The National Rural Education Association (NREA) Foundation announces its annual Essay Contest for students in rural schools across America.
Student contestants may participate in three divisions: elementary, middle/junior high, and high school:
- Grades 3-8 may participate in a written essay contest using the prompt below and the provided rubric. Any student who attends a rural school may participate. Essays must be 250-500 words in length, depending on the student’s grade.
- Grades 9-12 may participate in a video essay contest using the prompt below and the provided rubric. Any high school student who attends a rural school may participate. Videos must be 3 to 4 minutes in length.
All essays must be postmarked or emailed by April 1.
The Prompt
Rural schools are often the center of the community. Think about your school and how it relates to your community. Why is your school important to you and the community? What are events and activities that connect your school to the community and why are they important to the livelihood of your community?
Prizes
The winner in the elementary division receives $250. The runner-up will receive $100. The winners in the middle/junior high and high school divisions receive $400. The runner-ups receive a $200 prize.