United Nations Contest

The West Triangle Chapter of the United Nations Association (UNA) has announced a United Nations Contest for Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County high school students.

Goals for the Contest

• To educate students about the United Nations and its mission.
• To gain publicity for creative students and the parents, counselors, and teachers who inspire them.
• To provide substantial awards for creative projects relevant to the work of the United Nations.
  • First prize: $1,600 full scholarship to attend the Global Scholar international affairs program of Americans for Informed Democracy at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, for two weeks during the summer of 2008. Please see the Global Scholar website to obtain details about the program.
  • Second Prize: $1,100 scholarship to attend the Global Scholar program.
  • Third Prize: $950 scholarship to attend the Global Scholar program.
  • Second and third prize winners will be expected to provide the difference between their awards and the full $1,600 cost of the Global Scholars program.
  • Winners who are unable to attend the Global Scholars program will receive cash awards instead: $500 first prize, $250 second prize, $100 third prize.

Award Criteria

• Creative projects may come from the social studies, art, music, drama, English, science, foreign languages, math, or career and technical education.
• To be eligible for an award, the creative project :
  1. Must address an issue or problem of concern to the United Nations. For example: keeping the peace; building democracy; helping refugees; improving health and education; defending human rights; fighting poverty; protecting the environment; and providing aid in emergencies such as floods and earthquakes.
  2. Must be original and may be presented in a variety of forms. Form could include an essay, painting, sculpture, poem, story, play, musical composition, performance, dance, scientific project, poster, video, PowerPoint, or multi-media presentation. All sources of ideas must be carefully documented in a reference appendix to the project.
  3. Must be presented in such a way that it can be evaluated for its relevance to the work of the U.N. For example, a selection of musical works would be accompanied by a written or taped oral explanation of
     how these works pertain to the mission of the United Nations .
• Please notify us of your interest in submitting a project by Friday, December 15th 2007, providing your name together with a brief description of the creative work you are planning. Email this information to Jean and Tuck Green, Co-Chairs, Education Outreach Committee, West Triangle UNA, at cgreen17@nc.rr.com . We are happy to provide suggestions about topics as well as ways to present them.

Award Selection Process and Award Ceremonies

• The Award Selection Committee will be chosen from UNA West Triangle Chapter members and possibly outside experts as well. Students will present their projects to the Committee in early 2008 at a location to be determined. Winners will be notified within two days of their presentations.
• Award Ceremonies
  1. Award winners will be expected to summarize their creative works during the April 2008 meeting of the West Triangle Chapter of UNA. At that time award winners will receive financial awards and U.N. lapel pins.
  2. Suitable publicity in state and local media will be arranged for the Award winners, their teachers, counselors, and schools.
  3. Certificates of achievement will be presented at high school award assemblies.