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Teen Writing Contest Will Reward Stories About Diversity with College Scholarships
 
To push back against stereotyping, intolerance, racism and bullying—some of the more challenging issues children face today—high school students across the region are being encouraged to write and illustrate books that highlight diversity and inclusion.
 
B’nai B’rith International is pleased to announce a call for submissions for the Diverse Minds Writing Challenge, its signature tolerance education program that asks high school students to write and illustrate a children’s book that teaches acceptance.
 
The contest, which is offered through the generous support of Atlantic City Electric, is available to students in southern New Jersey. Atlantic City Electric is proud to serve as a program partner because of the company’s commitment to inclusion and education and the belief in B’nai B’rith’s mission.
 
In the last ten years, B’nai B’rith has published 33 original children’s books, awarded more than $300,000 in college scholarships and grants, and donated more than 39,000 books to public schools, libraries and community organizations across the country.
 
The winning student, or team of students, will not only earn the prestige of becoming a published author, but will also secure a $5,000 college scholarship. The book will be donated to local elementary schools and libraries and will also be accessible in an e-book format on iTunes as a free download.
 
Students are eligible to participate if they are enrolled in grades nine through 12 in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem county public schools; or enrolled in private, charter or independent schools within those counties. The deadline for contest submissions is March 17, 2017.
 
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 diverse 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. Previous judging panel members have included Raymond Yannuzzi, president of Camden County College; Frank X. Balles, sheriff of Atlantic County; Albert B. Kelly, mayor for the City of Bridgeton; Barbara A. Wallace, mayor for the Township of Washington; Mildred Peretti, professor at Stockton University; and Fola Adebi, executive director of the Wow! Science Camp.
 
B’nai B’rith created this education and awareness program to promote tolerance and communicate a message of equality among all races, ages and genders, and it is our hope that this educational initiative will encourage our future leaders to be more accepting of one another’s differences. 
 
For more information and detailed contest rules, please visit the Diverse Minds Writing Challenge site here.
 
Atlantic City Electric
Atlantic City Electric, a public utility owned by Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), provides safe, reliable and affordable regulated electric delivery services to more than 547,000 customers in southern New Jersey.
(www.atlanticcityelectric.com)

B’nai B’rith International
B’nai B’rith International, the Global Voice of the Jewish Community, is the most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights and advocacy organization. B’nai B’rith works to aid the victims of disaster; improves the lives of senior citizens through housing and advocacy; promotes health initiatives and education; provides youth leadership training; serves community members in need; and fights intolerance around the world.  B’nai B’rith…since 1843. Visit www.bnaibrith.org.