TOWN OF RAMAPO ISRAELI TWINNING COMMITTEE

Guidelines for Essay Contest

The Committee expects to send students to Israel for ten days.

The new date is early August 2004.

1.  Students must be residents of the Town of Ramapo.  Verification will be necessary.

2.  Student must be a high school sophomore or junior in “good standing,” and have never visited Israel.

3.  The topic of the essay will be:

                               “WHY I WANT TO VISIT ISRAEL!” 

                           Please include the following in your essay:

·  How do you see yourself as an Ambassador of good will?

·  How can you help promote and strengthen the Israeli Twinning Program now and in  the future in the Town of Ramapo?

4.  The essay should be NO MORE than 250 – 300 words, typed and double-spaced.

5.  Ten finalists will be selected.  The members of the committee will interview these ten finalists.

6.  Six winners and two alternates will be selected from the ten finalists.

7.  Put your name, school and phone number on the back of the last page of the essay in pencil.  Each essay will be assigned a code number.  All reference to the student’s name and school will be deleted from the entry when submitted to the Israeli Twinning Committee members, who will rate the essays.  The staff at the Cultural Arts Center will be the only ones who will know your identity.  Please let your parents know that you are entering the contest.

8.  Student must submit the essay to your school’s designated liaison.

9.  The Essay is due by March 5, 2004.

10   Completed essays must be delivered to: 

Cultural Arts Center, 3 DeBaun Avenue, Suffern, New York
by the designated school liaison on March 5, 2004.

11. Finalists will be notified.  An interview with the finalists and the Israeli Twinning Committee will be scheduled.

12. The six winners and two alternates will be announced by Thursday, April 28, 2004.  Each winner will be expected to attend the  Ramapo Town Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at 8 p.m. to be introduced to the public.

13. Students must have a valid USA passport by date of trip.

If you have any questions, please contact Anita Finkelstein, 357-5100, ext. 326.