Maryland fraternity, Goucher College hold writing contests

The Lambda Gamma Gamma (LGG) Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., located in Maryland, and Goucher College's English Dept. are holding writing contests open to college-bound high school seniors and high school women, respectively.

This year, LGG's essay theme for their National Achievement Week Project, the National High School Essay Contest, is "How can the presidential candidates best address the issue of economic empowerment leading to social and political change as it effects the black male in American society," and must be between 700 and 750 words long. The deadline for entries is Nov. 1, 2004.

First place winners at the local level will receive $500 in savings bonds, second place winners will receive $250, and third place winners will receive $100. Essays that place locally will be submitted to the Omega Psi Phi National Fraternity contest. The fraternity will award scholarships to the top five winners - $3000 to first place, $2500 to second place, $1500 to third place, $1000 to fourth place and $500 to fifth place. Local winners' awards will be presented on Nov. 13, 2004 at the Achievement Week Ball.

The theme of Goucher College's twentieth annual writing contest for high school women is "Women writing about women." Entries must be original pieces of writing - short fiction, drama, essays, or collections of three or more poems. The postmark date deadline for entries is Jan. 7, 2005, and winners will be notified by Mar. 1, 2005. A series of events including a workshop and a public reading by a noted writer-in-residence will be held for winners in early spring 2005.

For more information on the Lambda Gamma Gamma writing contest, click here or contact Lorenzo Catten at (202) 727-5410 or Lorenzo.Catten@k12.dc.us.

Questions about the Goucher College contest should be directed to either Marianne Githens at (410) 337-6274 or Irline Francois at (410) 337-6334. Githens can be reached by e-mail at mgithens@goucher.edu.