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Medal of Honor Essay Challenge

01 Aug 2015 1:22 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

For many young people, heroes take the form of athletes, people with wealth or power, or sadly, criminals with status. Recipients of the Medal of Honor are true heroes and their stories need to be known, appreciated, shared and told by our nation’s youth. The CHALLENGE concept was inspired by our recognition of the need to educate our nation’s youth on the true meaning of a hero and also after attending the Medal of Honor Bowl, 2015, noting the presence at the game of living recipients, each with a story to share.  

In 2012, the news media began addressing the crisis of poor writing in America. Some of the reasons that students note is a lack of connection to what they are asked to write as well as a lack of understanding of how to write. Therefore, the CHALLENGE presents an essay challenge that requires the research, writing and reporting of the details for the events/s for Medal of Honor Recipients. The CHALLENGE believes that students will appreciate the opportunity to write on a hero of their own choice and grow as writers in the process.  Because the challenge includes national distribution to schools, the CHALLENGE will provide detailed instructions that mimic writing proficiency guidelines for standardized testing, plus the writing curriculum found in the A Backpack Journalist, which we will donate to support the challenge.

All CHALLENGE essays will be reviewed by our staff teachers and qualified volunteers, with the winning compositions assembled in a BOOK that will be published and released for sale at the Medal of Honor Bowl in 2016. 

The value of this CHALLENGE and BOOK provide a vehicle for the Medal of Honor Bowl to provide an educational value to their mission and support the Medal of Honor Society. 

In the low country of South Carolina we will be also be found as an “in-school” program, while distributing information  to 27 states via the Youth Challenge Foundation,  the Future Farmers of America Organization. DODEA Schools and various military associations.   We are also connecting with public affairs within each military branch, and the Pentagon Channel and DINFOS.  Our distribution to schools across the United States is through the US Department of Education, with the support of our Senatorial offices.

Essay Youth Challenge                                http://www.mohbowl.com/challenge/

During this highly engaging, Essay Youth Challenge, students will research and learn about the true American Hero:  The Medal of Honor Recipient.  Each youth will prepare an essay with their research results in either written form or a short movie presentation.  The short movie presentation may include the use of the IPAD or other video format, but must be performed by the author of the essay.  The presenter may also use props and dress to help deliver their presentation.

The CHALLENGE content will access (www.cmohs.org) and other multiple websites that are designed to support the research required. The CHALLENGE will take into consideration Differentiated Learning Styles, supported by scholastic journalism lesson plans by A Backpack Journalist. Basics on how to research, and then write interview questions, letters and short essays on the subject matter are included also. A Backpack Journalist is donating the basic writing and interviewing guidelines and lesson plans. Movie production guidelines focus on the use of the IPAD and IMOVIE.


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