News from PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
Office of Communications
Stanhope Hall
Princeton, New Jersey 08544-5264
Telephone 609-258-3601; Fax 609-258-1301Contact: Pam Hersh, 609-258-3018
For immediate release: Nov. 22, 2000
Princeton University sponsors Martin Luther King Day essay, poster contests
Deadline for entries: Dec. 18
Princeton, N.J. -- Princeton University invites high school and middle school students to participate in its annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by entering essay and poster contests and attending a public celebration of Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 15, 2001.
Princeton’s new vice president for campus life, Janet Smith Dickerson, will be the principal speaker at the program, which also will feature a musical performance by a steel band and award presentations for the essay and poster contest winners.
The deadline for submissions for both contests is Dec. 18.
Submissions to the essay contest should take the form of a letter to the new U.S. president. The letter should advise the president on what he should say and do to improve relations between the races in this country and to help our country achieve the goals of Dr. King. Students may write their essays to President-elect Bush or President-elect Gore, or simply to "Dear Mr. President." The letter should be no more than 300 words on single-sided sheets of paper. As in the past, we are offering a $100 first prize and a $50 second prize, plus honorable mentions, in each of three categories: grades 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12.
For the poster contest, students in grades 4-6 should imagine that the poster is a banner on the inaugural platform or along the parade route where the new president will march after taking the oath of office. The poster should convey a message to the new president and the country about how we can improve race relations and make Dr. King's dream a reality. Posters can be as small as 8 1/2" by 11" or as large as 18" by 24". Judges will put more weight on how well a poster conveys its message than on how it is drawn. Participants will compete for a $100 first prize, $50 second prize, plus honorable mentions.
Last year, essays were submitted by 504 students at 31 schools and posters came from 285 students in 15 schools. We hope even more students and schools will participate this year.
Essays and posters should be sent to the office of Vice President for Public Affairs Robert Durkee, 221 Nassau Hall, Princeton NJ 08544 . For further information, call 609-258-6429 or 609-258-3018.
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