Annual 6th Grade Essay Contest under way

Local leaders from 97 communities across Massachusetts (see list below) have signed on as partners for the MMA’s fifth annual statewide essay contest for sixth graders.

Students are finishing the statement, “If I were elected leader of my community, I would make a difference by …” The contest encourages the future leaders of the state to reflect on the role of key elected officials and municipal activities.

Local officials will judge essays based on creativity, clarity/sincerity of thought, proper use of grammar, and understanding of local government.

Who: The contest is open to any public school sixth grader in any of the participating communities. (See list below.)

What: Essays must all begin with the statement, “If I were elected leader of my community I would make a difference by …” and must not exceed 300 words. (The required opening quote is not part of the word count.) Students must describe what they would do as elected leader of their city or town to make their community a better place to live.

Where: Download the contest details and student guide on this Web page.

When: By Nov. 15, send your completed essay and entry form to the MMA, One Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110.

Why: The MMA will award first-, second- and third-place prizes (see below), with the winners chosen by a panel of local officials. Every student who participates will receive a participation prize. All winning essays will be printed in the MMA’s monthly publication, The Beacon. This year the MMA is pleased to have Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as a prize sponsor for the contest’s fifth anniversary.

First Place: The winning essayist will be awarded a $500 savings bond and be invited to the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show in Boston on the evening of Jan. 21 to read his or her essay before an audience of Massachusetts local leaders. The winner will also meet Doug Flutie, the featured speaker for the banquet dinner. The student and his or her family will receive a complimentary overnight stay at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.

Second Place: A $250 savings bond and a presentation in the student’s city or town hall

Third Place: A $150 savings bond and a presentation in the student’s city or town hall

Teachers’ Prizes: The teacher of the contest’s first-place winner will receive a set of books – of his or her choice – from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for his or her classroom. Additionally, the name of every teacher whose students participate will be entered into a drawing for a prize. (Teachers are invited to download the teacher’s lesson plan guide above.)

Local Leaders Commitment: Local leaders across the state are excited to engage young people to think creatively about the core services of municipal government. Local officials have been asked to get the word out in their communities and encourage students to participate.

Questions: Please contact Ellen Stoolmacher, Kristi Williams or Megan Devine at (800) 882-1498.

Sponsors: The Massachusetts Municipal Association, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Participating communities

Acushnet Alford Amesbury Avon Barre Bedford Bellingham Beverly Blandford Boxford Braintree Brewster Burlington Charlton Chester Colrain Dennis Dighton Douglas Dudley Eastham Easthampton Edgartown Egremont Fitchburg  Gill Granby Groveland Halifax Hamilton Hanson Hardwick Heath

Hingham Holyoke Hopedale Hubbardston Leominster Lincoln Lowell Lunenburg Lynn Mansfield Marblehead Marion Marshfield Mattapoisett Merrimac Middleton Milton Montague Monterey Montgomery Natick New Braintree New Marlborough Newburyport Norfolk North Andover North Attleborough Northampton Northbridge Northfield Norton Oakham

Orleans Pittsfield Plainfield Quincy Reading Revere Rockland Rockport Russell Scituate Seekonk Sharon Sheffield South Hadley Spencer Sunderland Swansea Topsfield Wakefield Walpole Wellfleet Wenham West Newbury Westborough Westfield Westhampton Weymouth Whately Williamsburg Wilmington Worcester Yarmouth