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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesCultural Education’s Monthly Essay Contests Focus on V.I. Personalities or Events

Cultural Education’s Monthly Essay Contests Focus on V.I. Personalities or Events

Beginning February, the V.I. Department of Education’s Division of Cultural Education will embark on an initiative to facilitate a monthly Essay Project for full-time middle, junior and senior high students in public, private and parochial schools across the territory, according to Assistant Director Gerard Emanuel. “This project enhances a stated goal of both the department and the administration, which places priority on reading, writing and research, providing lifelong benefits for our student community. Further, such a program, while emphasizing culture, imparts a methodology which has an application in all fields of study,” he said.

The essays will focus on Virgin Islands personalities and events that will be determined on a monthly basis. The personality or event would differ according to districts. Participants would be required to submit their essays with a minimum of 300 words, citing a minimum of three sources. The Virgin Island personalities for the month of February are Edward Wilmoth Blyden in the St. Thomas-St. John District and Ansetta de Chabert in the St. Croix District.
For more information, contact the Cultural Education Offices at: 774-0100, ext.2804, 2806 and 2809 on St. Thomas or 718-3654 on St. Croix.
The Virgin Islands Cultural Education Essay Contest Criteria:
Eligibility
· All full-time public, parochial and private school students in middle, junior or senior high schools are eligible.
· All essays should contain a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 350 words.
· A minimum of three sources must be cited. Sources can be individuals, books, news articles, the Internet or whatever source the student wishes to utilize. However, it must be clearly identified, for example: the resource individuals, the author, book title, page number and paragraph. Any publication referenced should be dated.
· All submissions must betyped and double spaced.
· All entries must be hand delivered no later than 4:45 p.m. on the last Friday of each month to the Cultural Education Division: St. Croix: Vitraco Mall, Golden Rock, Suite 4B or St. Thomas: J. Antonio Jarvis Annex.
Cover Page Submittal
· The cover page must have the name of the personality/event, date and school.
· If there was any teacher assistance, that teacher must be identified and the subject he/she teaches.
· The student information must include: full name, homeroom, personal phone number, mailing address and parental contact information (name, telephone number, etc.)
Point System
· Eligible full-time middle, junior, or senior high public, parochial or private school students
(10 points)
· 300 – 350 word essay on selected Virgin Islands personality
(50 points)
· Minimum of three sources cited
(10 points) or
· Minimum of four or more sources cited
(15 points)
· Fluency, format, presentation, style, grammar, etc.
(25 points)
Prizes Awarded
First Prize: $250
Second Prize: $150
Third Prize: $100
Division of Cultural Education Responsibilities and Rights
· The Division of Cultural Education will submit in a timely manner the personality/event the scheduled essays are to be written on for each respective month.
· The personality or event would differ according to districts.
· Within seven business days of entry submittal, the winners will be announced.

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