2008-2009 JAC contest announced

The annual Junior American Citizens Contest that is sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution is open to all preschool through 12th-grade students.  Each grade level is judged separately in each category with separate divisions for the physically or mentally challenged, the regular student, and the gifted student.  All entries MUST follow the theme and meet the specification of the category entered.  The theme is: "America, Land of Opportunity."
   Entries do not have to be done at school. Youth groups, Scout troops, and other organizations may submit entries. A group entry is three or more students working together.  Only ONE individual entry per student will advance to the state level, although more entries may be submitted. The grade level for a group entry is determined by the average grade of all participants. Entries need to have a printed, completed registration form attached to the reverse side of the entry.   
   Poster, stamp, photographic essay, short story, and poem categories must be individual work. Only group entries may compete in the banner category. Community service projects may be individual or group entry. Preschool and kindergarten students may participate only in the banner or group community service categories.
   Students need to follow the theme and the instructions below. No scanned items, clip art, or computer-generated letters are to be used in art categories. Short stories and poems may be typed.                   
   Poster: Original work only with a minimum size 8.5" by 11" and maximum size 22" by 28”. Posters may be laminated or placed in a protective sleeve. Since posters may be folded or rolled for mailing, no rigid material or hanging devices are allowed. 
   Stamp: Design an original postal stamp design of an exact size 5" by 7" drawn in the center of an 8.5" by 11" sheet of WHITE paper. The entry may be laminated or placed in a  protective sleeve.
   Banner: Working in groups of at least three students, design a banner using a 1:3 ratio with a maximum size of 16" x 48". Banners may be paper or fabric and may be rolled or folded for mailing without rigid materials. Do not mail support rods.  Objects attached to banner should be glued or sewn on securely, but no straight or safety pins.
   Photographic essay: Students are to submit not more than 25 color photographs illustrating the theme.  The photographs should be mounted with glue stick on 8.5" by 11" paper and bound in a three-brad composition folder. Brief captions may appear on each page. The first page of the folder should be a title page. Your pictures should tell the story ,as this is an art contest.
   Poem:  An original poem of any style should be 300 words or less written on 8.5" paper, either ruled or plain. Poems may be placed in a plastic sleeve for protection.
   Short story: Write an original short story of 500 words or less. It may be written from the first-person or third-person point of view.  Entries should be on 8.5" by 11" paper, either ruled or plain. They may be placed in a plastic sleeve for protection.
   Community service: Entries should consist of not more than 15 color photographs with a description text of 500 words or less.  Identify all photographs with captions.   
     Entries should be placed in a three-brad binder.
    The deadline for these entries is Jan. 9, 2009. They should be delivered to Jacqualine Dunham, 903 W. A Street, Plains, KS 67869 or to Coy Snyder, 2104 Hart Ave., Dodge City, KS 67801. If unusual circumstances should prevent the entry from being delivered on time, call the entry in by the deadline date to secure an entry spot and make arrangements for the entry to be delivered as soon as possible.
   The entries are first judged at Dodge City. Students with winning entries and their guests will be invited to attend the Dodge City DAR Chapter awards ceremony, which will be held on March 29, 2009, in Eisenhower Hall of the Kansas Soldiers’ Home at Fort Dodge. The first-place entries will be sent to state judging, with winning entries advancing to south-central divisional judging.  Winning entries will be forwarded to national judging, where first-, second- and third-place entries will receive a monetary award. Last year the monetary awards were $20, $15, and $10 respectively.  These winners and honorable mention entries will be awarded certificates. It is important to have entries from Kansas’ students at the national level, or the monetary awards will go to students in other states.
   Last year, the Dodge City chapter received 274 entries, of which 100 were awarded first place and advanced to state competition.  Kansas students had 44 entries that placed at the national level which earned them $695. 
   It is important to encourage students by offering contests that help them develop their talents and teaches a deeper appreciation of the country that offers them many opportunities. Getting students involved in the JAC contest is one way to discourage school violence and promotes good citizenship. 
   For more information, please contact JAC contest chairwoman Jacqualine Dunham by e-mail at jjdunham2@juno.com or telephone (620) 563-7792.