2022 Essay/Visual Arts Scholarships to Raise Awareness of Armenian Genocide

Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial (Photo – westernprelacy.org, Fred Milikian)

SACRAMENTO – ColoradoBoulevard.net:

Assemblymember Chris Holden, as part of The California Armenian Legislative Caucus, announced the annual scholarship contest. The Caucus is holding two scholarship contests for the 2022 remembrance of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. California high school students are invited to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to increase greater awareness of the Armenian Genocide.

By News Desk

All winners will be contacted directly and announced to mainstream and Armenian media by the California Armenian Legislative Caucus on April 15, 2022. All winners will be awarded scholarships and will be acknowledged at the California Armenian Legislative Caucus’ annual Armenian Advocacy Day and receive special recognition from the members of the Armenian Caucus. Original artwork from visual arts finalists may be displayed in the California State Capitol.

“Although I am not of Armenian descent, the story and history of the Armenian people has touched my heart,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. The annual scholarship is a reminder that education has the power to inspire generations and I am honored to be a part of this effort.

Essay and Visual Arts winners will receive Scholarship Awards of (First Place) $1,000, (Second Place) $750, and (Third Place) $500.  Criteria for each contest are detailed online. Students (from 9th grade through 12th grade) may enter both contests, but submissions must be entered separately.

The deadline for all essay and visual arts submissions is April 8, 2022.

Essay

This year’s writing prompt calls on students to assume that:

1. They have been hired to work for a still-to-be-constructed Armenian American National Museum, with the museum to be located in Glendale, California.

1. They have received word from the museum director that one wing of the museum will be entitled Notable Armenian Americans. 

1. They are to share with the director, in the form of an internal memo, one person’s name that should be featured in this wing of the museum and the reason(s) that this name should so be featured.

Visual Arts

This year’s theme is “Human to Human Interaction.” All applicants must develop their submission in keeping with this theme.

1. Only two-dimensional, visual art submissions will be accepted. Submission types are limited to drawings, paintings, photographs, digital illustrations, and graphic design.
2. Submissions may not exceed an 11×17 frame and must weigh less than 25 pounds.
3. Submissions may not include any nudity, excessive and/or graphic violence, racial slurs, derogatory and/or offensive language, profanity, and may not make use of or replicate existing artwork. All submissions must be original work created by the applicant.

Application and Complete Details

Instructions and criteria for the contests are in the news release available at this link.

All submissions must be received by the California Armenian Legislative Caucus electronically on or before the submission deadline of Friday, April 9, 2021 at 1915essay@gmail.com.