Essay contest for young Native writers announced

Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation Announces Seventh Annual Young Native Writers Essay Contest

Contest Offers Scholarships, Encourages Native American Youth to Explore Their Heritage

Washington, D.C. – February 27, 2012 – The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the call for essays in its seventh annual Young Native Writers Essay Contest. The national writing contest focuses on the richness of Native American life and history, and challenges Native American youth to speak out on issues important to their tribal communities.

For 2012, students who participate will be asked to write on the following topic: “Describe a crucial issue confronting your tribal community today. Explain how you hope to help your tribal community respond to this challenge and improve its future.”

The contest is designed to encourage young Native American writers to explore their heritage while becoming positive forces in their communities. It is open to Native American high school students from all tribal communities throughout the United States.

Students interested in participating can visit the Holland & Knight Young Native Writers Essay Contest website, nativewriters.hklaw.com, for official contest rules and to view past winning essays. All essays must be submitted electronically by the entry deadline, April 30, 2012, through the contest website.

Five finalists will be named in June and during the week of July 8-14, 2012, all finalists and a teacher nominated by each winning essayist will receive an all-expenses-paid "Scholar Week" trip to Washington, D.C. The group's activities will include an honor ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian; a tour of the NMAI Cultural Resources Center where tribal objects can be viewed and studied; educational symposiums for students and their teachers; and a tour of the U.S. Capitol. The winners will also receive a $2,500 scholarship to be paid to the college or university of their choice.

The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation partners with the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of the American Indian to plan and execute activities during Scholar Week. “The Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of the American Indian is proud to be involved in a program that inspires high school students to think innovatively about their Native communities,” said Museum Director Kevin Gover (Pawnee). “Each year we look forward to honoring the winners at our building on the National Mall.”

The contest debuted in 2006 in Red Lake, Minnesota in response to the March 2005 event where a student of Red Lake High School shot five fellow students, one teacher, one security guard, members of his family and then himself. The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation developed this contest with the hope that the Red Lake community would find healing by promoting its rich culture and traditions. In the years since, the program has evolved to serve all Native American communities.

“Indian youngsters have learned, better than any generation before them, how to 'walk in two worlds,'” said Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. Senator and current Senior Policy Advisor with Holland & Knight LLP. “Many have mastered the tools of the technological age while preserving the traditions vital to their culture. I am pleased that Holland & Knight and the National Museum of the American Indian have continued their partnership in providing a forum for these talented and thoughtful young people to offer their perspectives on issues of importance to all in Indian Country.”

About Holland & Knight LLP:  Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices as well as Abu Dhabi, Beijing and Mexico City. The firm is among the nation's largest law firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location.www.hklaw.com

About the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation: The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1996 to conduct the myriad charitable activities led by Holland & Knight employees. http://foundation.hklaw.com
About Holland & Knight LLP’s Indian Law Practice Group:  The Indian Law Practice Group is a team of more than 20 highly experienced attorneys and government specialists devoted to the unique needs of tribal governments and the complex field of Indian law. From sovereign immunity to financing, hotel, retail, energy, casino, infrastructure and utility development, Holland & Knight's Indian Law Practice Group offers clients the resources of experienced Indian law practitioners combined with the diverse talents of more than 1,000 lawyers in every other discipline necessary to provide comprehensive services in the field of Indian law and tribal economic development.