Scholarship Opportunity

Eligibility:

2023-2024 High school seniors in Wood County, WV or Washington County, OH who plan to continue their education.

Recognition:

AWARD: $500

The winner will be announced and invited to attend the festival’s opening ceremony on Friday, June 21, 2024, and the winning essay will be displayed in the pavilion.

Essay Topic:

The Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival was established to help us all learn about and appreciate various cultures, including our own, whatever culture that may be. If we are exposed to different ways of living, we become more aware of who we are and how we live. So we are asking you to tell a story about culture through essay.

Essays should be based on one of the following topics:

Topic 1:  Do you think people being disrespected or mistreated because of their race, cultural heritage (including Appalachian), gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, economic status or other characteristic is a problem in this area? Several years ago, Parkersburg put up signs proclaiming itself to be an inclusive community.  Do you think your community is an inclusive community?  Explain.  What could it do to become a more inclusive community?

Topic 2:  What is systematic racism and what are some examples?  As you learned more about various situations, what was your reaction?

Topic 3:  Except for the Native Americans, we are a nation of immigrants, whether brought here by decision or force.  What stories do you have of your immigrant heritage?  What impact has your heritage had on you?

Topic 4:  Do you consider yourself to be of Appalachian heritage?  What do you consider Appalachian heritage to be?  What are the strengths and the struggles associated with Appalachian heritage?  How does it affect you?

Topic 5:  Interview someone (your age or older) who was born outside of the US.  With a desire to understand that person, think what questions you want to ask to learn about where they came from and what their immigrant experience is, then write your essay describing what you learned.

Topic 6:  Interview someone (your age or older) of a significantly different religious background than yourself.  With a desire to understand that person, without trying to persuade or convert them, learn about how their religious background affects their culture and family, then write your essay describing what you learned.

Topic 7:  Your last four years have been in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic. What have you learned about yourself, others, life, or the world from this experience? Has it increased your empathy or challenged it? What insights do you want to take away from this experience?

Essay Rules:

• Student must submit a completed entry form (found below).
• Length: 2-3 typed pages, double-spaced. Student’s name should NOT be on the essay.
• Essays are to be student-written.
• MOVMCF Committee members or their designees will judge. Essays will be judged on the basis of authenticity, self-reflection, clarity, and effective and thoughtful expression, as well as addressing the topic.

Questions?  

Contact MOVMCF Representative, Charlotte Owens

Email: cowensus@yahoo.com

Call or text: (304)482-0626

Please submit your essay by May 1, 2024 to cowensus@yahoo.com.

• Type “MOVMCF Scholarship” and student's name in the subject line. 
• Attach the essay and completed entry form (found below) separately. 
• The format needs to be Word or PDF. Student’s name should NOT be on the essay.