The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is now accepting submissions for an essay contest designed to honor local military veterans. The winning high school student will receive a $500 college scholarship, courtesy of SAFE Credit Union.
The essay contest takes place in conjunction with Operation Recognition, a program of the Sacramento County Board of Education. Since 2002, the Board has honored the contributions of local veterans who left high school to serve in the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Qualifying veterans are able to receive their high school diplomas, along with qualifying Japanese American citizens who were forced to leave high school due to WW II internment.
500-Word Essay Contest
Deadline Extended to April 24
Contestants must be high school juniors or seniors who are currently attending public high schools in Sacramento County. The completed essay, along with a cover letter, must be received by April 24, 2018.
The winning entrant must attend the Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 15, 2018 to read his or her essay, join in honoring the diploma recipients, and receive the scholarship.
Specifics
- The 2018 theme is “How a Veteran’s Courage Contributes to My Freedom.”
- Essays should be 400–500 words long, typed, and double-spaced. (Titles and footnotes do not contribute to the word count.)
- A positive approach is recommended when expressing viewpoints.
- No pictures or images should be included.
- A cover letter should be attached containing student name, home address, phone number, e-mail address, name of high school, and one paragraph summarizing college and career goals.
Judging Criteria
Essays will be judged on how well the student understood, developed, and presented the theme. Scores will be based equally on knowledge of the theme, structure/spelling/grammar, theme development, and clarity of ideas.
Mailing Address
Operation Recognition Scholarship Contest
SCOE Communications Office
P.O. Box 269003
Sacramento, CA 95826-9003
Entries must be received by April 24, 2018. No electronic submissions will be accepted and contestants may only enter once. For questions, e-mail Tim Herrera, SCOE Communications Director.