VALDOSTA — Local sixth grade students may dream about what it would be like to be the top elected official of the city by participating in the “If I Were Mayor, I Would…” essay contest, sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and the City of Valdosta. The contest gives students—from public, private or homeschools—a chance to creatively use grade-specific language arts skills and civics knowledge to express, in 350 words or less, how they would make a difference if they held the position of Mayor.

According to contest rules, every essay must begin with the sentence, “If I were mayor, I would,” and the essay may not be longer than 350 words. The submitted essay may be either typed or neatly handwritten, and it must clearly display the student’s name, teacher and school clearly at the top of the page(s).

One winner will be selected from each of GMA’s 12 districts across the state and will be invited, along with their parents and a teacher, to an awards luncheon in Atlanta, Ga., in April 2015. Each district winner will receive a $250 check and framed certificate, and one overall statewide winner will be selected from among the 12 district winners to receive an additional $250 check.

Judging will also take place to select the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place local winners, who will all be recognized by Valdosta Mayor John Gayle at the April 23 City Council meeting. All local essays entered in the contest will be displayed at Valdosta City Hall during Georgia Cities Week, April 20-24, 2015.
Essay contest entry forms can be downloaded at www.valdostacity.com from the Public Information web page, or click here. Individuals or class groups should submit their entries by Friday, March 6, 2015 to: Public Information Office, Attention: Essay Contest, 300 N. Lee Street, #102, Valdosta, GA 31601.

For more information, contact Public Information Officer Sementha Mathews at (229) 259-3548, at smathews@valdostacity.com, or visit the If I Were Mayor Facebook page.

Sementha Mathews:Public Information Officer