A team of local professionals in the current class of Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Chattanooga program is hosting an award ceremony to recognize area middle school students for their essays on improving Chattanooga. The “Children Changing Chattanooga” award ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 12 p.m., at Outdoor Chattanooga’s new facility at 200 River Street, just under the Walnut Street Bridge at Coolidge Park.
The “Children Changing Chattanooga” essay contest was geared to encourage students to be more engaged in their community through expository writing. 8th grade students from area middle schools across Hamilton County were invited to participate in the essay contest and directed to share their ideas on the topic “If I were a leader in Chattanooga I would change…” The essays explored challenges and opportunities with issues related to the economy, crime, health care and education among many others.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga faculty members, Sybil Baker and Dr. Thomas Balazs served as judges for the contest. Judges
selected 11 finalists from a total of 43 submissions. Three winners
will be announced during the award ceremony.
The following five local community leaders will participate as guest
readers at the award ceremony:
Bo Watson, Tennessee Senator
Jim Coppinger, Hamilton County Commission Chairman
Manny Rico, Chattanooga City Councilman
Linda Mosley, Hamilton County School Board Member
Jim Brexler, Erlanger CEO
Prizes for the essay contest winners have been generously donated by
the following: Wal-Mart, Krystal, Blood Assurance, Rock Point Books,
C.J. Enterprises, Inc., Cornerstone Community Bank, Concierge Level,
Inc., and Jim and Kelly Brexler.
For more information about Leadership Chattanooga, go to
www.chattanoogachamber.org.