Entries sought for annual Health Department essay contest
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 10, 2015 1:50 AM
Wayne County teens are asked to weigh in on some of the health concerns in their community, by participating in an essay contest sponsored by the Health Department.
The 2015 Teen Public Health Essay Contest is sponsored by the Board of Health, Health Department and Wayne Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
Introduced over a decade ago as the Abstinence Essay Contest, the event was more specifically targeting the teen pregnancy problem. The first year, 2003, more than 60 entries were submitted.
In 2005, Board of Health members voted to donate their monthly stipends to launch a scholarship fund for the top three winning entries in the contest.
Last year, the contest was revamped a bit. The topic and presentation were broadened, with students allowed to choose their topics. Instead of simply reading their essays, winners were asked to give a PowerPoint presentation before an audience that includes the Board of Health and the students' families and guests.
That format will be replicated again this year, at a special scheduled evening meeting of the board on June 30.
There is still a little time left for high school students interested in submitting an entry in this year's contest. Deadline is Wednesday at 6 p.m. with essays submitted to the Health Department or postmarked that day.
The contest is open to all Wayne County teens in grades 9-12, public, private or home-schooled. Applications are available at participating schools or online at www.wayneteens.com.
Students are asked to write an essay on a public health topic that is an issue in our county and provide a possible solution to resolve it. Recommended topic categories include abstinence, chronic disease, mental health, health care cost or environmental health.
Scholarship money will be given out to the top three finishers in the contest.
First place prize is a $1,000 scholarship and $75 gift card; second place receives a $500 scholarship and $50 gift card; and the third place award is a $300 scholarship and $50 gift card.
For more information contact Ta-Kisha Darden at 919-731-1291 or Ava Crawford at 919-731-1290.