Press Releases

2006 Student Essay Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2005

Contact: Nancy Coggins
(405) 235-3313 or (405) 760-9053
nc@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org

Essay Contest Focusing on Oklahoma City National Memorial Mission Open to Students Across the United States

OKLAHOMA CITY — “Words are things, and a small drop of ink falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think.” Those words written by English poet George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) in his famous work, Don Juan, speak to the purpose behind an essay contest being held by the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

“Words really do have a powerful place in offering hope, fueling people to action and motivating change,” said Lynne Roller, Deputy Director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “This is the Memorial’s fifth annual essay contest, and I am continually amazed by the ability of the students to not only relate the quotes provided in the contest to experiences in their own lives, but to provide a source of inspiration to others.”

Initiated in 2001, the annual essay contest has become a cornerstone of the Memorial’s educational programs. Last year the Essay Contest expanded from a state contest to a national one, allowing more students to use this contest as a vehicle for sharing their rich perspective and engaging in the lessons of the Memorial. The contest is open to students in grades 5-12. More than 300 essays were submitted in 2005, with winning essays coming from students in Colorado, Michigan and Oklahoma, all of whom eloquently expressed themselves on a theme of hope.

The contest is divided into four grade levels, with three winners chosen in each level. Winners and their teachers will be recognized at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Winners’ essays will become part of an interactive exhibit for one year at the Memorial Museum. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place entries in each level. Essays will be judged on originality, adherence to topic and proper grammar, spelling and punctuation by educators and community leaders from across the region.

Students are given a quote and accompanying topic on which to write, developed by the Memorial’s Education and Outreach Committee.

Each topic is designed to challenge students to reflect on their personal experiences and look to the future for ways they can make an impact on the world around them. Topics for this year include:
• Fifth and Sixth Grades (350 words): “Each of us has a spark of life inside us, and we must set off that spark in one another.” – Kenny Ausubel

• Seventh and Eighth Grades (350 words): “Your spark can become a flame and change everything.” – E.D. Nixon

• Ninth and Tenth Grades (500 words): “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

• Eleventh and Twelfth Grades (500 words): “It isn’t enough to talk about peace, one must believe it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it, one must work for it.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

The Oklahoma City National Memorial Essay Contest is sponsored by Oklahoma City McDonald’s owner/operator Brigitte Savage.

Essay contest information is available on the Memorial’s web site at www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org. All entries must be typed or word-processed, and double spaced. Each entry must be accompanied by a signed Information Form, also available online. Teachers may submit up to five entries per grade, per school. Entries may be submitted by mail to Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, PO Box 323, Oklahoma City, OK 73101, or e-mailed to lr@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org. Entries must be received no later than 5 p.m. CST, Wednesday, March 1, 2006.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was created to honor “those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever” by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The Memorial and Museum are dedicated to educating visitors about the impact of violence, informing about events surrounding the bombing, and inspiring hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected.

For more information on the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, call (888) 542-HOPE or visit www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.
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