Essay Contest
2023 VML “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest
DEADLINE EXTEND TO FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Essay Contest Entry Form | Download and print 2023 Essay Rules >
About the Essay Contest
The Virginia Municipal League (VML) invites students from VML member municipalities enrolled in the 7th Grade during the 2022-2023 school year to join its “If I were Mayor” essay contest.
See Rules & Regulations for more information on eligibility requirements.
Regional winners selected from around the state will each receive a $150 gift card and a plaque. One statewide winner chosen from the regional winners will receive a $250 gift card and a plaque. The runner-up from the region that receives the statewide award will become that region’s winner.
Winning essays will be featured in the May issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City.
2023 Essay Contest Rules
Being a mayor or community leader is a challenging but rewarding job. It’s challenging because you must balance the needs and requests of different people in your community who don’t always agree with each other. It’s rewarding because, along with your city or town council or county board, you get to be one of the people who ensures that the best solutions are used to address the problems that affect everyone.
VML wants to give you a chance to show what you would do to solve a problem in your community.
Here’s how it works:
What’s the problem? If you were a community leader like a mayor, what’s a problem in your locality you would want to solve? If could be something big that affects the whole community or something small that affects only a few people. If you are having trouble thinking of something, ask an adult (teacher, parent, guardian, relative, friend) for ideas.
Listen to a community member: Tell someone (teacher, parent, relative, classmate, friend, etc.) about the problem and ask what they think should be done to solve it. Write down their answer in your own words. Feel free to ask more than one person to gather more answers.
Decide: Does the proposed solution sounds like it would work? Or do you think there is a better way to solve the problem? It’s up to you!
Put it all together: Write a brief (300-500 words) essay in which you:
- Identify the problem.
- Summarize the idea you heard to solve the problem.
- Offer your opinion of how best to solve the problem. If you agreed with community member, explain why. If you think your idea will work better, explain why.
How to enter
All entries must be received by end of day on Friday, March 10. There are two ways to submit your entry:
Fill out and submit your essay using our online entry form:
- Copy and paste your essay into the “Essay” box in the form.
- You can do this yourself or you can have your teacher or someone else help you.
- After VML receives your entry, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address entered on the form.
- At the top of the form, you will need to provide your full name, the name and location of your school, and your teacher’s full name and email address.
OR
Mail your essay with a filled-out entry form (see back of this flyer) attached to:
VML, Attn: 7th Grade Essay Contest
P.O. Box 12164
Richmond, VA 23241
Rules & Regulations
- The contest is open to all Virginia students from VML member municipalities enrolled in the 7th Grade during the 2022-2023 school year.
- If you are not sure if you live or go to school in a member municipality, check VML’s Local Government Members list.
- All essays should be typed. Handwritten essays must be legible to be eligible for review.
- Only one essay may be submitted per student.
- Entries will be judged based on content and style.
- Essays must be submitted by the end of the day on Friday, March 10. Winners will be notified at the end of March. VML will present the awards to the winners at one of their local council or school board meetings.
- VML retains the right to publish essays along with the names of each student.