2010 International Education Competitions

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While each of Memphis in May’s educational competitions are judged on differing criteria, every Memphis in May competition encourages a show of creativity and demonstrated knowledge of the honored country. Competitions are geared to specific age groups and grade levels, with involvement opportunities available for all grades. Competitions are open to students within the Memphis City or Shelby County schools, private schools, and home schools. Applications are made available on the Memphis in May website as well as via mass mailings to schools. Judging committees are comprised of local educators, writers, and artists who kindly volunteer their time to examine entries. Competition winners are awarded certificates and savings bond prizes at an awards ceremony in the spring.

Tunisia is a land of the familiar and the exotic, where one can watch the sun rise over the Mediterranean and set over the Sahara. A colorful country of natural beauty and diversity, Tunisia rises with the Atlas Mountains in the north and disappears into the rolling dunes of the Sahara in the south.  Its gentle sand dunes, craggy ridges, salty deserts, and turquoise blue waters make Tunisia a palette of colors and textures. As an ancient land and a modern nation, Tunisia today holds and protects the common past of all people. With its rich cultural legacy, Tunisia will provide uncounted opportunities to discover civilizations, art, and culture.

2010 Competition Applications now available!

For specific competition details and deadline information, see descriptions below.

Please contact Rebecca Fennell with any questions about the competitions.

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Smucker's Creative Writing Competition

Smucker’s Creative Writing Competition promotes literary creativity and allows students to incorporate what they have learned about the honored country of Tunisia through the written word. Creative Writing Competition entries can include any type of literary, fictional or non-fictional work, including but not limited to poems, essays, short stories, plays, narratives, scripts and biographies. The competition is open to students in grades 4-12 attending any public, private, or home school within the Memphis metro area. First, second, and third place winners will be chosen in three grade categories: Upper Elementary, 4th & 5th grades; Junior, 6th- 8th grades; Senior, 9th - 12th grades.

Deadline: All entries must be received by Friday March 5, 2010.

Click here to download the application!

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Valero International Children's Poster Competition

This competition promotes the creative artistry of students in grades K – 6. Patterned after Memphis in May’s Fine Art Poster Program, the student’s work must depict some aspect of the honored country through the medium of drawing and coloring. One student will become the Grand Prize winner, and his/her work will then be printed and sold by Memphis in May as the 2010 Valero Memphis Refinery International Children’s Poster. The Grand Prize winner will sign and number 100 of the prints. Since there will be a limited number of signed and numbered prints, this lucky young artist’s poster has the potential of becoming a unique collector’s item. First, second, and third place winners will also be chosen in three grade categories: K - 2nd grades; 3rd - 4th grades; and 5th - 6th grades.

Deadline: All entries must be received by Friday March 5, 2010.

Click here to download the application!

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PowerPoint Presentation Competition

The PowerPoint Presentation Competition promotes design creativity and allows students to incorporate what they have learned about the honored country of Tunisia through overall presentation, graphic design, and written word. This competition is a wonderful tool to acquaint students with PowerPoint, an increasingly valuable program in the business world, all while exposing them to international culture. First, second, and third place winners will be chosen. The competition is open to students attending any public, private or home high school within the Memphis metro area.

Deadline: All entries must be received by Friday March 5, 2010.

Click here to download the application!

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Best School-wide Salute to Tunisia Competition

Plan a fun and creative salute to our honored country that extends far beyond the single classroom - involve the whole school and let us know about it! Memphis in May will present a $1,000 Target gift certificate to the school that presents the best school-wide salute or celebration of this year's honored country. The salute can be a play, an assembly program, an outdoor festival, an evening program for parents, a parade...the ideas are limitless, but the salute must be educational in nature and must involve all students throughout the school as participants or audience members. The salute can be held during school hours or during an evening or weekend. Any public or private elementary, middle, junior high, or senior high school located within the Memphis and Shelby County area can participate.

Deadline: All entries must be received by May 14, 2010

Click here to download the application!

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Consulting Services Group Best Tunisian Classroom Competition

Teachers, you can win a $1,000 Target gift certificate just for your school by incorporating our honored country into your classroom decoration! Involve your students in decorating your classroom with a theme based on this historic and exciting country of contrasts and extreme beauty. This competition is open to any public or private elementary, middle, junior, or senior high classroom teacher in the Memphis metro area, including all of Shelby County. Teachers should submit a completed entry form along with a minimum of three photographs that show the components incorporated into the classroom design. The entry form should also include the teacher's description of the design and the teaching goals that the decorations accomplish.

Deadline: All entries must be received by May 14, 2010.

Click here to download the application!

BlueCross BlueShield World Cargo Crate Photo Contest

In 2009, Memphis in May added a new school competition – the World Cargo Crate Photo Contest.  This competition encourages teachers to use their camera to capture very special moments in their classrooms.  The photographic entries portray special “learning moments” between the students, their teachers, and the unique items from the honored country.  As most of these items are foreign to the students, their reactions of interest, surprise, and curiosity are clearly visible in the photos.  The winning teacher receives the privilege of being the first to reserve the World Cargo Crate for the upcoming school year, along with a Memphis in May prize package.  The winning teachers and students also get to see their pictures displayed on the Memphis in May website as “the face” of the World Cargo Crate for the next year. 

Entering the World Cargo Crate Photo Contest
Each classroom may enter up to five photos of their students with the World Cargo Crate items. Each entry must also provide the following information: teacher’s name and title, school name, school phone number, school address, teacher’s evening phone number and email address. (Teachers have the option of also submitting a title for each photo.) Contest is open to any public or private elementary, middle, or high school within Shelby County.

Deadline for submissions is May 14, 2010.

All photos and accompanying information must be either emailed to rfennell@memphisinmay.org or mailed/brought on a CD to:

BCBS World Cargo Crate Photo Contest
88 Union Avenue, Ste 301
Memphis, TN 38103

One entry of five photos allowed per teacher/classroom.

Click here for information about reserving the World Cargo Crate!