WASC Essay Contest

Description

Senior Centers invite 6-grade students in their local school system and home-school networks to participate in an essay contest focusing on their relationship with older people. Topic is "My Best Older Friend"or "My Grandparents". Local senior centers choose a boy and girl winner and their essays are featured at a local Older Americans Month activity in May. Local winners advance to the state level where a girl and a boy winner are featured at a special event, each receiving a plaque and a cash prize of $150.

Objectives

The contest provides an intergenerational activity and partnership opportunity for senior centers and school districts. It features senior centers in a positive role in the community and provides favorable public relations opportunities for senior centers and WASC. It enhances youth perceptions of older adults and older people enjoy the opportunity to interact with younger community members.

Responsibilities of each enrolled Senior Center

Recruit 6th graders to participate through the local school district (send letters to teachers/principals in school district promoting the contest and explaining rules)
Select a group of older adults to read and judge written essays
Publicize the contest and sponsors
Find small prizes and/or certificates for each entrant
Invite winners to read their essays at a local May event (for Older Americans Month)
Communicate pertinent information to state-wide winner(s), if applicable
Submit essays to contest chair: (all essays should be typed not handwritten)

-If you don't have a computer, send it via US Mail.

-If you have Internet capabilities, send it via email
*All submissions to chair. should have all the pertinent information with it (student's name, school's name/city, teacher's name, sponsoring agency)

WASC Responsibilities

WASC provides sample materials (press releases, model letters & memos, and ideas for local implementation). WASC representatives judge the state contest and award the cash prizes. A CWAG event in July or August, provides an opportunity for the winners to receive their prize and read their essay.

Sponsors

WASC, the Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers, the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) and enrolled local Senior Centers. Include all sponsors on your materials.

Judging/Essay Criteria

Essays submitted must be typed. Word count is 300 words or less (300 max.). Students are required to submit word count. The criteria are 1) a strong attachment between old and young, 2) originality, organization and cohesion, 3) sixth grade level work and 4) grammar and spelling.

Awards and Prizes

At the local level, every child who submits an essay should receive something (e.g. a fast food coupon or a certificate of participation). The local winners (one girl, one boy) should receive larger gift certificates (a video or CD store) and a framed certificate. Local prizes are at the option of the senior center.

The state winners (one girl, one boy) will be invited to the annual CWAG Conference, where they will read their essay and receive a plaque and a cash gift of $150.00. Their schools will receive a plaque also.

Public or Private Schools

Each enrolled senior center may choose the scope of their project (whether to invite all schools to participate or public or private schools). It is a decision that each enrolled senior center must make. WASC encourages you to be as inclusive as possible.

Public Relations Ideas

Each senior center can be creative in developing ideas for good public relations.

Some suggestions:

tape readings for radio or later showing at center
invite all participants, parents and teachers to the senior center
send printed copies to media; send a fun announcement flyer out first, then follow up with letters and/or telephone calls

Benefits for Students

Children have an opportunity to consider and write about their relationships with older people
Students receive positive reinforcement for their writing skills. Every child is a "winner"
Young people have a positive experience with the local senior center

Problems and/or Questions

Contact WASC Essay Contest rep: Cheryl Batterman

TIMELINE for Success

NOW (use 2011 materials)--send informational memos/flyers to local schools promoting the contest.

NOW or when you are ready to start the contest--submit Enrollment Form and $ to chair.

DECEMBER--solicit local businesses for prizes for contest winners; send letters to sixth grade teachers and/or principals to encourage participation.

JANUARY--select committee of older adults to serve as judges; explain criteria and judging matrix.

FEBRUARY-essays are due at your local senior center (you pick the date). Juding team gathers to read and select two winners, one girl and one boy.

APRIL 18, 2011 (NO EXCEPTIONS)--local winning typed (in Microsoft Word format) essays are due to WASC Contest Chair (Cheryl Batterman) from each senior center (via email) for state-wide judging. The senior center(s) with a winning state-wide entry will be contacted on April 25, 2011.

MAY 22, 2011 (Older Americans Month)--CWAG Convention at the Madison Sheraton Hotel--The state-wide winning entries (one girl and one boy) will be invited to attend a luncheon (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) to read their essay. (Two adults and one senior center representative can accompany them).

May is also Older Americans Month--each center can host their own celebration which may include reading of the essays, inviting the media, etc.)