The challenge is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. In the past nine years, B’nai B’rith, a Jewish humanitarian, human rights and advocacy organization, has published 29 original children’s books, awarded more than $250,000 in college scholarships and grants, and donated more than 35,000 books to public schools, libraries and community organizations across the country.
The winning student, or team of students, will not only be published, but also will secure a $5,000 college scholarship. The book will be accessible in an e-book format and available on iTunes as a free download.
Students enrolled in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester county public schools, or enrolled in private, charter or independent schools within those counties, are eligible to participate. Students must be in grades nine to 12. The deadline for contest submissions is March 11.
The second-place winner will earn a $2,000 college scholarship, and the third-place winner will receive $1,000 in financial aid for college.
The teacher who oversees the winning entry will secure a $1,000 grant, and the school of the first-place winning student receives a $500 grant.
A panel of judges from the worlds of education, the arts, business and government, along with B’nai B’rith International leaders, will review the entries and select the winners.