The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is now accepting submissions for an essay contest designed to honor local military veterans. The winning high school student will receive a $1,000 college scholarship, courtesy of SAFE Credit Union. 

The essay contest takes place in conjunction with Operation Recognition, a program of the Sacramento County Board of Education. Since 2001, the Board has honored the contributions of local veterans who left high school to serve in the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Qualifying veterans can receive their high school diplomas, along with qualifying Japanese American citizens forced to leave high school due to WW II internment. 

500-Word Essay Contest 

Contestants must be high school juniors or seniors currently attending public high schools in Sacramento County. The completed essay, along with a cover letter, must be received by May 2, 2022. To receive the scholarship, the winning entrant must attend the Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 17, 2022 (either virtually or in person, to be determined) to read his or her essay. 

Specifics 

The 2022 theme is “How We Can Thank Our Veterans for Their Sacrifices.”

Essays should be 400–500 words long, typed, and double-spaced. (Titles and footnotes do not contribute to the word count.) 

A cover letter should be attached containing student name, home address, phone number, e-mail address, name of high school, and one paragraph summarizing college and career goals. 

A positive approach is recommended when expressing viewpoints. 

No pictures or images should be included. 

Judging Criteria 

Essays will be judged on how well the student understood, developed, and presented the theme. Scores will be based equally on knowledge of the theme, structure/spelling/grammar, theme development, and clarity of ideas. Students may either apply electronically or via conventional mail.

Mailing Address 

Operation Recognition Scholarship Contest 
SCOE Communications Office 
P.O. Box 269003 
Sacramento, CA 95826-9003 

Contestants may only enter once. Entries must be received by May 2, 2022. Electronic submissions, and questions, may be sent via email to Tim Herrera, SCOE Communications Director.