Anne Arundel County Public Schools and County Executive Laura Neuman are partnering to promote an essay contest that will allow students to more closely examine the charter form of government in place in Anne Arundel County for the last 50 years.
The contest is open to all high school students, who must answer the question “What Impact Has Charter Government Had on Anne Arundel County?” Essays must be 500 words or less.
“This is an outstanding way to take students beyond the walls of their classroom and allow them to delve into the connections between their lessons and the county as a whole,” Interim Superintendent Mamie J. Perkins said. “These connections are vitally important to our mission to cultivate well-rounded young people who will shape our collective futures.”
Anne Arundel County implemented its system of charter government in 1964. It is composed of a legislative branch known as the County Council, which maintains the county’s legislative powers, and an executive branch that is headed by the County Executive who oversees county agencies and departments.
The contest winner will shadow the county executive for a day later this year.
“We have bright, insightful students in our county and I am very much looking forward to seeing how these future leaders view the ways in which our form of government here in the county has changed lives over the last half century,” Neuman said.
Entries can be mailed to Charter Government Essay Contest, c/o Anne Arundel County Public Schools Public Information Office, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis MD 21401, or emailed to essaycontest@aacps.org. All entries must be received by midnight on December 20, 2013, and must include contact information for the author.
The winner will be announced the week of January 6, 2014.