Student essays could win D.C. trip

Students who enter an essay contest focusing on the Second Amendment could win the opportunity to attend a weeklong citizenship program in Washington, D.C.

Since 1977 the National Patriotic Service Committee of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America has conducted a national essay contest.

This year’s essay question is: “What do you think the authors of the Bill of Rights intended the Second Amendment to mean? Do you think it is being interpreted correctly today?”

High school students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades are eligible to enter.

Contest winners will receive full scholarships to attend The Washington Workshops Congressional Seminar on June 22-28 in Washington, D.C.

The week is spent attending lectures by members of Congress and other high-ranking government officials. Sessions are planned at the Pentagon, U.S. Department of State, Federal Reserve Board and the Bureau of Census.

The week also will include visits to Congressional Committee meetings, House and Senate Galleries, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, foreign embassies, national museums and monuments. Speakers will include congressmen, lobbyists, history and government professors from local universities, FBI personnel, senators, press secretaries and political satirists.

The week will culminate with a Model Congress, which the students will have worked on each evening. The goal of the national essay contest is to teach and stimulate an awareness of U.S. citizenship — its privileges, opportunities and responsibilities.

Essay applications are due Dec. 1. Interested teachers or students may access an application online at www.NSCDA. org. Choose the Student Resources tab and then Congressional Essay Contest. Applicants also may contact Marilyn Case, the Oklahoma Patriotic Service chairman, at mscase@ cox.net.