For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Councilmember Craig Rice extends deadline to Monday, July 16
for his 2018 Councilmember for a Day Challenge
Contest seeks to empower young people to become more involved with public policy and government
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 19, 2018—Montgomery County Councilmember Craig Rice, who chairs the Council’s Education Committee, will host, for a third consecutive year, one Montgomery County high school student as an honorary Councilmember for a Day. Councilmember Rice announced that he has extended the application deadline for his Councilmember for a Day Challenge until July 16. The winner of the challenge will be the guest of honor at a Council breakfast, receive a Council proclamation, participate in a full Council meeting and receive a top prize of $500. In addition to shadowing Councilmember Rice for the day, the winning student and his or her parents also will have dinner with the councilmember and his staff. The challenge is part of Councilmember Rice’s efforts to expand opportunities for students to learn more about local government and how they can affect change.
Councilmember Rice is asking eighth grade students and high school students (current freshman, sophomores or juniors) to submit videos (of two minutes or less) or written essays (500 words or less) addressing the following:
· In your opinion, what is the most important public policy issue facing young people today? What suggestions do you have for national, state and local leaders to address this issue?
Ten students will be selected as finalists based on the quality and creativity of their entries. The finalists will receive prizes ranging from $25 to $250 and official Council certificates at the Council’s Youth Town Hall meeting in the fall. The winning student will be selected from this group.
“As we go into our third year for my Councilmember for a Day Challenge, I am excited to see what our talented and socially conscious students will submit in terms of issues that are important to them,” said Councilmember Rice. “I want our young people to know they are heard and that their ideas and views matter very much.”
The 2017 Councilmember for a Day winner, Moira Johnson from Montgomery Blair High School, had an enriching day at the Council. Watch her experience at: https://tinyurl.com/yam3u34r .
“This challenge gives our Councilmember for a Day a unique opportunity to experience firsthand how our local legislative body functions and how change is made in our County,” said Councilmember Rice.
The Council has created an on-line form for all contest submissions. The form can be accessed at: https://tinyurl.com/CM4aDay2018 .
The deadline for entries is Monday, July 16 at 5 p.m. Students, who have already submitted their materials, need not reapply.
A flyer for the challenge is attached to this release.
For further information or questions about the challenge, contact Sonya Healy at sonya.healy@montgomerycountymd.gov or at 240-777-7926.
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Release ID: 18-187