News Release:
As part of the upcoming Lake County 2023EcoExpo, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lake County (UUCLC) is sponsoring a contest for the best original essay on a conservation or climate change topic written by a senior in a Lake County public high school. UUCLC will award $500 for first place and $250 each for two runners up.
The topic of the essay is “How I Can Make a Difference in Lake County” with the content to be related to conservation or climate change. Maximum length requested is 750 words (2 – 3 pages). A panel of judges will determine the winners based on originality, understanding of the topic, effectiveness of presentation of the argument, and literary quality.
Conservation topics include but are not limited to
- Protecting and conserving wildlife, air, water
- Maintaining ecological balance
- Achieving smart growth to protect sensitive habitat
- Recycling or waste reduction
Climate change topics should address impacts due to climate change and include but are not limited to
- Mitigation of negative impacts to health, agriculture, economy
- Extreme weather events
- Preparedness and community resilience
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
- Alternative energy sources
The deadline for submission is Wednesday February 15, and the winners will be notified on Wednesday, March 1. The winning essays will be featured at the EcoExpo on March 4, and the prizes will be awarded at a reception at UUCLC on Mount Homer Road in Eustis on March 5 at 3:00 p.m.
For details on submitting an essay, go to https://uulakecounty.org/ecoessaycontest. Please direct any questions to EcoEssayContest@uulakecounty.org.
The EcoExpo takes place on Saturday, March 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lake-Sumter State College campus in Leesburg and presents workshops with actionable information on conservation and climate change. Activities include nature walks, discovery rooms, exhibits, and great door prizes.
EcoExpo is hosted by eleven conservation organizations in Lake County including the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lake County, Trout Lake Nature Center, Oklawaha Valley Chapter of the Audubon Society, Lake County Conservation Council, Lake Beautyberry Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, All About The Ballots, NAACP Tri-City Branch, Aquatic Preserve Alliance of Central Florida, Mount Dora Friends of the Environment, Friends of the Wekiva River, Friends of Lake Louisa State Park, and Citizens for Protection of Rural.
The EcoExpo is free and open to the public.