Fifth-grade students are invited to participate in UD's 2012 Coast Day essay contest.

Coast Day essay contest

Fifth graders encouraged to describe how they are 'Checking in on Our Coast'

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11:52 a.m., Aug. 24, 2012--Entries for the University of Delaware’s 2012 Coast Day essay contest are now being accepted, with this year’s theme exploring how students are “Checking in on Our Coast.”

The contest is designed to spark fifth graders’ interest in coastal environments while developing their research and writing skills. 

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Contest winners will receive prizes and recognition at this year’s Coast Day, which will be held on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at UD's Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del.

The contest is open to any fifth grader in Delaware, and entries must be postmarked by Friday, Sept. 21.

The top three winning essayists will receive bookstore gift cards valued at $100 for first prize, $75 for second prize and $50 for third prize. The teachers of the winning students will receive gift cards for resource materials for use in their classrooms.

“Many educators have their classes participate in this contest to teach about the role of coastal ecosystems in our lives, while also meeting state education standards,” said Chris Petrone, marine education specialist with Delaware Sea Grant. “It’s a fun way to create awareness about coastal issues in the state.”

Winning students and their teachers will be recognized at Coast Day and through news releases to the media.

Coast Day, an annual educational festival about Delaware’s rich marine resources, is held on the first Sunday in October. Sponsored by UD’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) and Delaware Sea Grant, Coast Day typically attracts 10,000 visitors and has won state and national awards for promoting environmental education and stewardship.

Coast Day is supported by DuPont Clear into the Future, Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., UTEC Survey Inc., WMDT—CW-3, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Essay contest entries, which will be considered only if they are postmarked by Sept. 21, conform to contest rules, and are under 400 words in length, should be sent to:

Coast Day Essay Contest
Delaware Sea Grant – Marine Advisory Service
700 Pilottown Road
Lewes, DE 19958

For a complete list of contest rules and to learn more about Coast Day, visit the website.

For more information, contact Chris Petrone at 302-645-4308 or petrone@udel.edu.

Article by Teresa Messmore

Photo by Lisa Tossey  

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