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Department of State

New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission

The Hon. Tahesha Way, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State
New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission

NJ Hellenic American Heritage Commission
Greek Independence Day Essay Contest and Pericles Scholarship Awards

NJ High School Students of Hellenic descent are invited to submit an essay that will be judged by the NJ Hellenic American Heritage Commission and the NJ Department of Education.

The winning author will receive the $2,000 Pericles Scholarship.

The Award will be presented at the NJ Greek Independence Day reception on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

Submit your response of less than 1,000 words before March 18, 2023.

For further information, please contact: Hellenic.Commission@sos.nj.gov.

 

Submit an Essay

If you are interested in submitting an essay, please complete and submit the form below:

 

Applicant Information

First Name
Last Name


Are you a student? *

Were you born in Greece?
Have you visited Greece?
Do you speak Greek?

 

Parent/Advisor Contact Information


First Name
Last Name

Street Address
City/Town Zip Code

 

 

Essay Question*

Population realignment is being experienced around the world at an increasing rate and the topic of immigration has become increasingly common in the national dialogue. The United States has been the destination for immigrants seeking a better life since its inception. As a result, the American population has always been comprised of a large number of diverse communities.

Like other ethnic groups, citizens of Greece and Cyprus have assimilated into the fabric of the American community; but it has not been without serious challenges. In the 1920’s, for example, Greek immigrants were brutally targeted by the KKK and other discriminatory groups. Half a century later, displaced Cypriots migrated to the United States as refugees seeking safety after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. And today, thousands of ethnic Greek Ukrainians have left everything behind as Odessa and Mariupol have been decimated.

Reflecting on the Hellenic experience, how do you believe the United States should address the issue of immigration? How do immigrants impact the United States? What can communities do to address continuing population realignment? What benefits and challenges does immigration present to communities and the nation?

Tip/Best Practice
Compose your submission using a word processing application prior to completing this form. Easily copy and paste your submission in the box below. Please be advised that there is a word limit in the response field.

 

* These fields are mandatory and must be completed.

 

 

 

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