ELVERSON, PA — Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, in partnership with the Friends of Hopewell Furnace, is calling on local students to take part in an exciting essay contest. The contest is part of the park’s annual Independence Day celebration and offers students a platform to share their thoughts on liberty.
The contest is open to students from grades 6 through 12 attending schools in Antietam, Boyertown, Coatesville, Daniel Boone, Downingtown, Exeter, Governor Mifflin, Oley Valley, Owen J Roberts, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Reading, Spring-Ford, Twin Valley, and Wyomissing districts.
High school students are invited to submit essays of 500 words or less, while middle school students can submit essays of 300 words or less. The prompt for all entries is: “What does the word liberty mean to you?”
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, with cash prizes awarded to the top three essays from each grade group. First place winners will receive $125, second place winners will receive $100, and third place winners will receive $75. Furthermore, these top students will have the honor of participating in the park’s public Independence Day program at 2pm on July 4th.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, April 30, 2023. More details about the competition can be found on the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site’s website.
Hopewell Furnace, established as a National Historic Site on August 3, 1938, is a living testament to the industrialization that shaped the early United States. The site preserves the late 18th and early 19th-century setting of an iron-making community, including a charcoal-fueled furnace that operated for 112 years after its establishment in 1771 by Ironmaster Mark Bird.
The park, located at 2 Mark Bird Lane in Elverson, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free, making it an accessible historical and educational resource for the community. For more information about the park and its programs, you can reach them at 610-582-8773.
This essay contest provides a unique opportunity for local students to reflect on the concept of liberty and express their thoughts in a public forum. So, students, grab your pens or keyboards and start writing!
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