High School contest to celebrate South Central Texas Women

How about using the holidays to learn about unsung women of achievement in your community?

The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas plans to award seven cash prizes of $300 each to high school students in a writing/ speaking competition. The “Celebrating Women: Student Writing Showcase” aims to engage students to honor women who have made a real difference in their local communities.

Any student in grades 9-12 currently enrolled in public, parochial, or private school or a home study program in one of these five counties — Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, or Lavaca — may participate. Students are invited to create original essay, poem or spoken word pieces. Online submissions open on Jan. 1 and close at midnight on Jan. 31, 2024.

In addition to receiving cash prizes, the seven winning students will be invited to read or perform their pieces at the League’s annual “Women Making History” event on March 10, 2024, at Schulenburg’s Sengelmann Hall.

Using one of the following Leadership Characteristics, each entry should tell the story of a woman in their world who exemplifies that characteristic. Students will celebrate a woman who may not have received the recognition she deserves for her contribution.

Courage: a woman who, facing significant barriers, championed a cause in which she deeply believed.

Determination: a woman who solved a community problem, despite inertia or apathy around her.

Heritage: a woman of generations past whose achievements enriched our lives.

Heroism: a woman whose heroic spirit was tested and proved a model to all in Colorado, De-Witt, Fayette, Gonzales or Lavaca Counties and beyond.

Initiative: a woman who used her talents and created her own future.

Steadfastness: a woman who persevered for a cause in which she deeply believed.

Vision: a woman whose sensitivity to women’s needs led to real achievements for women.

Read the full guidelines at https://www.lwvsouthcentraltx.org/. Submit between Jan. 1-31, 2024. For more information, contact Elota Patton at [email protected] 512-658-9136 or Janis Richardson at [email protected] 361-772-3228.