Begin the Year with a Challenge and Show Your Skills!

Two contests designed to challenge youth and allow them to show off their skills were recently announced.

Healthy Choices, Healthy Living, Healthy Generations Hip Hop/Rap Contest

The Ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, Iota Sigma Chapter are hosting their first Hip Hop Rap Contest in Conjunction with their 4th Sigma Youth Symposium.

 
Middle/high school students will be asked to develop a positive rap reflecting their theme: “H3: It’s All About Me.” Students from all Richmond metropolitan area school districts are welcome. The song/rap should focus on Healthy Choices, Healthy Living, and Healthy Generations. The contest rules are as follows:

• Ages 13 to 18 years old may enter
• Must be in good academic standing at their respective school
• Positive rap must be a message on making positive/healthy choices, healthy living, education, respect, etc.
• All entries must be in CD/DVD format
• Any profanity and/or sexually suggestive content will result in disqualification
• All entries must be received by February 20, 2009

Finalists will compete at the annual Sigma Youth Symposium on March 14 which will be held at Virginia Union University. The winner receives a trophy, cash prize, and possible local radio play. All entries should include full name, age, home phone number, school attending, and home address.

Contest entries should be mailed to:
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Attn: Hip Hop/Rap Contest
PO Box 26274
Richmond, VA 23260

African American Trailblazers Student Essay Contest

Civil Rights Leader Oliver Hill spoke these words:

“Our Declaration of Independence says we are all created with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I agree with the life and the liberty. The pursuit of happiness ought to include the right to be taught and trained, to be able to do something constructive, to move toward a civilized society.”

What does the “pursuit of happiness” mean to you? How do you work to realize that right?

Rules:
This contest is for students in grades 3-8. There will be 3 divisions: grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. Three winners will be chosen for each division. Please clearly mark your envelope for which division you are entering. Essays can be any length, but must not be more than 500 words. Essays can be submitted by an individual student, parent or teacher. A teacher may enter one essay for each student in their class. Judges will include readers from Comcast, The Times-Dispatch, James River Writers, and the Library of Virginia.
Plagiarized writing will be disqualified. Entries must be the sole work of the student.

 
Contest open to students in grades 3-8 in the state of Virginia.

 
First place winners for each division will receive a $500 savings bond, the opportunity to read their essay on a 30 –second commercial spot on Comcast. Taping date to be announced. An invitation to attend the 2009 African American Trailblazers event at the Library of Virginia on February 26 and be recognized at the event. Second place winners for each division will each receive a $100 savings bond and more. Third place winners for each division will receive a $50 savings bond, and more.

All winning essays will be published on www.inrich.com, www.jamesriverwriters.com, and http://www.lva.lib.va.us.

All entries must be received by 4 pm on February 11, 2009. You will be contacted by February 19 if you are a winner.

Please attach Name, School, Grade, Phone Number, Email Address, Teacher’s Name, Teacher’s Phone Number, and Teacher’s Email Address. Fax entries to (804)775-8101 or mail them to:

NIE, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Student Essay Contest: 3-4/5-6/7-8 (Choose one)
P.O. Box 85333
Richmond, VA 23293