By Staff Writer Kylie Cooper.
The Claire T. Carney University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Library Associates are inviting all UMassD freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to partake in their essay contest about envisioning the future. The writer of the best essay will receive a $500 award.
The prompt encourages students to address areas including technology, science, medicine, the arts, education, or any other issue students believe is significant.
No matter if the essay expresses creatively-constructed hopes for the future or analyzes a topic and relates the findings to the future, all ways of approaching the prompt are welcome.
“It’s similar to This I Believe, ” said Margo Moore, President of the Library Associates and ‘77 alumnus. “It’s something that leaves it open for the writer to write about what is most important to him or her.”
This is the first time the Library Associates have hosted the essay contest, and they are hoping it will become an annual event. “We thought [the contest] was a good way to start to reach out to the students on campus,” said Moore, “to let them know we exist and to let them know we really care about the student experience.”
Essay submissions should be 1,000-1,200 words in length and be submitted by Friday, March 8 to giving@umassd.edu. Complete guidelines can be found at the end of this article, through the UMassD email updates, and on social media. The winner will be announced on April 7 at the 14th Annual Authors’ Brunch at Woodland Commons from noon to 3 p.m.
This year, the Authors’ Brunch—the Library Associates’ major fundraiser—will have three women speakers: Susan Wissler, Lauren Wolk, and Gish Jen. The Library Associates are selling tickets and seeking sponsorship for the event.
Through active fundraising, the Library Associates have been supporting the Claire T. Carney Library for over 40 years. The money raised helps from providing carpeting and furniture to books and journals.
The Library Associates have a new opportunity for student involvement, as well. “We had a vote to bring two student members onto the board by the end of this year,” said Moore. “With a lot more student and staff involvement, we’ll be able to figure out exactly what’s relevant to the university.”
If any student is interested in this service, a letter of intent may be sent to giving@umassd.edu, or they can contact Dawn Gross, the Associate Dean of Library Services.
TOPIC: Gaze into your Crystal Ball and find a NEW world…Invent Your Future
Areas that could be addressed include technology, geopolitics, climate, science, medicine, the arts, education or some other issue you believe is important. It’s your vision!
The winning essay will have a strong sense of voice, demonstrate originality and creativity, be well organized, show control of language, and use appropriate grammatical form. GUIDELINES: all submissions to this contest should be the original work of the author.
Any quotes or citations should conform to MLA style. Essays should be 1,000 to 1,200 words in length.
Submissions should be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman, left aligned, and double-spaced with 1” margins. Correct US English spelling conventions should be observed. All essays should be submitted in either Word or PDF format.
Please submit by Friday, March 8, 2019 to giving@umassd.edu. All submissions must have Award Essay in the subject line of the email. Questions may be sent to the above address.