Oklahoma student essay call

Next month Oklahoma high school seniors' writing assignments are due.  This time, they are not competing for a letter grade but rather for a piece of $12,000 and a chance to meet Ambassador John R. Bolton, former U.S. Representative to the United Nations.

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), an independent think tank, is holding its tenth annual Citizenship Essay Contest.  The competition challenges students to answer the question, “If you were to become the President of the United States, what three issues would you consider high priority and why?"

"This year's question is especially timely," said Dr. J. Rufus Fears, renowned scholar and perennial essay contest judge.  "We stand at a critical moment in our history and our young people will be making decisions that will have consequences for years to come.  The new President must set priorities, must learn from history, and must understand the deep values of the American people.  This essay contest will be a splendid opportunity to put these questions in the mind of Oklahomans."
 

The contest is open to all students who will graduate from an Oklahoma public, private, or home school in the spring of 2009.  Entries must be between 1,000 and 1,250 words and postmarked by February 9.  Winners will be selected in early March and will receive their prize at OCPA's Citizenship Award Dinner on March 23 in Oklahoma City.

For more information about the Citizenship Essay Contest and award ceremony, visit www.ocpathink.org or call (405) 602-1667.  OCPA is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank, which formulates public policy research and analysis consistent with the principles of free enterprise and limited government.