Rochester

Eighth-graders to celebrate Women’s History Month with essay

By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer

ROCHESTER — The American Association of University Women of Rochester, in partnership with the Rochester Hills Public Library and the Auburn Hills Public Library, is sponsoring its ninth annual eighth-grade essay contest for those in the Rochester and Avondale school districts in honor of National Women’s History Month next March.

“The contest is open to any student in eighth grade,” Linda Pannuto, chair of the essay contest, said in an email. “We traditionally receive between 60 and 80 entries from all of the middle schools in Rochester and Avondale school districts, as well as students who are home schooled.”

The purpose of the contest, according to Pannuto, is to encourage students to exhibit their writing skills by composing essays of 400 words or less on the theme “A Woman of Significance to Me” — about a woman who is, or has been, an inspirational force in the lives of others.

The person chosen as the subject of the essay could be a family member, a teacher, someone in the community, or a historical figure who has opened the student’s mind to new ideas, which Pannuto said the judges would pay particular attention to.

“Students have chosen famous women, both living and dead, as well as family members — mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts — teachers, characters in books, and one year even Scarlett O’Hara,” Pannuto said in an email.

Rochester Hills Public Library Director Christine Lind-Hage has attended the event a number of times and said, “it’s inspiring and really heartwarming.”

“The students sometimes pick famous women, but often it’s grandmother, mother or another family member, a neighbor, or a teacher — just an everyday woman,” she said.

The contest awards and certificates of achievement will be distributed at the AAUW of Rochester general meeting at the Rochester Community House on March 22, where the students will read their essays aloud.

The top three essays will be awarded cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 respectively, and Pannuto said several essays would also be named honorable mentions. A representative from the Rochester Hills Public Library and the Auburn Hills Public Library, which are co-sponsoring the contest, will also share during the event their story of a woman who has shaped their lives.

Application forms and contest rules are available at Avondale, Hart, Reuther, Van Hoosen and West middle schools; at Auburn Hills Public Library and the Rochester Hills Public Library; and on the Rochester Community Schools website at www.rochester.k12.mi.us.

Entries must be postmarked by March 9 and sent to Eighth Grade Women’s History Month Essay Contest c/o Linda Pannuto, 1375 Hathaway Rising, Rochester Hills, MI 48306.

For more information about the contest, call Pannuto at (248) 651-0436.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at malmond@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1060.