First Amendment Essay Contest
for High School Students
High school students in
southwest Missouri are invited to submit an original 300- to
500-word essay for a local contest sponsored by the Society of
Professional Journalists.
The contest is open to
students enrolled in grades nine through 12, in public, private
or home schools. Students can enter for no charge but must have
a sponsoring teacher.
Entries should address, “Why
Free News Media are Important.”
Students placing first-
through third-place in the southwest Missouri contest will
receive award certificates and have an
opportunity to see their essay printed in area newspapers.
Teachers are asked to conduct their own 1st Amendment Essay
Contest and then forward only the top two essays from each
school.
The first place essay
will also be forwarded to the national competition where
students could earn a scholarship worth $1,000, $500 or $300.
The Southwest Missouri
Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
is organizing the qualifying essay contest for students from
high schools in the Ozarks.
Entries are due by March 5,
2010, and should be typed, double-spaced and single sided.
The cover page should include the student’s name, age, grade
level, name of school, home address, telephone number and a
photo of the author.
Completed entries should be
mailed to David Burton, University of Missouri Extension, 833
Boonville, Springfield, Mo. 65802, or sent by e-mail at
burtond@missouri.edu. Entry forms and rules can be found
online at extension.missouri.edu/greene.
