Governor Crist Invites Florida’s Students to Participate in Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest and Recognition of Hispanic Teacher

Governor Charlie Crist invites Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades to participate in the sixth annual Florida Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. The Governor also encourages students, parents, teachers and principals to nominate full-time educators in elementary, middle or high schools for the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. The contests are the first in a month-long schedule of events planned to commemorate Florida’s Hispanic heritage. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Honoring a Legacy, Shaping Florida’s Future.”

About the Essay Contest
The essay contest is open to all Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades. One winner will be selected from each of the three grade-level categories, elementary (grades K-5), middle (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Winners will receive a full four-year tuition scholarship to a Florida college or university of their choice, provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. Essays should answer the question: “In what ways does the foundation of Florida’s Hispanic legacy help to build the future of Florida’s innovation economy?”

Guidelines
Entries must be mailed to the Executive Office of the Governor: Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 400 S. Monroe Street, Suite LL-10, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, postmarked by Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008.

• Each student may enter only one essay, no longer than 500 words and typed or handwritten in print, rather than cursive writing.
• Essays must include the student's name, home address, telephone number, school the student attends, grade level and essay title.
• Essay must be accompanied by a parental waiver form, which can be found at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.  

About the Excellence in Education Award
Governor Crist’s annual Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all Hispanic, full time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary (K-5) teacher, one middle school (6-8) teacher and one high school (9-12) teacher. Winners will receive a check for $1,500.

Guidelines
Nomination forms must be mailed to the Executive Office of the Governor: Excellence in Education Award Committee, 400 S. Monroe Street, LL-10, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, and postmarked by midnight of Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008.

Forms can be found at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com. Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent or student.

Essay contest winners and award-winning teachers will be notified the week of October 6, 2008. Awards will be presented at the Governor’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Tallahassee in October.

Additional information about Florida’s Hispanic heritage, contests and other related events is available on the Web site www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.