Dear Principals, Teachers, and all other Magnificent Supporters of our Young People,

We would be honored to have your students participate in the twentieth annual Celebration of Youth essay contest. All children in grades 4 through 9 who attend a DC public school are eligible. Over the last nineteen years the finalists have come consistently from schools all across the city. We receive over 300 essays from nearly 30 schools each year.

Our hope is that principals will appoint someone to coordinate this contest in their individual schools. Teachers may want to brainstorm with their students to help them explore the theme and identify personal examples. (This year’s theme is about our attitudes and actions having an impact.) We hope teachers and principals will make this contest available and encourage the participation of eligible students..

Above is the theme, a list of contest guidelines, our phone number, and other information. Check the websites listed above, or call us, if you or your students have questions or want more copies of this announcement. We welcome the opportunity to encourage you in whatever way we can. We want to do our best to ensure that every eligible student who wants to enter has the necessary support. The contest due date is April 14, 2007.

Ten winners, five from the upper elementary division (grades 4-6) and five from the junior high division (grades 7-9) will be chosen. Twenty-eight students will be declared honorable mentions. These students will be honored in downtown Washington in May. At this celebration the ten winners will read their prize winning essays. To receive their prize, winners and honorable mentions are expected to attend the acknowledgment ceremony. Parents, teachers, friends, principals, classmates, and a member or two of the media gather together to honor the students and their achievements. The celebration is followed by a reception.

We are proud that over the years a majority of the eligible schools have participated, and that students from all sections of the city have won. While good writing skills help significantly, many criteria are taken into consideration. Students who never thought they could write, much less win a contest, have won. The winners might have shown more depth, self reflection, compelling emotion, thoughtfulness, authenticity, or greater humor than the majority of entries. This is an essay contest that need not be restricted to English classes. Many teachers, including those of art, science, music, and math, have encouraged students to enter. Of course, students can enter independently. Each year, a few students discover the contest and enter on their own.

We want to give some TIPS so you may better support your students. Please follow the contest guidelines carefully. Essays which do not address the theme will automatically be disqualified. Additional essay disqualifiers include: essays being too short, too long, too messy, and submitted too late. Junior High essays MUST be typed. Occasionally, students have entered more than one essay. Though that is certainly ambitious, one entry per student is the rule. The winning essays usually have specific details from the student's own life, and the student has an honest and heartfelt way of writing about the topic. If you have entered your students in the past and they have not won, please do not give up. Though the competition is keen, different themes speak to different children. Some children don’t do well one year and go on to win in the next. Every year brings fresh opportunity and a new round of unique essays.

The students bring healing and understanding between people, cultures, and generations by sharing their ideas and feelings. Listening to our youth enhances their self respect and increases our awareness. People everywhere can learn so much from the heartfelt expression of our city's children. Their thoughtful, creative expressions are invaluable.

Volunteers and judges contribute their time and talents to support the children. Past judges have included Phyllis Armstrong, Maureen Bunyon, Nadine Cohodas, Phil Dixon, Doreen Gentzler, Barbara Graham, Susan Kidd, Colbert King, Judlyn Lily, Patrick McGrath, Renee Nash, Kojo Nnamdi, Maureen Orth, Andrea Roane, Susan Roberts, Nina Totenberg, Jim Vance, Jack White, and Juan Williams. Community leaders, politicians, sport teams, and special figures around the world have praised the childrens' efforts. There is support for DCPS children and for this contest.

Receiving entries from your students for the Celebration of Youth essay contest would be an honor and a delight. We sincerely hope to hear from you. In the meanwhile, we wish you and the students much success, peace, and well being. For the challenging and necessary work you do every day, we thank you and we salute you.

With respect and anticipation,

Dorothea and Jim Brady, Rebecca Carroll, and Donna Philpitt

P.S. We have a special request for the teachers. Communication in announcing the winners could be expedited if you want to give us your email address when you submit the essays of your students. Thank you for your assistance.