RWOYA to sponsor Constitution essay contest, scholarship

The Constitution Essay Contest is held by the Republican Women of Yoakum Area in celebration of Constitution Day, Sept. 17.

High school seniors from Lavaca, Gonzales and DeWitt County schools, as well as Christian schools and all 12th grade home-schooled students from these areas, are eligible to participate in the Constitution Essay Contest for a scholarship.

Checks to be awarded to the essay winners are $1,300; $800; $600 and $400. A total of four winners will be selected from all entries. This year, RWOYA is again including a prize of $300 for the government teacher with the most students remaining in the semifinal round of judging.

The scholarship certificates and checks will be presented to the winners at an impressive Constitution Essay Contest awards ceremony and luncheon. This ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 11:30 a.m. at the Yoakum Community Center, 105 Huck St., Yoakum.

Schools of the winners will be notified prior to the awards ceremony. The winners and their parents will be notified and invited, but they will not know the place/amount of scholarship until it is announced at the ceremony. The first place winner of $1,300 must attend and will be asked to read his/her essay to the audience at the ceremony.

Judging of the essays is done with no reference to school or name of the student. The essays are identified by assigned numbers. Students submitting the winning essays are not identified until the winning essays are selected.

Complete rules for the essay contest and pocket Constitutions will be provided for each of the school campuses and for home-schooled students. Essays for judging will be picked up from each school’s office on Wednesday, Oct. 23. No essays will be accepted after those are picked up.

All high school seniors are invited and encouraged to attend the Constitution Essay Awards and scholarship luncheon, as there will be an impressive educational keynote speaker with a message in reference to the Constitution. Photos will be taken.

All school principals, counselors and staff, as well as the public, are invited to attend.

Lunch will be provided at no charge for all students. Donations are accepted from adults.

For more information, contact the Republican Women of Yoakum Area: Jackie McNerney 832-725-4701 cell/text or Brenda Cash 361-594-4258 or 361-772-1442 cell/text.