• CATEGORIES:
  International winners will be chosen in each of the following categories:
        ●  I.   Middle School...6^th thru 8^th grade.
        ●  II.  High School...9^th thru 12^th grade.
        ●  III. High School Senior
        ●   IV. University or College Undergraduate, limited to undergraduate students
                  enrolled full-time in degree-seeking programs.
  .
  TOPICS: Topics may include any and all aspects of German Russian heritage, including:
       ●   Cultural anthropology of the German-Russians.
       ●   Historical analysis of the reasons for the Diaspora of the German-Russians.
       ●   German-Russian history in the Americas and Canada.
       ●   German-Russian history in Russia, the Soviet Union, loss of Soviet citizenship and
           slave labor camps, and slave labor in England & France after World War II.
       ●   Personal family history.
  .
  FORMAT: Format for the paper may include:
       ●   Creative writing, including short stories, fictional diaries, plays, 
            historical fiction, and descriptive prose. Creative writing endeavors should
           evidence an exploration and understanding of German Russian history and culture.
       ●   Genealogical history of a particular family, including individual histories of
           ancestors.    
       ●   Research papers, including argumentative and/or historical analysis.
       ●   PowerPoint--Entries using the PowerPoint computer program, to include maps,
           photos, and family trees are encouraged. Basic rules for paper entries must be
           followed.
  .
  PAPER REQUIREMENTS: Requirements for each category are listed on the contest information and entry form. The contestant's name should be on the entry form only and should not appear on the essay. Click HERE to download the GRHS Youth Essay Contest information and entry form in a PDF file or HERE for the file in Word. Please print the entry form and send it with your essay to the address on the entry form.
  .
  DEADLINE: 31 March 2010.
  .
  JUDGING CRITERIA: Entries are judged solely on the quality of research underlying the
  entry, and the writing style of the entry. All entries are submitted to a panel of judges, who complete a scoring card for each entry. Scores are then totaled to determine contest winners. Criteria for judging include historical accuracy, clarity, originality of thought, creativity, and style. Winning entries, regardless of format, shall show evidence of serious research. Contestants will not be required to read or orally present their essays.
  .
  AWARDS:
  With winners authorization, essays may be published in the GRHS Heritage Review and/or electronically on the GRHS website. 
  In addition, winners in each category will receive the following: 
  Middle School: First Place: Trophy & $150; Second Place: Runner-Up Trophy & $100.
  High School: First Place: Trophy & $150; Second Place: Runner-Up Trophy & $100. 
  High School Senior Scholarship: A trophy & a $250 Gwen Pritzkau scholarship will be awarded to the highest scoring high school senior entry.
  University: A trophy and a $1000 scholarship, which will be awarded to the highest
  scoring university entry.
  
  SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

	Contact the Information Desk at your local public library for material to assist in family research. Many GRHS chapters and genealogical societies have donated or provided books and periodicals to their local libraries. The genealogy section of libraries, which may be located in the family research section, may contain helpful information.
	Contact members of your family. Elderly members of your family may have useful information and some members of your family may have worked at transcribing your family’s history.
	Helpful websites:
	www.grhs.org Germans from Russia Heritage Society.
	http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/grhc, and http://www.prairiepublic.org/features/GFR/gfrguide.pdf. Germans from Russia Heritage Collection.
	AHSGR: http://www.ahsgr.org/.

                                                    
                                               Good Luck!