Essay Contest for Herkimer County Students in Grades 5-8

Herkimer County students in grades five through eight are eligible to participate in an essay contest and win cash prizes. Essays should focus on the topic “Your Job, Your Future” and must be submitted no later than September 30, 2015. The contest is part of a Herkimer County educational initiative to promote future career opportunities available in the Mohawk Valley region.

Winners of the essay contest will be announced at a public forum on Thursday, October 8, 6:30-8 p.m. at Herkimer College. The forum will present information regarding the mid-level skills gap in the Mohawk Valley, future employment opportunities and trends and the educational paths that exist to prepare students for those jobs.

Essays should be between 250 and 500 words on the topic: “Your Job, Your Future!” Students should write about what careers they are interested in, jobs they would like to see in the area in the future, or how they see the future of jobs in the Mohawk Valley region. Essays should be typed and include their name, phone number, grade level, teacher’s name and school. Essays should be submitted via hard copy to Roberta Matthews, Herkimer BOCES, 352 Gros Boulevard, Herkimer, NY 13350 or via email to rmatthews@herkimer-boces.org. Prizes will include a $500 first prize and $250 second prize, and two $100 awards. The class with the most essays submitted will win a pizza party.

The contest and forum are the result of a collaboration between Herkimer College, Herkimer BOCES and The Genesis Group, and are sponsored by Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.

For more information regarding the essay contest, contact Roberta Matthews Director of Academic Services, Herkimer BOCES at 315-867-2032 or rmatthews@herkimer-boces.org. For more information regarding the Mid-Level Skills Gap Forum on October 8, contact Rebecca Ruffing at Herkimer College, 315-866-0300, ext. 8259 or ruffingrj@herkimer.edu.