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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2007
Students Honored for Fair Housing Poster and Journalism Contests
Jefferson City, MO – Six students were honored last week at a recognition luncheon for their creative posters and essays submitted in the 2007 Fair Housing Poster and Journalism Contests sponsored by the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
“This is the Commission’s fourth year for sponsoring these contest and each time the level of competition increases,” said Donna Cavitte, executive director of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. “The talent and level of understanding these young students have regarding fair housing issues are outstanding. We thank all the students and schools that worked so hard to participate in these contests.”
Students were asked to design a poster or write an essay based on the theme “Fair Housing is the American Dream.” Recipients from each contest were selected to receive $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place. Schools of winning students each received the same amount of prize money as awarded to the students. The prizes come from a partnership initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
First place poster contest recipient is Robert Campbell. Robert attends Westran R-I in Huntsville, MO. Second place poster contest recipient is Lauren O’Kruch. Lauren also attends Westran R-I in Huntsville, MO. Westran High School was awarded $200 for Special Recognition for the number of its students who have participated in the Poster contest. Westran has had winning posters in all four of the contests and one poster was the model for a banner the MCHR displayed at the 2005 Annual HUD Conference, Washington, D.C..
In the Journalism Contest, the first place essay recipient is Raven Hayes. Raven attends Neosho High School in Neosho, MO. Receiving second place honors in the Journalism Contest is Adam Lauderdale. Adam attends Joplin High School in Joplin, MO. Third place recipient in the Journalism Contest is Nicole Collette. Nicole attends Sante Fe High School in Alma, MO.
The purpose of the Poster and Journalism Contests is to reward excellence in art and journalism while increasing awareness of housing issues among Missouri’s youth. Both contests were open to students in grades 7 through 12.
If HUD provides monetary support for this educational contest in 2008, the Joplin Fair Housing Authority has offered to match the prize money, increasing first place from $500 to $1,000.
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Information and Planning · 421 East Dunklin
· P.O. Box 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
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