SUBJECT: National Museum of the American Indian Essay Contest

TOPIC: “Describe a crucial issue confronting your tribal community”

High school students responding to this year’s writing contest should write an essay of no more than 1,200 words to: "Describe a crucial issue confronting your tribal community today. Explain how you hope to help your tribal community respond to this challenge and improve its future."

Five selected essayists (and the teachers that inspired their

participation) will win an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C.

in July, 2010, and a $2,500 scholarship.

 ELIGIBILITY: The 2010 Young Native Writers Essay Contest is open to Native American high school students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 only. All students participating in Young Native Writers Essay Contest should have a significant and current relationship with a Native American tribal community.

PRIZES

The following prizes will be awarded to winning essayists:

Five (5) First-Place Winners will each receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., (tentatively scheduled for July 20-24, 2010) to visit the National Museum of the American Indian, and other prominent sites.

The winners will be accompanied by the teachers who inspired their entries into the contest. First-Place Winners will receive a special award for display at home or school. In addition, each First-Place Winner will receive a scholarship of $2,500 to be paid directly to the college or university of his or her choice.

Entry Deadline is May 10, 2010

Additional Details here:

http://www.nativewriters.hklaw.com/2009/index.asp

PAGES INCLUDING COVER ___3___

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ ALL OF THE CONTEST RULES. Entries that do not adhere strictly to these rules and guidelines will not be judged.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Students MUST submit their essays by U.S.

Postal Service (or other delivery company). Entries must be postmarked by May 10, 2010 and addressed to Young Native Writers, c/o Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 2877, Tampa, FL 33601-2877.TWO copies of the essay must be included in your envelope, along with a completed Entry Form.

REFERENCES REQUIRED: Every essay must include a Bibliography, Work Cited, or Reference Page.

WORD COUNT: Essays should comprise no more than 1,200 words. When conducting your word count, DO NOT include words contained in your Bibliography, Works Cited, or Reference page.

LANGUAGE: Essays must be in English

YOUR NAME: Please do not include your name anywhere on any page of your essay, other than the title page, if you have one. When you mail your essay, make sure it includes your entry form with your name on it and clip or staple the entry page to your essay.

RESEARCH: While this is a creative writing project, research must be an integral element of the writing process and essays must contain a Bibliography, Works Cited or Reference Page, citing all materials used in the research and writing of the essay (parenthetical documentation must accompany research).

ESSAY FORMAT: The essay must be in prose format and may be a commentary or interpretation of primary and secondary source material such as: historical and reference materials; interviews; eyewitness accounts and oral histories; official documents and other primary sources; readings from diaries, letters, autobiographies, and works of poetry; video, or audiotapes, films, art, CD-ROM and Internet sources.

The essay must not be a fictitious story or poem. The essay must be primarily directed toward examining the writing prompt.

JUDGING: Entries will be judged anonymously and will not be returned to students. Submissions that adhere to the guidelines will be judged with special attention to (1) evidence of relevant reading and thoughtful use of resource materials; (2) treatment of the assigned themes; and (3) clear and effective language, mechanics and grammar; and a coherent plan of organization.

AUTHOR OF ESSAY: Each essay must be the work of one student and may not be the collective work of more than one student. By submitting an essay, applicants are certifying that their essays are original, authored solely by them, and that in writing their essays, they did not plagiarize or otherwise infringe upon the rights of any third parties.

TEACHERS: It is not necessary for a student to have a sponsoring teacher in order to enter this essay contest. However, high school teachers of Native American students are encouraged to inspire their students to participate, and in doing so, can become eligible to accompany student winners on a Washington, D.C., award trip, with all expenses paid, with the opportunity to take part in teacher seminars.

CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION: Certificates of Participation will be e-mailed to all entrants who provide an e-mail address.

NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: Winners will be notified of contest results and winning essays will be posted on our Web Site by June 15, 2010.

The five winners will join their teachers and Holland & Knight chaperones for an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

tentatively scheduled for July 20-24, 2010. In addition, each First-Place Winner will receive a scholarship of $2,500 to be paid directly to the college or university of their choice.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships will be paid to each student's post-secondary educational institution after the student has graduated from high school and upon Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation's receipt of a copy of the student's registration paperwork from said post-secondary educational institution.

POSTING ESSAYS: All essays submitted may be used or published in whole or in part by the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation or by other parties with its written permission. The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation reserves the right not to publish any essay it deems inappropriate for any reason.

WASHINGTON DC: The winners of the essay contest MUST agree to participate in the entire trip to Washington, D.C., in order to receive a scholarship. In the event that a winner is unable or unwilling to participate in the trip to Washington, D.C., in its entirety, no substitution prize will be awarded.

MOST UNLIKELY… The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation reserves the right not to award a prize or any prizes when submissions do not meet contest standards or criteria.

For more information, call us toll-free at 1-866-452-2737. E-mail questions (not essays) to nativewriters@hklaw.com.