COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 32

October 28, 2008

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Strong Men and Women: Excellence in Leadership Writing Contest

On behalf of Dominion Virginia Power, the Department of Education is pleased to announce the Strong Men and Women: Excellence in Leadership writing contest for all high school juniors and seniors in Dominion’s Virginia service area. Students are invited to honor outstanding African Americans by writing a 400-word essay about one of the 217 individuals featured in the Strong Men and Women series. Along with the nine leaders being honored this year, student winners are recognized at a special reception preceding Black History Month.

Dominion is celebrating its nineteenth year of hosting this writing contest, which provides an opportunity for students to learn and write about strong leaders or positive role models. Four winners will be chosen from designated geographic regions in Dominion’s service area. Student winners of the writing contest will receive a new laptop computer, and their schools will receive a $1,000 cash award.

Each school may submit two entries. Contest winners will have the opportunity to read their essays to several hundred distinguished educators, community leaders, and the 2009 Strong Men and Women honorees in Richmond on the evening of Thursday, January 22, 2009. Students and school representatives must be present to receive the awards. Arrangements will be made with the winning schools for the student and school representative to attend the January ceremony in Richmond to receive the award. Dominion will provide overnight accommodations for students and school representatives.

The application packet may be downloaded from the Dominion Virginia Web site at http://www.dom.com/,keyword “strong.” All applications are due November 14, 2008, to Dominion Virginia Power. For more information, contact Tracy Fair Robertson Tracy.Robertson@doe.virginia.gov, English coordinator, Office of Middle and High School Instruction at (804) 371-7585.

LMW/TFR/ce