The Future of Vermont Project

The Future of Vermont Project is a prompt created in partnership with the Council on Rural Development, the Council on Vermont's Future and Northfield Savings Bank. It includes cash awards and special presentations of student work -- over and above the normal publication of selected work in Vermont daily newspapers. Five essays will be selected for $100 awards and essays will be presented live in several settings to be announced later this year. Here is the prompt:

Vermont. Write an essay that answers any, some or all of these questions:

1.What does it mean to be a Vermonter?
2.What is the one thing you would change about Vermont?
3.If you could live here in 10 years, would you? Why or why not?
4.What is the most important thing to you about life in Vermont?
5.How has growing up in Vermont affected your life/your outlook?

Your essays can be narrative or persuasive, but they should come from your experience and your observation. DEADLINE EXTENDED: Due FRIDAY DECEMBER 5.

We will publish some during the weeks of Dec. 1 &8, but are also planning to expand the project and, along with the Vermont Council on Rural Development, we will be planning to feature the work -- and the authors, too -- at a live event at the Vermont Statehouse in the spring. Your audience will be state legislators, the Governor and other leaders in Vermont! This is a great chance to tell the adults of Vermont what it's like to be a young person here. Please check back on this page for more details.

Please also check the special Web site for more details on the overall effort by a number of Vermont leaders, citizens and young people in helping us define the major issues facing Vermont. Click on the logo above or click on this link: www.futureofvermont.org

So submit your best stories, ideas and thoughts about Vermont! Win cash and fame!

Submit work as you normally would:

• Log in or create a new account (you must have a valid email upon registration. If you do not receive email verification your account will not work and it means you probably entered your email incorrectly.)
• In the navigation sidebar on the right, under your name, click "create content" and then create an ENTRY.
• Give your piece a title. Fill in the information on author, school and grade. (You can leave keyword blank.)
• Paste your essay or story in the "body." Preview it and check for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors.
• CLICK SUBMIT to save your story.

We will contact you if your piece is selected for publication on the Web and/or newspapers and we also will contact you if your piece is chosen as one of the winning five entries for the Future of Vermont Project.

Thanks so much.