors in support of President Bush’s “We the People” initiative. The winner of the contest will receive $5000 and five second place winners will receive $1000 each.

The topic of the essay is The Idea of America. The essay should describe how a significant event in our nation’s history illustrates a principle of American democracy. The essay must be in English and be no more than 1200 words in length. The author must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States, not have passed beyond the eleventh grade on or before November 18, 2002, be sixteen years of age on or before November 18, 2002, and not have reached eighteen years of age on or before November 18, 2002. Only one essay per person is permitted. All entries must be received by the NEH no later than November 18, 2002.

For further information on the essay contest, please contact the NEH at 1-800-372-2930 or visit the contest Web site at http://www.wethepeople.gov. You may send e-mail inquiries to ideaofamerica@neh.gov.

For further information, please contact Colleen C. Bryant (cbryant@mail.vak12ed.edu), history and social science specialist for secondary education, at (804) 786-4640.

PIW/CCB