WASHINGTON – The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation announced the third annual Young Native Writers’ Essay Contest. The contest focuses on the richness of American Indian life and history, and works closely with the Indian law practice group of Holland & Knight LLP.
The contest encourages young Native writers to explore their heritage in order to become positive forces in their communities, and is open to high school students from all tribes throughout the United States.
The project partners with the National Museum of the American Indian and has received a strong endorsement from its school program manager, Genevieve Simermeyer, Osage.
”We are pleased to give all Native American high school students throughout the United States the opportunity to participate in the contest this year, and we are inviting noted Native authors to join us in our effort,” said Angela Ruth, executive director of Holland & Knight’s Charitable Foundation. ”We are grateful for the commitment of the National Museum of the American Indian in joining us to provide important opportunities to Native youth.”
Five finalists will be named from essay entries received, and the five will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, where their activities will include an honor ceremony at the NMAI; a tour of the Cultural Resource Center, where tribal artifacts can be viewed and studied; American Indian author symposiums for students and their teachers; a tour of the Capitol; and a tour of American University.
The winners, accompanied by the teachers who inspired their entries, will also receive a scholarship ranging from $1,000 – $5,000 to be paid to the college or university of their choice during a ceremony that will take place at Holland & Knight’s office in Washington.
The contest debuted in 2006 in Red Lake, Minn., in response to the March 2005 event in which a student at Red Lake High School shot five of his fellow students, a teacher, a security guard, members of his family and then himself. The foundation set up the contest with the hope that the Red Lake community would find healing by promoting its rich culture and traditions.
”I am pleased that Holland & Knight is encouraging American Indian youngsters to share their thoughts and perspectives,” said former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, currently a senior policy adviser with Holland & Knight. ”Indian people have made great strides in recent years, but there is still much to overcome. The voices of our youth give us the perspective of tomorrow’s leaders, allowing today’s leaders the opportunity to look at these issues through fresh eyes.”
The five finalists for 2008 will be named June 1.
Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,150 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices. Other offices around the world are located in Beijing and Mexico City, with representative offices in Caracas and Tel Aviv. Holland & Knight is among the world’s 18 largest firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Our interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams ensure clients have access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. For more information, visit www.hklaw.com.
