2020 LANSING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
ESSAY CONTEST & SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
APPLICATION PERIOD: February 24 - April 18, 2020
Featuring
Juneteenth “Preparing the Essay” Workshops
Presenters: Juneteenth Education Sub-Committee & LSJ Journalists
Wednesday, March 4 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm
CADL – South Lansing Branch - 3500 S. Cedar St., Lansing
Wednesday, March 18 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Letts Community Center - 220 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing
Wednesday, April 1 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Neighborhood Empowerment Center - 600 W. Maple St.; Suite D, Lansing
CATEGORY I
Grades 6th, 7th & 8th
Essay Contest
(300 - 400 Word)
Award Values:
1st Place - $100 (value)
2nd Place - $50 (value)
Topic: Write your essay on the following:
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What is Juneteenth?
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What family member or person did you ask about Juneteenth and how was the holiday explained?
CATEGORY II
Grades 9th & 10th
Essay Contest
(300 - 400 Word)
Award Values:
1st Place - $200 (value)
2nd Place - $150 (value)
Topic: Write your essay (400 – 500 words) on the following:
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What is Juneteenth?
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Why do we celebrate this event?
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Reflect on why is it important that people in America and other countries continue to cultivate knowledge and appreciation of their freedoms not only on Juneteenth Day but every day.
CATEGORY III
Grades 11th & 12th
Juneteenth Academic Talent Scholarship
(500 - 600 Word)
Award Values:
1st Place - $400 (scholarship*)
2nd Place - $250 (scholarship*)
*Each winner will receive a gift certificate to Rush Investment Unlimited to help pursue other avenues to pay for post-secondary education.
Topic: Write your essay (400 – 500 words) on the following:
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What is Juneteenth?
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What is the historical significance for celebrating Juneteenth today?
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What connections can be drawn between Juneteenth and modern-day social justice movements?
CATEGORY IV
Grades 11th & 12th
Academic Talent Scholarship
(500 - 600 Word)
Award Values:
1st Place - $15,000 (scholarship**)
2nd Place - $12,000 (scholarship**)
**Awarding of the Olivet College Academic Talent Scholarships (Category IV) is based on the student’s admittance to and subsequent attendance at Olivet College.
Topic: Write your essay (500 – 600 words) on the following:
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What is historical context that lead to Juneteenth?
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What is Juneteenth and why is celebrating it more important today than ever before?
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Draw a connection between the Juneteenth celebration of freedom and other cultural celebrations of freedom or independence.
DEADLINE:
Essay submissions can be submitted online (below), or at any CADL branch location from February 24 – April 18, 2020. Entries received after April 18, 2020 will not be eligible and will not be returned.
Contest Award Program:
The Juneteenth essay award program will be held on May 16, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the CADL (Capital Area District Libraries) – Downtown Lansing Branch.
Information:
For more information please contact the Juneteenth Education Committee by email at Education@LansingJuneteenthCelebration.org. (This presentation is not sponsored by the Capital Area District Libraries. Library staff cannot assist with contest detail questions.)
Please read contest details and rules thoroughly before submitting your entry.
Entries my be submitted by printing and completing the paper form
or the online entry submission process.
The Lansing Juneteenth Celebration is a project of Progressive Empowerment Education Resource Services - P.E.E.R.S. 501(c)(3). The Juneteenth Essay Contest is presented in partnership with Olivet College and the Lansing State Journal.