Bridging the Generations Essay Contest: An Elder I Know
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2012 Second Place winner Maya Claire Messinetti and grandmother.
2012 Honorable Mention Alina Michelet and "Oma."
2012 Third Place winner Ainsley Van Hook and "Steve."
2012 Third Place Essay
2012 Honorable Mention Essay
2012 First Place winner Lucy Purvis and family.
2012 First Place Essay
2012 Second Place Essay
2012 Honorable Mention winner Alina Michelet with Mr. Graham.
2012 Second Place winner Maya Claire Messinetti with Mr. Graham.
2012 Honorable Mention Essay
The 6th Annual Essay Contest was a great success!
Check back in spring 2013 for information on next year's contest.
Conducted by Portland State University's Institute on Aging and the Oregon Gerontological Association, in conjunction with Portland Public Schools.
We invite 4th and 5th grade teachers to participate by engaging students in a class project in which each student submits an essay (500 words or less) about a grandparent or other older adult (60 years of age or older) who has been an inspiration and who has made a difference in the life of the student. Essays should reflect the ways in which the grandparent or older adult has made an impact on them and how/why the student values the relationship. A reading committee made up of volunteers from OASIS will select the final winning essays.
1. Essays will be judged on:
- Clarity of ideas
- Originality
- Creativity
- Content related to positive and meaningful relationships
2. The subject of the essay must be someone that is known by the student and the subject must be at least 60 years of age.
3. Submissions must be essays composed exclusively for this competition.
4. Essay contest winners will include first, second, and third place.
5. All essays should display both originality and effective writing.
6. The length of the submission must not exceed 500 words.
7. All entries must include a title page with title, full name of the student, teacher name and contact information (see here for template). All essays must be typed and double-spaced using 12 point font.
8. Essays should be submitted in pdf form via email by March 28, 2012. Please submit to:
Crystal Root, rootc@pdx.edu
Institute on Aging, Portland State University
For information, contact Crystal Root, 503 725-3952 or Diana White (503) 725-2725
9. A ceremony to celebrate participating teachers and students, award winners and their honorees will be held on Saturday, April 28, from 10:30 am—12:00 noon. The location will be announced at a later date. The older person who is the subject of the essay, and families and friends will be invited to attend.
Read the 2012 winning entry here.
Read the 2011 winning entry here.
Read the 2010 winning entry here.
Pictured above: Honorable Mention Mia Dalton from Mrs. Smith's class at Forest Park Elementary School and grandfather Dennis Dalton (left). 2010 1st Place Winner Paris Butler from Mrs. Calvillo's class at Duniway Elementary School (right).
