The Mesa Historic Preservation Board is sponsoring a writing contest for all fourth-grade, fifth-grade and sixth-grade students and a video contest for sixth-grade through twelfth-grade students living in the City of Mesa. The contests are open to students regardless whether the school is public, private, charter or home. It will provide students the opportunity to learn more about Mesa’s history and practice their writing or video skills as they create either a fictional story around a historic event in the City or an oral history of someone who is interviewed. The contest is open until March 27.
This year, students may choose from one of three topics:
- How did water help Mesa grow? What role did water play in the growth of the City of Mesa?
- How did the Air Force Bases help Mesa in WWII? What role did the Air Force Bases play?
- Mesa’s first: schools, families, grocery stores, hardware stores, or post office (choose two).
Or, students may choose to conduct an oral history interview of a Mesa citizen aged 60 or older who grew up in Mesa and recount his or her story.
Each essay or video must reflect the student’s own research, original thinking and writing or video skills. Entry forms and essays or videos can be sent to:
Arianna Urban
Historic Preservation Coordinator
City of Mesa
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211-1466
Essays or videos must be postmarked on or before the contest deadline of March 27, 2020. They will not be returned to the author as they become property of the Mesa Historic Preservation Board. They can also be sent by email to arianna.urban@mesaaz.gov.
Every contestant will receive a certificate of participation. There will be cash awards given to the first ($50), second ($30) and third ($20) place contest winners in each category. The top three essay writers and video creators will be recognized at a Mesa City Council meeting. For more information and to obtain an entry form, visit www.mesaaz.gov/residents/historic-preservation.
