Date: May 19, 2004
Contact: Angela Johnson
Phone: 340-773-6449
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR INVITES VIRGIN ISLANDS STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE
IN ALEXANDER HAMILTON ESSAY CONTEST
Lieutenant Governor Vargrave Richards encourages all Virgin Islands
students to participate in a Department of Education essay contest highlighting
Alexander Hamilton's youthful years spent on St. Croix.
Alexander Hamilton came to St. Croix from Nevis at age 9 and remained
until he was about 17. After surviving the death of his mother and a
hurricane that devastated the island, Hamilton left St. Croix and later
became the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America.
His face now graces the U.S. ten dollar bill.
Contest participants are asked to write on the following theme: "REFLECTING
ON ALEXANDER HAMILTON'S CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, DISCUSS HOW SUCH EXPERIENCES
CAN PREPARE AN INDIVIDUAL FOR LEADERSHIP."
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JUNE 21, 2004.
Entries must be postmarked or hand-delivered by June 21, and no entries
will be accepted after this date. Please mail or hand-deliver submissions
to: 2004 Hamilton Essay Contest, Office of the Lieutenant Governor,
United States Virgin Islands, 1105 King Street, St. Croix, VI 00820.
All students in the Territory in grades five through twelve are eligible
to participate. Entries will be divided into two categories: fifth-eighth
graders (minimum 250 words); and ninth-twelfth grades (minimum 400 words).
Participants must include a cover page stating their name, school,
age, grade, name of teacher and essay title, and staple it to the upper
left-hand corner of the manuscript, as well as the original signature
of the student.
PAGE 1 of 2
PR NO. 102 / HAMILTON ESSAY CONTEST
Manuscripts must be typed or computer printed in legible black type;
double-spaced; printed on one side of letter-sized 8 ½"-by-11"
white paper with one-inch margins; and submitted flat, not folded. Manuscripts
will not be returned.
Teachers may provide general support and suggestions to students preparing
entries, and are encouraged to proofread the essays. Prizes will be
awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners in each category.
For additional information, call Angela Johnson, public information
officer, in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at 773-6449.
