4th Graders Encouraged To Enter Gaithersburg Junior Mayor Contest

GAITHERSBURG, MD — If you're a fourth grader in Gaithersburg and have big plans for city's future, local officials want to hear about it.

The city is encouraging students to share what they would do if they were mayor in a statewide essay contest sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League, the Maryland Mayors' Association, and the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company.

The theme for this year's contest is "Re-Imagine Tomorrow." Students are asked to explain how they'd improve their city, in 275 words or less.

Essays submitted by Gaithersburg residents will be reviewed by city officials. And the finalists will be invited to participate in a videotaped panel interview.

One winner will be selected as Gaithersburg's Junior Mayor and will have the opportunity to participate in programs and special events throughout the year. The winning essay will also be published on the city's website.

Last year's winner was Diego Flores-Cerezo, a fourth grade student at Summit Hall Elementary School. Through the "If I Were Mayor…" essay contest, applicants were asked to "define a specific issue or cause in their community and explain how they would solve it, how they would enlist the help of others, and how they would communicate the positive changes taking place in their community as a result," according to Gaithersburg officials.

Flores-Cerezo's essay discussed pedestrian safety.

This year's deadline for entries is March 1. For submission instructions and information, go to www.gaithersburgmd.gov or call 301-258-6310.