Essay contest has awards for students

The Germans from Russia Heritage Society is sponsoring an essay contest for middle school, high school and university/college students. The purpose of this contest is to encourage students to learn about the history of the German Russian ethnic group. This year’s theme is: “Germany/Russia/Americas…Giant Steppes to-ward Freedom.”

Genealogy is a growing interest in society; exposure to the study of family heritage and to the history of the German-Russians helps to stimulate a lifelong interest in family and ethnic history.

The contest is open to all students in public, private, parochial or home schools and universities, subject to the age categories below. The subject of the paper or the PowerPoint entry must be related to the German-Russian history, heritage or culture and must be the contestant’s original work; however, the student does not need to be of German-Russian heritage to enter the contest.

International winners will be chosen in each of the following categories.

I. Middle school: grades 6-8.

II. High school: grades 9-12

III. University or college undergraduate

Format: The 2011 format includes digital media entries.

Deadline: Completed essay and entry form must be postmarked by March 31, 2011.

Scholarships and awards: A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the winning university undergraduate entry and the Gwen Pritzkau $250 scholarship to the winning high school senior entry. Trophies, $150 and $100 cash awards will be awarded to first-place winners and runners-up in the middle school and high school divisions.

The winning essays will be announced at the 2011 GRHS Convention, which will be held in Spokane, Wash., on July 20-24, 2011. Awards, trophies and scholarships will be presented at that time.

Contest information and entry blanks can be downloaded at the GRHS website: www. grhs.org/ youth/index.htm on the Youth Program pages or call Vera Hoff at 605-718-4116.

Links are also available at www.grhs. org.

Tags: germans from russia, community, education