Students invited to write about perfect green community

CHICAGO — What would high school students do to make their communities green?

The American Planning Association invites high school juniors and seniors to enter APA’s second annual high school essay contest to tell how they might do it. This year’s theme, in conjunction with National Community Planning Month, is “Creating a Green Neighborhood Plan.” Students are challenged to create a green and environmentally friendly plan for their neighborhood.

They will have to address the following points in their essay:

UIdentify potential solutions for environmental issues in their neighborhood.

UAddress how the plan will benefit the community.

UCoordinate the new plan with existing plans.

UBuild support for the plan.

Essay submissions are due Jan. 15. 

The first place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to the college or university he or she attends after graduation and complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend an APA National Planning Conference. Ten additional essays will receive honorable mentions, and their authors will receive a $100 gift certificate to APA’s PlanningBooks.com. Essays will be judged by a panel of planning and education professionals on research and analysis, creativity and quality of the plan and writing quality and organization. Students will be notified of the panel’s selections by March 15. For eligibility requirements and full entry details, visit www.planning.org/institutions/hsessay.htm.