Press Releases

Essay Contest Deadline Approaches

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 15, 2009

Contact: Nancy Coggins, APR

405.235.3313 or 405.760.9053

PRESIDENTIAL WISDOM FOCUS OF
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL ESSAY CONTEST
Entries due January 30

OKLAHOMA CITY —The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum will use inspirational words from some of our nation’s greatest leaders in its annual National Essay Contest. Winners in four grade categories are eligible for cash prizes and recognition. Educators can download application forms for their classes online and entries must be submitted to the Memorial by January 30, 2009.

As United States citizens, we find strength, guidance and courage in the words of our presidents. From founding fathers to current leaders, they have provided us with thought provoking ideas about citizenship and our responsibility to do what is right as we strive to make the world a better place. This year’s contest highlights the words of Presidents Washington, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan on the importance of attitude, reputation and principle in determining the future of our lives and our country.

“In both times of trouble and in times of plenty, the President leads and inspires the nation through the words he uses to communicate,” said Lynne Roller, Oklahoma City National Memorial Deputy Director. “This contest shows on an annual basis that students do understand the inspiration in quotes from great leaders, and that they relate those words to situations in their own lives in a way that inspires us all.”

Initiated in 2002, the Essay Contest has become a cornerstone of the Memorial’s educational programs. In 2005, 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. This program is made possible through the generous support of Allegiance Credit Union.

“As a bombing survivor and Allegiance Credit Union (formerly Federal Employees Credit Union) employee I take great pride in our exceptional relationship with the Oklahoma City National Memorial. I have been with the credit union for many years and I have seen the unique bond between the credit union and the memorial continue to blossom,” said Terri Talley, Business Development Officer, Allegiance Credit Union. “We’re honored to support the essay contest and educational efforts of the Memorial.”

The contest is open to students in grades 5-12. In 2008, more than 2,200 students participated in the Essay Contest. From those essays, teachers submitted their top selections resulting in 300 entries. The winning essays came from students from New Jersey, Texas, and Oklahoma. The contest meets several State of Oklahoma and national standards for Language Arts.

Essays are 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.

2009 Topics:
5th and 6th Grades

Your attitude about who you are and what you have is a very little thing that makes a very big difference. – Theodore Roosevelt.

7th and 8th Grades

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company. – George Washington

9th and 10th Grades

They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong. There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. – Ronald Reagan

11th and 12th Grades

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

All winners will be recognized at the Oklahoma House of Representatives in early 2009. Winning essays will be included in the Virtual Archives at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum for one year. Cash prizes are also awarded for first, second and third place in each of the four grade categories.

Entries must be typed or word – processed, double-spaced. Teachers may submit up to five entries per grade per school. Entries may be submitted by mail, email or hand delivered to the Memorial. Information on submission of entries, as well as a release form that must accompany each entry, is available on the Memorial’s web site at www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org. All entries must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009. For more information on the Essay Contest or other educational offerings of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, please contact Lynne Roller, Deputy Director, at 405.235.3313 or lr@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

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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