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Deadline April 30, 2011

On the occasion of the upcoming Spring All-Neighborhood Celebration/Meeting on May 12, 2011, an essay contest for youth residing within the boundaries of Meridian-Kessler is being announced. The essay topics: "My Neighborhood: Things I Like Best" or "My Neighborhood: My Favorite Places" is open to all school age youth. Please see the rules listed below for further information, guidelines and deadline.

Winners in each age category will present their essay at the May 12 event and receive prizes.

The May 12 event will take place in the Community Room at Northwood Christina Church, 46th & Central, with doors opening at 6:00pm.

CONTEST RULES

ELIGIBILITY:

Students must live in the neighborhood of Meridian Kessler. (Meridian Street to the west, the Monon Trail to the East, 38th Street to the south, and Kessler Boulevard to the north.)

Grades 1 through 12, ONE (1) entry per student/author.

TOPIC

Select topic A or B with focus on Meridian- Kessler neighborhood (previously unpublished):

A - My Neighborhood: Things I Like Best

B - My Neighborhood: My Favorite Places

Put title of essay at top of essay text. DO NOT include your name, address or identity IN your essay.

PERMISSION

Submission to the contest indicates the author and the author's parents' permission to publish the essay in the Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association (MKNA) Newsletter or website; as well as permission to quote the essays in MKNA advertising and to display or to quote from the essay in neighborhood gatherings or MKNA publications of all kinds.

COVER SHEET to include: essay title, author's name, grade of author, school of author, parent/legal guardian's name, address of the author, telephone number for parent/legal guardian, and email address for author/parent/legal guardian.

CRITERIA:

• Grades 1 & 2 - 100 to 150 words (hand written or typed, 81/2"x11" single side, doubled spaced, 12 point)
• Grades 3 & 4 - 150 to 300 words (hand written or typed,81/2"x11" single side, doubled spaced, 12 point)
• Grades 5 & 6 - 300 to 500 words (typed, single side, 81/2"x11"doubled spaced, 12 point)
• Grades 7 & 8 - 500 to 900 words (typed, single side, 81/2"x11"doubled spaced, 12 point)
• Grades 9 through 12 - 900 to 1300 words (typed, single side, 81/2"x11"doubled spaced, 12 point)

Count all words

Home school: equivalent to traditional class level.

PRIZES:

Cash awards will be given to the first place winner in each category. Certificates will be given to all participants.

• Category 1 - Grades 1 & 2 $30
• Category 2 - Grades 3 & 4 $40
• Category 3 - Grades 5 & 6 $50
• Category 4 - Grades 7 & 8 $60
• Category 5 - Grades 9 through 12 $100

JUDGING:

Panel of qualified judges, decisions final. Decisions based on: originality, creativity, knowledge and relevance of topic, eloquence of style of writing, paragraph and essay structure, rules for sentence structure, word usage and mechanics, clear unified progression of ideas, among other judging criteria.

DEADLINE & SUBMISSION ADDRESS:

Deadline: APRIL 30, 2011.

Mail essays to:

Essay Contest
MKNA Office
526 East 52nd Street
Indianapolis IN 46205

MKNA delivery box located near entrance on 52nd Street for hand delivered essays.

NOTIFICATION

Winners in each grade level category will be notified by mail/phone & or email on or before May 5, 2011. Each winner will read his/her essay on May 12 at the MKNA All Neighborhood Meeting.