Three winning essayists will receive cash prize and chance to read their
essay at televised city council meeting
Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver is sponsoring a new essay contest to encourage young people to get involved in their community and to learn more about their local government. Mayor Siver invites all 6th grade students throughout Southfield to participate in a citywide “If I Were Mayor, I Would…” essay contest.
Mayor Siver is promoting the essay contest to engage young people in local government and to solicit input from the next generation of future leaders. The contest gives students a chance to creatively use grade-specific language arts, civics and social studies knowledge.
Promoting good city government is important to Mayor Siver and the city of Southfield, and this essay contest provides students the opportunity to reflect on the role of the chief elected official in their own city. In addition to helping youth think about the important role that municipal government plays in their daily lives and communities, the contest also offers an opportunity for city officials to connect with local schools and students.
“The future mayors of our city are in classrooms today,” commented Mayor Kenson Siver. “The education they receive helps them to become good citizens – and good mayors. The best way to ensure that students understand how municipal government works is to get them involved.”
The essay contest is open to all 6th grade students in Southfield, including public, private, parochial, Hebrew, charter and home-schooled. A $100 cash prize will be awarded to the first place winner, $50 will be awarded to the second place winner, and $25 will be awarded to the third place winner. Winning essayists will also be invited to read their essay at a televised City Council meeting in May. Each essay must contain the student’s name, school, home address, and phone number on the front page or cover sheet. Entries may be typed in a 12-point font, double-spaced or handwritten on white 8.5”x11” paper. Essays will be judged on creativity, clarity, content and adherence to the theme. Essays are limited to a maximum length of 250 words; one entry per student. All essays must be received or postmarked by Friday, April 15, 2016. Entries should be mailed to: Mayor’s Office, Attn: Mayor’s Essay Contest, 26000 Evergreen Road, P. O. Box 2055, Southfield, MI 48037-2055. Entries may also be e-mailed as an attachment in Microsoft Word to: ssilva@cityofsouthfield.com.
The three winning essays will be selected by a review committee comprised of Mayor Siver, local teachers, educators and city officials. Information packets were sent to all public, private and charter schools throughout Southfield. If a school did not receive the packet, it can be obtained from the City’s Web site at www.cityofsouthfield.com or by calling the Mayor’s Office at (248) 796-5100.
For more information, call Sue Silva, special projects coordinator in the Mayor’s Office, at (248) 796-5100.
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