Koinonia Farm is sponsoring two Black History Month contests for any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student in Sumter County, Georgia.
The purpose of the project is to encourage students’ development of research and writing skills, to build healthy self-esteem and resilience, to build appreciation for multiculturalism, to increase awareness of African-American History, and to foster creativity.
The theme of the 2020 Black History Month Essay Contest is Heroines and Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia. The subject of the essay may be living or deceased. S/he may be locally or nationally prominent or an everyday unsung hero or heroine.
There are two ways to participate. To learn more about the poster contest, visit the Poster Contest page on our website.
Essay contest guidelines are as follows:
Maximum length is 300 words.
Essays will be judged by a panel of highly qualified, independent judges. Criteria for judging include: (1) Awareness of the importance and relevance of civil rights history in Georgia; (2) effective use of descriptive language; (3) originality; (4) correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Essays may be typed or handwritten.
Essays should be accompanied by a separate cover sheet which includes the student’s name, NUMBER OF WORDS in the essay, a parent or guardian’s name and phone number, a parent or guardian’s email address (if possible), and an email address which the student accesses regularly (if possible). Identifying Information will be protected. ONLY ESSAYS WITH THE PROPER COVER SHEET WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES.
Essays may be:
1) Emailed to graceterry727@aol.com NO LATER THAN 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020, (be sure to put the words Essay Contest in the subject line) OR
2) Hand delivered to Koinonia Farm Welcome Center, 1324 GA Hwy 49S, Americus, from Saturday, February 1, 2020 through Saturday, February 15, 2020, during regular business hours (9-5 Monday thru Saturday and 1:00 – 5:00 Sunday) NO LATER THAN 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020 OR
3) Mailed to Essay Contest, Koinonia Farm, 1324 GA Hwy 49S. Essays submitted by USPS must be postmarked no later than Saturday, February 15, 2020.
In the interest of fairness, there will be no exceptions to the qualifying deadline.
PRIZES: ALL students who submit an essay with an appropriate cover letter BY THE QUALIFYING DEADLINE will receive a certificate of recognition. WINNING ESSAYS WILL BE PUBLISHED in the Americus Times Recorder, the Koinonia Farm
Monthly E-News, and on the Koinonia Farm website. The top three winners will receive additional valuable prizes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Grace Terry at graceterry727@aol.com or call 727.487.3207 (mobile phone).
Certificates of Recognition and 1st., 2nd., and 3rd. prizes
will be awarded at a special reception and celebration on
Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at
Koinonia Farm Dining Hall, 1324 GA Hwy.49, Americus.
Light refreshments will be served.
ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!