In celebration of the Year of Diversity, The National Guard Bureau announces two scholarship contests for Guard members and military civilian's children. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to nationallevel essay contest winners, one Army and one Air. There will also be six $100 US Savings Bonds awarded to the art contest winners, one Army and one Air, in each of the three age groups 5-9, 10-14, and 15-18 years.
Essay applicants must be the child of Guard member or DoD civilian employee working for, the Army National Guard or Air National Guard. Applicants must be a high school junior or senior (as of Jan. 2002) who will attend a full-time, accredited degree or certification program by Sept. 30, 2003.
Essay entries must be submitted to the attention of Chief Master Sgt. Thurston and be postmarked no later than Oct. 1. Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted. Mail entries to: Chief Master Sgt. Ricardo Thurston, State Human Resources Advisor, c/o Col. Alan Bunting, Executive Officer to Commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard, Year of Diversity Scholarship Essay Contest, 3650 Saylor’s Pond Road, Ft. Dix, NJ 08640-7600.
State level essay winners (one Army and one Air from each state and territory) will be submitted for national level competition for the scholarship awards. Scholarship winners will be notified on or before Dec. 31. Note all submissions must be routed through the State Adjutants General in order to be eligible for national level competition.
All entries for the art contest must be submitted to Year of Diversity Art Contest, ARNG Diversity Initiatives Office, 111 South George Mason Dr., Arlington, VA 22204-1382 ATTN: Ms. Nadine M. Meyers, by Oct. 1. Contest winners will be notified by Dec. 31. Late entries will not be accepted. Return packaging and proper postage must be enclosed if artwork is to be returned to entrant upon conclusion of the contest.
For further information contact Chief Master Sgt. Thurston at (609) 562-0926, or by email at ricardo.thurston @njmcgu.ang.af.mil