By Staff
Entries should celebrate impacts of blacks in U.S.
By CLAUD HODGES, Senior Reporter
The African-American History and Awareness Program in the Aurora area is seeking essays during Black History Month. The essays should celebrate the influence blacks have in America.
The JSD ROCC’s mission is to assist the community in nurturing children, strengthening families and changing neighborhoods.
The organization addresses the educational, recreational and social development needs of youth ages 6-21.Essays are due by Feb. 8. They should be mailed to JSD Resource Outreach Community Center, P.O. Box 212, Edward, N.C. 27821
Each submitted essay should include a cover page with name, age, grade, address and phone number. The information is needed for notification purposes.
Essays should address the following theme: “How have the contributions and/or inventions of African-Americans improved my life?”
Students in grades 3 through 12 may submit essays. Students in the third, fourth and fifth grades are required to submit typed, one-page essays. Students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades are required to submit typed, two-page essays. Students in the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th grades are required to submit typed, three-page essays.
Winners will be chosen from each grade category. Students will receive a $100 Savings Bond for finishing in first place, a $50 Savings Bond for finishing in second place and a $25 savings bond for finishing in third place.
The African-American History Awareness Program will present an evening of remembrance at 4 p.m. at the Aurora Community Center on Feb. 23. The event will feature educational readings, skits and songs, dance performances, guest speakers and a reading of winning essays by their authors.
JSD ROCC strives to provide youth in the program with tools and motivation necessary to escape the cycle of drug abuse, crime, unemployment and poverty that has afflicted so many in their parents’ generation, according to organization officials.
For further information about the contest, call 974-3135 or 322-5789. For more information about JSD ROCC and the official contest rules, visit the JSD ROCC Web site at www.jsdrocc.org.