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Writing Contest for
for the 2014-2015 School Year

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

 

Grade 3-8 students in the MWRA service area are invited to participate in our Writing Contest for 2014-2015.

Download a complete contest entry packet (PDF) for all rules, FAQs, forms, labels and other important details.

2014-2015 Topic
It's All About STEM

Write an essay or poem about a day in the life of a water or wastewater worker who uses the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math in his or her job.

People living, working or visiting one of the 61 communities in the MWRA service area are able to quench their thirsts, bathe, flush toilets, do the dishes and water their lawns without much thought. MWRA treats and delivers drinking water from the Quabbin Reservoir and transports wastewater to Deer Island to be treated. But who are the people who keep these important systems running? They are men and women who studied the same things you are studying: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or “STEM.”

 

Eligibility

The writing contest is open to all grade 3-8 students in the MWRA service area. Only schools in the service area are eligible to enter.

Contest Topic
Write an essay or poem about a day in the life of a water or wastewater worker sho uses the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math in his or her job.
Deadline
Entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Early entries are encouraged.
Rules
Rules are included in the contest entry packet(PDF).
Required Forms and Labels

Every group of student entries must have a Contest Registration Form and each entry must have a Student Label attached securely to the back of the entry. Forms and labels are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

Students may enter on their own if they live in or attend a school in the MWRA service area. You must include the student label on the back of your entry. Labels are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

Prizes

First prize in each category is a $100.00 gift check, 2nd prize is a $50.00 check, and 3rd prize is a $25.00 check.  In the writing contest the (2) categories are 3-5 and 6-8.  In each of the categories there is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and (3) honorable mention winners. 

All winners, including honorable mention winners, are invited with their families to an Awards Ceremony at Deer Island on Friday, May 22, 2015.

How to Submit Contest Entries

Entries may be typed or neatly handwritten in ink. They should be no longer than 2 pages.

All entries must be mailed to:

MWRA School Contest
2 Griffin Way
Chelsea, MA 02150

What Makes a Good Writing Entry
First, be sure your entry addresses the question.  As good as a piece might be, if it isn't on topic, it can't win a prize.  Then, use your creativity to make your entry stand out.  The reader should remember your work because there was something unique about it. An essay can be just as creative as a poem or dialogue, if it has a clear theme that is developed cleverly. For inspiration and examples, check out our writing contest winners for 2013-2014.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers for teachers and students are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

What if I still have some questions?

If you still have questions, please contact Meg Tabacsko, MWRA School Program Manager, at meg.tabacsko@mwra.com. If you do not have access to email, please call Meg at 617-305-5646.


Only schools located in the MWRA Service Area listed below are eligible to participate in the Annual Poster, Writing and Video Contests

Water Communities
Chicopee Peabody
Clinton Saugus
Leominster Southborough
Lynn  South Hadley
Lynnfield Swampscott
Marblehead Weston
Marlborough Wilbraham
Nahant Worcester
Northborough  
Sewer Communities
Ashland Lancaster
Braintree Natick
Burlington Randolph
Hingham Walpole
Holbrook Weymouth
Water and Sewer Communities
Arlington Newton
Bedford Norwood
Belmont Quincy
Boston Reading
Brookline Revere
Cambridge Somerville
Canton Stoneham
Chelsea Stoughton
Dedham Wakefield
Everett Waltham
Framingham Watertown
Lexington Wellesley
Malden Westwood
Medford Wilmington
Melrose Winchester
Milton Winthrop
Needham Woburn
Schools located on Cape Cod and within the Quabbin and Wachusett Watershed are also eligible to participate.

STAFF CONTACTS

Meg Tabacsko
617-305-5646
meg.tabacsko@mwra.com

Vicki Mucci
617-305-5670
vicki.mucci@mwra.com

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Updated March 24, 2015

image of contest poster
School Program Main Page
Contest Main Page
Poster Contest
Writing Contest
Video Contest
Contest Entry Packet: all rules, FAQs, forms, labels and other important details packet of info, forms and rules (PDF)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ELIGIBILITY

Contests are limited to schools in the MWRA service area.
Eligible communities

HELPFUL LINKS
MWRA Careers A to Z (PDF)
MWRA YouTube Page
MWRA Photos on Flickr
LAST YEAR'S WINNERS

Need inspiration?

2013-2014 poster contest winner

Check out our contest winners for 2013-2014

posters
| writing | video (YouTube)

CONTACT INFO
MWRA Staff Contacts