FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2012
Contact: Megan Sanborn
(207) 441-0501

Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. Announces Winners of Native American Essay Contest

AUGUSTA, Maine - Secretary of State Charlie Summers has announced the names of the winners in the 2011-12 Maine Native American History and Culture Essay Contest today and congratulates them on their accomplishment.

?What is outstanding about this year?s winners is the rigorous nature of their research,? said Summers. ?I commend these eighth graders their initiative to learn more about Maine?s Native Americans.?

The contest required students to explore at least one aspect of Maine Native American History and to write an essay describing what they had learned.

Both the first and second place winners are from Shapleigh School, though from different classes. Maeve Dow earned first place honors for her essay on how the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point is addressing social issues. Second place goes to Taylor Kashmer for her submission reviewing the history of Native Americans serving in the United States Military. Both students are in the eighth grade.

Each winner has been invited, along with their classes, to be Secretary Summers’ guest for a day in Augusta. Students will tour the State House, the State Museum, and the State Archives where they will be able to view Maine’s original treaties with Native peoples and original field books of the early European explorers.

Maine law Title 20-A §4706 requires that students be taught Maine Native American History. This contest provides Maine students with a unique opportunity to share what they have learned in the study of Maine Native American History. Winning essays can be viewed online at http://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/nativeamerican/winners.htm. To learn more about this contest and other student programs offered by the Office of the Secretary of State, visit www.maine.gov/sos/kids/index.htm.