Coast Guard Art and Essay Contest Set for County Students

COURT HOUSE – Officials planning the County’s Coast Guard Community Festival for May 8 through 10 have announced an Art and Essay Contest for county students. The contest theme is “What the Coast Guard Means to Me,” and winners will participate in a May 8 Proclamation Ceremony at which Coast Guard command and many dignitaries will be present.
The Festival will celebrate Cape May County’s official recognition as a “Coast Guard Community,” an honor awarded after approval by the Coast Guard and confirmation by the United States Congress.
County Freeholder Will Morey and Cape May City Mayor Edward Mahaney, who serve as Co-Chairs of the Coast Guard Community Festival Steering Committee, joined Captain Todd Prestidge, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May (“TRACEN”), to encourage students to be a part of the “Coast Guard Community” celebration by participating in the contest.
“Just as we train the future of the Coast Guard here in Cape May County, the local school children, here, are the future leaders of our community and our nation,” Captain Prestidge noted last week. “Participating in these contests, and putting into words or art what the Coast Guard means to them, are examples of the indelible link between our service and this community.”
Freeholder Morey agreed. “Coast Guard personnel and families have been a special part of the County for many years,” Morey said. “We’re looking forward to hearing through the words of our young people about unique and rich Cape May County-Coast Guard connections.”
Students may enter in either or both of the contest categories (Essay and Art), but each entrant is eligible to win in only one category. There is no entry fee; entries must be received by April 15 by 4 p.m. For each category, winners will be selected from each of the following age brackets:
Elementary School Students – Ages 5-10
Middle School Students – Ages 11-14
High School Students – Ages 15-18
Winning artwork will be displayed at the Coast Guard Community Festival May 8-10 and will remain on display for one year at the Ida Lewis Auditorium at TRACEN.
For full contest guidelines and an application, interested students should check with their school. The application also can be found on the Coast Guard Community Festival’s website, www.CoastGuardCommunity.org .