--Contest open to all seniors in Delaware public, private, charter and home schools--

(Dover, DE) – High school seniors in Delaware are encouraged to compete for the Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Essay Scholarship where first, second, and third place winners will receive scholarship awards of $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000, respectively.  The topic of the essay is “1860 Candidate Lincoln’s Middle Path on Slavery: Too Little or Just Right?”  The deadline for this contest, administered by the Delaware Higher Education Commission (DHEC), is December 5, 2008.

The contest is sponsored by the Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the State of Delaware, in collaboration with The Lincoln Club of Delaware.  The Honorable Henry duPont Ridgely, who chairs the Commission, said “Abraham Lincoln provided the national leadership that saved our Union and ended slavery in America.  The bicentennial of his birth provides a unique opportunity for students to not only study the leadership qualities of our nation’s greatest President but also to exercise the critical thinking skills essential to their own success as 21st Century citizens of the United States.”

“The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Essay Scholarship is a great opportunity to broaden student knowledge of American history and earn money for college as well,” said Maureen Laffey, director for DHEC.  “Students must adhere to the contest rules and regulations and submit an original essay of between 1,500 to 2,000 words with their application to DHEC by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5th.”

The winners will be announced in January 2009 and honored at the Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Dinner on February 10, 2009, at the Chase Riverfront Center in Wilmington. February 12, 2009, is the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

For more information about the scholarship contest, call the Delaware Higher Education Commission at 302-577-5240 or 800-292-7935 (outside New Castle County) or send an email to dhec@doe.k12.de.us. Paper applications are available upon request, but students are encouraged to apply online at www.doe.k12.de.us/dhec.

The Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was established by an Act of the 143rd General Assembly, House Bill No. 491, which was sponsored by former House Majority Leader Rep. Wayne A. Smith (R-Brandywine Hundred-North) and Senator Nancy Cook (D-Kenton) and signed into law by Governor Ruth Ann Minner. To learn about other Lincoln Bicentennial activities in Delaware, visit www.lincoln200.delaware.gov. The national Lincoln Bicentennial website is at
www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/

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