The Gaspee Days Committee invites all 8^th grade students in Rhode Island schools to enter the 2013 Gaspee Days Committee Essay Contest. The essay contest focuses on the burning of the British ship, HMS Gaspee in 1772. Tell us what you think about the burning of the HMS Gaspee, answering this year’s question. If you write a winning essay you could win a cash prize and be part of the annual Gaspee Parade on Saturday, June 8, 2013. 

Here is the question the Gaspee Days Committee would like you to write about:

In 2022, we will be celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the Burning of the Gaspee.  We don’t know who the President will be in 2022, but your task is to write a letter to the future President inviting him or her to attend the 250^th celebration. Assume that this future president knows nothing about the Gaspee affair. Explain why and how the burning of the Gaspee contributed to the formation of our country and why it was significant. 

Facts, Rules, and Submission Guidelines:

1. The Gaspee Days Committee is the sponsor, administrator, and judge for the contest.
2. All entries must be received by the Gaspee Days Committee Essay Chair by May 1, 2013.
3. Only one entry is allowed per student.
4. Only Rhode Island Junior High and Middle School students in the 8^th grade are eligible to enter.
5. All essays must be typed or computer printed double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
6. The student’s name, school, home address, phone number, and teacher’s name MUST be listed on a cover sheet of the essay.
7. 500-700 word essay.  Footnotes and bibliography are required.
8. There will be one first place winner of $100, one second place winner of $75, and one third place winner of $50. Winners will be notified in May 2013.
9. The first place winning entry will be published on the website of the Gaspee Days Committee at its Gaspee Virtual Archives site <www.gaspee.org> In entering the Gaspee Days Contest, permission by the author and his/her parent(s) is specifically granted for this web publishing. 
10. The top three winning students will be invited to ride in a convertible in the annual Gaspee Days Parade on Saturday, June 8, 2013. Students must be present at the parade in order to receive their prize money.
11. Entries are judged for historical accuracy. Great attention will be placed on unique angles and novel ideas in presenting the Gaspee Affair.
12. Essays become property of the Gaspee Days Committee and will not be returned.
13. The decision of the judges is final and selection of winners is at the sole discretion of the Essay Committee.
14. Plagiarism will not be acceptable. All essays must be the original work of the student. All judges are knowledgeable about the presently available sources presenting Gaspee Affair both in print and on the Internet.  This is not meant to discourage the full use of the Gaspee Virtual Archives as a source for information in creating the entry.  This website is publicly available at http://gaspee.org.

Entries should be sent to the address below and received by May 1, 2013. 

Essay Contest