The State of Tennessee commemorates 100 years of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment in 2020, spotlighting Tennessee’s role as the ‘Perfect 36’. To mark the occasion, the Tennessee 100 Woman Committee, chaired by Tennessee State Representative Robin Smith, Hamilton County, is coordinating a statewide competition for Tennessee students and, due to the impact of COVID-19, the entry deadline has been extended to Friday, May 29.
Tennessee State Representative Patsy Hazelwood and Tennessee Historical Commission member Linda Moss Mines serve on the committee also.
Each of the project options will allow students to engage with and reflect upon the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and what the fight for a woman’s right to vote means to them. The statewide competition helps students engage and reflect upon this momentous commemorative event as they learn about women’s suffrage and Tennessee’s unique role in the ratification of the 19th amendment.
Prizes include scholarship money in a TNStars 529 account and Apple IPads. All winners in each category, and their teachers, will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to Nashville to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment in August 2020.
"This isn’t your ordinary essay contest," officials said. "The Battle for the Ballot competition is built around the inquiry-process of project-based learning and is designed to hit grade-specific standards through a multi-disciplinary approach. While analyzing the historical issues of the women’s suffrage movement, it is an opportunity for students to use their creativity, develop their communication skills, and win some really cool prizes."
How can you participate?
Grades six-eight: Create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that explains why it's important to commemorate the Centennial of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, including Tennessee’s role.
Note: Students should frame their entries around informing someone about the topic and why it is important.
Grades nine-12: Create a documentary describing the movement to achieve suffrage for women, the role played by Tennessee as the final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, and the impact of both on the world today.
Grades nine-12: Write a speech describing the movement to achieve suffrage for women, the role played by Tennessee as the final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, and the impact of both on the world today.
Seniors who have recently graduated are encouraged to participate in the documentary and speech options.
For more information, visit the Tennessee 100 Woman website at https://tnwoman100.com/battle-for-the-ballot-competition/.