CHARLESTON — The County Commissioners Association of West Virginia will hold its annual essay contest for eighth grade students in West Virginia to celebrate National County Government Month in April.

Cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200 will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners, respectively. The first-place student’s teacher also receives the cash prize for classroom activities and five honorable mentions will receive $50.

A goal of the association is to increase public awareness about county government and the office of county commissioner. The association has partnered with West Virginia educators to encourage students to learn and write about their local county governing body, the county commission.

Student participants are asked to type a 500-word essay on the topic, “How does my county commission make life better for me?” All entries must be emailed by 5 p.m. April 16 to qualify.

Contest rules are:

* Open to all eighth grade students enrolled in a West Virginia public or private school.

* Deadline is 5 p.m. April 16.

* Maximum of 500 words and a minimum of 400 words. Essays must address the question: “How does my county commission make life better for me?” The essay must specifically address the county commission of the county in which the student resides.

* Students are limited to one entry.

* Each teacher must completely prepare an application form and individually submit each entry as a Word or PDF document with a copy of the application form attached.

* Entries must include the student’s name, email address and the county in which the essay is about.

* Entries must be emailed to jennifer@ccawv.org prior to 5 p.m. April 16.

* Winning essays will be announced by April 23, 2021. Winning students and teachers will be invited to a county commission meeting in their home county to receive the awards.

* The first-place essay will be posted on the association website, www.ccawv.org.

* Essays will be judged on understanding of the role of county commission, grammar and spelling, clarity and organization of thought.

* By entering the contest, each student and teacher agrees to allow their name to be used in a news release announcing the contest winner. In addition, they agree to allow their photograph to be published in the association newsletter and website.

* Entries will not be returned.

Applications are available on the association website and on the Wood County website, www.woodcountywv.com on the county commission page.