NCACC sponsors county government essay contest
For the fifth year, the N.C. Association of County
Commissioners will host an essay contest on county government.
The topic of the essay
is, “How does my county government improve the lives of its citizens?”
The annual contest is
open to ninth and 10th grade students in North Carolina public and charter schools. Students are
asked to write a 500-word essay. The entry deadline is April 30. The winning student and the teacher
who submits the winning essay will each win $500 and will be recognized at a meeting of their
county’s board of commissioners.
Rebecca Lowder, a student at West Forsyth High School in
Clemmons, won the 2011 contest. Her winning essay focused on the role that counties play in public
safety, protecting the environment and animal control, among others.
The complete contest
rules, along with the winning essays from each of the previous four years, are posted on the NCACC’s
county government education website, http://www.welcometoyourcounty.org. The site is designed for citizens
and students who would like to learn more about county government and contains information on why
counties and county governments exist, where counties receive their funding, what services they
provide, who runs county governments, and more.
In 2004, the NCACC board of directors adopted
five strategic goals. One of these goals is to inform the public and the media about the role of
county government. In 2008, as part of the association’s centennial celebration, the board approved
the annual essay contest to encourage students and teachers to focus on county government in the
classroom. Previous winners have been from Onslow County, Pender County and Cleveland
County.
For more information, contact Todd McGee, NCACC communications director, at (919)
715-7336 or (todd.mcgee@ncacc.org)
