KINGWOOD — Two essay contests offer Preston County students a chance to win cash or a scholarship to Junior Firefighter Camp.
The Preston County Firemen’s Association will pay for four students ages 14-17 to attend Junior Firefighter Camp. And the 2019 County Government Essay Contest, being promoted by the County Commissioners’ Association of WV (CCAWV), will award prizes of $200 to $500.
Firemen’s Association Treasurer Chad Shade and Preston County Commissioner Samantha Stone appeared before the Preston County Board of Education last week, asking the school system’s help with getting information out about the contests.
Shade said in addition to the four teens the county association will send to Junior Firefighter Camp, some of the county’s 12 volunteer fire departments may provide scholarships to the camp.
The camp will be June 15-20 at WVU Jackson’s Mill. Students are asked to write an essay on why they would like to attend camp. Shade said to contact local fire departments for more information. Posters will be placed in communities as well.
Camp will be about 50 percent training and 50 percent recreation, Shade said. Campers will learn the basics of firefighting.
April is National County Government Month, and the CCAWV is hosting an essay contest for eighth graders statewide. The first-place student and his or her teacher will receive $500 each. The second place student will get $300 and third place $200.
Essays of at least 400 and no more than 500 words on “How does my county commission make life better for me?” must be submitted by 5 p.m. April 19 to jennifer@ccawv.org. Essays must specifically address the commission in the county where the student lives.
For more on the contest, email jennifer@ccawv.org or call 304-345-4639 or go to www.ccawv.org.
“I know that there are so many bright children in this county that could totally cash in on this,” Stone said. “The goal of this is to increase awareness of county government and what a county commissioner actually does.”
She volunteered to go into middle schools and talk about county government.
