The American Indian Science and Engineering Society is calling for the participation of pre-college Native American students in the Circle of Life Essay Program. All teachers, especially those teaching English composition, are asked to encourage class participation in this essay program. Membership in AISES is encouraged, but not required. Students are asked to write about their values, be they spiritual and/or traditional, that will guide them throughout their lives.These creator. and God-given, moral, ethical and spiritual values are most often verbalized by the Native person when he or she reflects on their religious and cultural traditions, wisdom and life of their relatives, leaders, elders, ancestors.
The top eight students whose essays most clearly express their values will be awarded the following prizes:
Top Essay--$1,000 scholarship and a $200 personal cash award. The top essay winner and a family member/escort will be invited to attend the 2000 National AISES Conference to be held in Portland, Oregon in November.
Runner-up--$500 scholarship and a $200 personal cash award.
Six essays--$100 personal cash award.
All essays will be published in the Winds of Change magazine throughout the year along with a short biography on each author.
There is no application form for the contest. Direct response to this announcement is sufficient with the following:
The top essayist will need to provide a copy of their tribal enrollment or Certificate of Indian Blood before they can retrieve their award.
Essays may be submitted beginning January 1, 2000. The postmark deadline is April 7, 2000. Finalists will be notified during the summer of 2000.
Send essays and required information to:
Carole LaPointe, coordinator
Native American Outreach/Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
Phone: 906.487.2920; FAX: 906.487.3101
Email: cllapoin@mtu.edu
http://www.admin.mtu.edu/naa/
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01/17/00