Indiana Statehood Day Essay Contest
2013 Statehood Day Essay Contest
The Indiana State House Tour Office in conjunction with the Indiana Center for the Book and the Indiana State Library is hosting an essay competition to commemorate Indiana Statehood Day 2013, a celebration of Indiana’s 197th birthday. To start us thinking about our 200th Statehood Day in 2016, this year’s theme is Hoosier Bicentennial Heroes. Winners of the Hoosier Bicentennial Heroes essay contest will be honored at the Statehood Day Celebration at one of four participating locations on Wednesday, December 11, 2013.
Hoosier Bicentennial Heroes essay contest rules:
- The competition is open to any Indiana 4th grade public, private or homeschooled student.
- Essays must range from 100 to 300 words, handwritten or typed.
- Essays should be submitted on the front of one page whenever possible.
- No identifying information should be on the front of the entry. Identifying information including the student’s name, teacher’s name, school’s name, address, telephone number, and a valid email address for the teacher or individual, must be included. Entries without this information will be deemed ineligible. Entries are accepted from schools or individuals.
- Essays should be reflective of the theme and convey clear thoughts about Hoosier Bicentennial Heroes. The judges will be accepting a broad interpretation of the theme. Indiana is about to turn 200. Who is a Hoosier Bicentennial Hero to you?
- Essays must be postmarked by Friday, October 25, 2013. We are not accepting electronic submissions. Essays should be mailed to:
Indiana Center for the Book
c/o Suzanne Walker
140 N. Senate Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
- A panel of judges will choose first, second, third, and fourth place winners.
The winners, along with their class, will be invited to read his or her essays at one of the four participating locations on December 11th for Indiana’s 197th Statehood Day.
Additional Resources
- For additional information regarding events planned for Statehood Day, visit www.in.gov/idoa/2371.htm.
- Official Statehood Day Essay Contest Flyer
- Information for Schools Interested in Participating in Statehood Day Festivities
About the Statehood Day Essay Contest
The Statehood Day Essay Contest takes place annually in the fall and is open to all Indiana fourth graders. All Indiana students are taught Indiana history as part of their fourth-grade curriculum. The program is administered by the Indiana Statehouse Tour Office and Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The essays are judged by a panel of Indiana State Library staff and volunteer educators. The winner and finalists, along with their class, are invited to attend the Statehood Day Ceremony.
2012 Statehood Day Essay Contest
Congratulations to Jaime Poynter of Greenwood Bible Baptist School on winning the 2012 "What Indiana Means to Me" essay contest! (view release)
Thank you to the nearly 1,000 Hoosier fourth-graders that entered this year's contest. This year's finalists were as follows:
- 1st Place: Jaime Poynter, Greenwood Bible Baptist
- 2nd Place: Grace Yang, New Britton (Fishers) Elementary
- 3rd Place: Olivia Freeth, Pine Tree (Avon) Elementary School
- 4th Place: Aria Miller, Bridgeport (Indianapolis) Elementary School
View Jaime Poynter's winning essay
Previous Years' Contests
- 2011 Statehood Day Essay Contest
- 2010 Statehood Day Essay Contest
- 2009 Statehood Day Essay Contest
- 2008 Statehood Day Essay Contest
Statehood Day Essay Contest Sponsors
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