Literacy for Life: Writing contests reward literacy

Students in the area have several opportunities to turn literacy into an opportunity.

The Carson City School District's Board of Trustees is sponsoring its eighth annual American Citizen Essay Contest.

Three winners will be selected to receive a savings bond of $250. One winner each will come from the elementary, middle and high school levels.

This year's essay topic is: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

Any public, charter, private or home-schooled student in Carson City may participate. The essay should be no longer than five pages and may be hand-written or typed. The deadline is Oct. 28. Winners will be asked to read their essays aloud.

For additional guidelines, contact Renae Cortez at 283-2100.

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Sierra Arts, Northern Nevada's community arts organization, is spearheading the 87th annual Scholastic Writing Awards for students across the state in grades seven through 12.

Public, private or home-schooled students may submit their best writings to the awards program for the chance to receive up to $10,000 in scholarships.

"Celebrating creativity is essential for Nevada's students, and these writing awards will help bring to the surface some of our most talented," said Jill Berryman, Sierra Arts executive director.

Essays will be scored on the core criteria of originality, technical skill and emergence of a personal vision and voice.

In each region, the top entries will receive Gold Keys - The Scholastic Writing Awards' symbol of achievement - while other front-runners will garner Silver Keys and honorable mentions.

Once determined, Gold Key works are reviewed on the national level. Fifteen graduating seniors will receive $10,000 scholarships, and more than 50 students in grades seven through 11 will earn $2,500 for summer camps and pre-colleges.

Nevada writing submissions must be received by Sierra Arts no later than Dec. 15. For more information visit www.sierra-arts.org, or contact Rick Southerland at 775-329-2787 or rick@sierra-arts

.org.

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Letters About Literature, a national reading and writing promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, invites young readers in grades 4-12 to enter this year's letter-writing competition.

Young readers simply write a personal letter to an author explaining how that author's work somehow changed the readers' view of their world.

The program awards both state and national prizes.

Teachers, librarians and parents can download free teaching materials on reader response and reflective writing, including assessment checklists at the LAL Web site www.lettersaboutliterature.org.

Submission deadline is postmark Dec. 12. State winners will be notified in March 2010 and national winners by mid-April 2010.