Fourth Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Essay Contest Call for Entries

The New Jersey Hall of Fame is calling for entries to its fourth annual essay contest which is open to all New Jersey students in grades 4 through 12.

The topic is “Who Should Be in the New Jersey Hall of Fame,” where students nominate potential inductees – living or dead – to the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Nominations can include famous people as well as ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things. Students should research or interview, if possible, the person they wish to nominate and write an essay no longer than 500 words.

Essays must be typed and double-spaced. The student must include his/her name, age, grade level as of April 2010, address, phone number, parent/guardian’s name, school name, and school district. If the essay is a school project, the student should also include the name and contact information for the teacher who assigned the activity. Nominations must be postmarked by April 1, 2010 to be eligible and mailed to:

NJ Hall of Fame Contest

NJEA

Attn: Dawn Hiltner

180 West State Street

PO Box 1211

Trenton, NJ 08607-1211

Essays are not accepted via fax or email. 

Entries will be divided into two age categories: Intermediate (grades 4 through 8) and High School (grades 9-12). All entries will be judged by a panel comprised of teachers and New Jersey Hall of Fame representatives. The winners will be notified in late April.

Each winning student and three guests plus their teachers will be invited as VIP guests to the New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 2, held at NJPAC in Newark. They walk the red carpet with many celebrities, enjoy priority seating and mingle backstage with the Hall of Fame Inductees. The winners will also receive $500.00 from the NJHOF.

The Class of 2010 is comprised of 15 legendary New Jerseyans including Count Basie, Judy Blume, Justice William Brennan, Danny DeVito, Larry Doby, Michael Graves, Carl Lewis, Jack Nicholson, Alice Paul, Les Paul, Phillip Roth, Susan Sarandon, Wally Schirra, Frankie Valli and President Woodrow Wilson. Most if not all of the inductees and/or family members are expected to be in attendance at this special event.

Sponsors of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Essay Contest include the NJEA, J.H. Cohn LLP, Cablevision and PNC Bank.