The non-profit Society of the Citizens of Pozzallo, a Sicilian club on Henry Street near Sackett, in collaboration with Groundswell Community Mural and New York City Councilman Brad Lander, are planning a public mural in honor of Saint Frances X. Cabrini, a famous Italian immigrant nun who helped other immigrants to New York. Cabrini started her first Catholic school in Carroll Gardens and launched many more across the country.
A mural contest is underway. The winner will paint a public mural in the Columbia Street Waterfront District, where Cabrini served newly arriving Italian immigrants to Brooklyn in the late 1800s.
In order to mark the historic life of Cabrini, an essay contest will run in conjunction with the mural project. The contest is open to students from grades 2 to 12. Four $500 prizes will be awarded, one in each category.
Entries due May 30.
The essays will be used by Groundswell Community Mural as the basis for the mural. The mural is scheduled to be unveiled this Fall.
For more information: http://www.pozzallo-usa.org/essaycontest.html
The Society of the
Citizens of Pozzallo United Inc.
408 Henry Street
www.Pozzallo-USA.org
Some additional details:
Eligibility Requirements
All children grades 2 to 12
Each entrant must be submitted to the Citizens of Pozzallo Inc. and accompanied by a student entry form on or before the contest due date on May 30, 2011. Each student submitting an essay must be affiliated with a school, community non-for profit, community of faith or some other official organization.
Awards
Four Divisions: Lower, Upper, Middle and High School Category
One Grand Prize winner from each category will each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond.
Grades 2 & 3 – Lower School Category
Grades 4 & 5 – Upper School Category
Grades 6 – 8 Middle School Category
Grades 9 – 12 High School Category
Contest winners and an official representative of their sponsor organization will be invited to the awards ceremony to be held in September at the unveiling of the Mother Cabrini Public Mural. The Cabrini Public Mural will be created based on artists’ interpretation of essays submitted to the contest.
Instructions for submissions
- Send two (2) copies of the essay to:
Essay Contest
Citizens of Pozzallo, Inc.
504 Citizens of Pozzallo Way
Brooklyn, NY 11231
- If you wish to send your essay via e-mail, email it to Contest@Pozzallo-USA.org
- Entries must be postmarked on or before contest due date – May 30th 2011.
- Essays will not be returned to the author; they become property of the Citizens of
Pozzallo, inc. The Citizens of Pozzallo may reprint the essays for publication or use them for public display. Appropriate citations will be given to the writers.
Judging
Students are asked to display each of the following in their essay:
- Understanding of the importance of the life of Frances Cabrini as an immigrant and Italian-American, her many social and humanitarian contributions across America.
- Generally unknown facts about Mother Cabrini and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and concise language.
- Essays must also reflect age appropriate work solely of the student.
The Essay Contest board of the Citizens of Pozzallo will judge the essays using five criteria. A sample scoring sheet follows.
Essay Scoring Sheets
Rate each of the five categories 1 through 10, with 10 as the highest score. Add the five categories to reach the essay’s final score.
Essay Number _____________
I. |
Comprehension of Immigration(1-10 points) _________ |
|
How well does the essay reflect a thorough comprehension of the life of Mother Cabrini as an immigrant and an Italian-American? |
II. |
Historic Accuracy of Social Service(1-10 points) __________ |
|
How well does the essay reflect an historically accurate life of Mother Cabrini and her many social and humanitarian contributions across America? |
III. |
Conclusions (1-10 points) __________ |
|
Do the conclusions on the importance of Mother Cabrini’s life follow logically from the argument? How compelling are the conclusions? |
IV. |
Creativity (1-10 points) ___________ |
|
Use of diverse resources & generally unknown facts about Mother Cabrini. |
V. |
Writing (1-10 points) ____________ |
|
Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation. Concise language. |