The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is seeking entries for the 2003 Women Making History Essay Contest.

"The Women Making History Essay Contest encourages students to examine the lives of women who have embraced non-traditional careers and made history doing so," ODJFS Director Tom Hayes said. "The contest motivates Ohio's eighth-grade students to use their research and creative writing skills to reflect upon the stories, struggles and triumphs of women who have blazed paths throughout history."

The contest is open to all Ohio eighth-grade girls and boys. Students should submit a 400-500 word essay about a woman who is making or has made history in one of five nontraditional career fields: Athletics; Arts, Communication and Technology; Business and Government; Math, Science and Health Services; and Education and Community Service. The goals of the contest are to increase students' and educators' awareness of women's contributions, to recognize March as Women's History Month, and to highlight nontraditional career opportunities for women.

Essay entry forms have been mailed to all Ohio middle school principals, guidance counselors, and past participating teachers. Contest information, rules and winning essays from previous years are available at jfs.ohio.gov/women/essaycontest

Entries may be submitted online via the contest website or may be mailed by December 18 to ODJFS, 145 S. Front St., 6th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-4156. Essays will be judged on content and writing style. Four winners will be selected in each of the five categories. Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony the week of March 17, 2003 in Columbus.

The essay contest is administered by ODJFS with support from the following partners: Barnes and Noble Booksellers; International Association of Personnel in Employment Security; Ohio Department of Education; Ohio Women's Hall of Fame; the Small Business Development Center, Ohio Department of Development and The Writers' Bloc.

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For more information, contact: Robin Rice at (614) 466-4496.