Hoover Beautification Board
ARBOR DAY ESSAY CONTEST FOR 4TH GRADERS

In order to encourage students to apply their writing skills to practical purpose and to arouse awareness of the importance of trees to our community well being, the Hoover Beautification Board has elected to sponsor this 2010 Arbor Day Essay Contest.

WHO CAN ENTER?
     Any fourth grade student in the city of Hoover is invited to submit 1 short essay.

WHAT TO WRITE?
The central theme of the essay should be the importance of trees in our lives in Hoover. Other factors to consider may include: the celebration of Arbor Day, the importance of planting and caring for trees, a special tree in your life, what trees mean to you, or how trees make Hoover a better place to live. Students are encouraged to focus on personal experience, and to remember that originality and reasoning are major factors in judging.

HOW TO ENTER?
Essays should be 300 words or less, and the original work of the student.
Essays must be printed or typed.
All essays must have the student’s name, grade, school, and teacher’s name printed or typed clearly on the back.
Entries are to be postmarked no later than Friday, February 2, 2010.

Send entries to:

Arbor Day Essay Contest Co/ Lori Salter
Hoover Beautification Board - Hoover City Hall
100 Municipal Lane
Hoover, AL 35216

JUDGING
Members of the Hoover Beautification Board will judge the entries by the following criteria:

AWARDS
The author of the first place essay will receive a 1-year family membership to Aldridge Gardens, a book about trees, and a gift certificate from a Hoover business. This student will be invited to read his or her essay at the city Arbor Day ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Recipients of Honorable Mention will receive a 1-year individual membership to Aldridge Gardens and a book about trees.