Statewide Winner of Legislative Essay Scholarship Will Receive $11,000
--Annual contest is open to all seniors in Delaware public, private, charter and home schools--

(Dover, DE) – High school seniors in Delaware are highly encouraged to apply for the annual Legislative Essay Scholarship contest. For the 2007–2008 school year, students must submit an essay between 500 and 2,000 words on the topic: The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal." How true was this concept then and is it true today?  The deadline to submit an essay is November 30, 2006. 

Up to 62 scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded for each senatorial and representative district in the state. District winners compete for three statewide awards of $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000.

"We are in the eighth year of this exciting scholarship program,” says Maureen Laffey, Director of the Higher Education Commission, which administers the program.  “The Legislative Essay Scholarship program not only broadens the student’s knowledge of American history, it is also a great opportunity to earn money for college."

The contest was established under legislation jointly sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Wayne A. Smith (R-Brandywine Hundred-North) and Senator David P. Sokola (D-Newark).  "This year, student's will be exploring the very essence of our Declaration of Independence and discussing how that powerful idea continues to fuel our great experiment in freedom and democracy,” says Smith.

A new topic is selected each year and focuses on events, people, philosophies, technologies, governments, or ideals in American history from approximately 1770 to 1860.  Previous contest topics have been George Washington, Frederick Douglass, James Madison, Abigail Adams, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin. To apply, students must meet the contest rules and submit an original essay of between 500 to 2,000 words with their application to the Higher Education Commission by November 30.

Contest rules and applications are available from high school guidance counselors or can be provided by contacting the Delaware Higher Education Commission (DHEC) at (302) 577-3240 or 1-800-292-7935 (toll-free outside New Castle County).  Interested students can also go online at www.doe.k12.de.us/high-ed/essay.htm for this year’s rules and applications.

Delaware’s Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.