Students have chance to write an essay and win some amazing prizes as well. High school students can enter the Selma essay contest, due Sunday. Middle-school and high-school students can enter the World War II essay contest due March 31.

“There’s a writing contest that’s either speech or essay for Selma. It’s about what you do to make the world a better place through civic activity,” Language Arts teacher Lisa Rehm said.

The prizes are $5,000 for the first place winner, $2,500 for the first runner up, $1,000 for the second runner up, $500 for each of the seven honorable mentions, and $300 for each teacher/mentor who sponsors a top 10 finalist.

“The second essay contest is sponsored by the World War II Memorial Museum,” Rehm said. “The topic is ‘How do you define a hero?'”

The prizes for high school students is $1,00 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. The winning essays will be posted on The National World War II Museum’s website with the honorable mentions.

“I want to encourage people to do [the contests],” Rehm said.  “Somebody is going to win. I would love to see it be a West Shore student, we have so much talent.”

For more information about essay requirements and submission, visit

Selma: http://libertymuseumselmacontest.org/enter

WWII: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/essay-contests/

By Lonyee Eng