PUBLIC SCHOOLS Essay contest will tap into children's dreams

The winners of an essay contest for pupils will be announced May 5.
YOUNGSTOWN -- An essay contest asking public school pupils to describe their visions and hopes for the future has drawn 315 entries from the city schools.
Six winners of the contest -- selected after two rounds of judging -- will be announced and honored at a special ceremony May 5 at the Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 10 East Commerce St. Their essays will be placed in a time capsule to be sealed in the cornerstone of the federal building. Each of the six pupils also will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, contributed by an anonymous donor.
Ceremony official
Officiating at the time capsule and cornerstone ceremony will be Youngstown native and former federal judge Nathaniel R. Jones. The building was named for Judge Jones in a public law passed by Congress and signed by the president last year.
The essay contest, jointly sponsored by the U.S. General Services Administration, the Youngstown City Schools and The Vindicator, was open to public school pupils in all grades, from elementary through high school. Of the 315 essays submitted, 20 were selected by city school staff members as finalists. Editors at The Vindicator will chose the six winners and publish those essays on the Education Page in the May 8 issue of the newspaper.
Public event
Mayor George M. McKelvey and School Superintendent Benjamin L. McGee are scheduled to join Judge Jones in honoring the student essayists at the cornerstone ceremony. The event will be open to the public.
In addition to the essays, the time capsule will also contain mementos and documents about Youngstown contributed by government and community organizations.