Warwick Conservancy announces $500 essay contest for students

Warwick - The Warwick Conservancy is offering $500 to the high school student who lives in the Town of Warwick who best answers the essay question: “What can be done to protect and preserve the environment, wildlife, and natural resources in our town, which are critical to maintaining the rural character of our community?” Conservancy President Andrew McLaughlin said his group was seeking to raise awareness concerning the environment among young people in the town through the essay contest. “Warwick’s natural rural beauty, our farms, wildlife and other natural resources have been under continuing pressure from development and overcrowding for the past 20 years,” McLaughlin said. “With this award we are focusing on encouraging our future leaders to come to grips with the real problems of sustaining the beauty and character of our wonderful town. “If we want to preserve our rural character, doing nothing is not an option. We must harness the creativity and dedication of all citizens to shape what Warwick will look like in the future. We hope to help our youth take a leading role in shaping Warwick’s future. Those who will inherit what we leave behind should be involved right now.” All matriculated junior and senior high school students who reside in the Town of Warwick may compete for the prize, which will be awarded at the Town Board meeting at Town Hall on June 21. The essay is to be typed and double-spaced and be a minimum of 1,500 words. The first page will be the title page, giving only contestant’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail, school and grade. The essay should be typed on consecutively numbered pages, with the title on the bottom of each page. No student who is a relative of a Warwick Conservancy trustee or advisor may participate in the contest. Entries that meet these guidelines should be submitted to Andrew McLaughlin, President, Warwick Conservancy, P. O. Box 1277, Warwick, NY 10990 and received no later than June 5. Three trustees of the Warwick Conservancy will serve as judges. For questions about the contest, call Richard Hull at 986-7811. For information about the Warwick Conservancy, go to its Web site at www.warwickconservancy.org.