Florida’s High School Students Encouraged to Learn More about “Government in the Sunshine”

sunshine_week cropped 125.gif Governor Charlie Crist today announced Florida’s Sunshine Week “Government in the Sunshine” Web site and invited Florida public school students in grades 9-12 to participate in the Florida Sunshine Week essay contest. Sunshine Week, March 16-22, 2008, celebrates the State of Florida’s dedication to making state and local government more accessible to the public.

“Sunshine Week offers a tremendous opportunity for all Floridians to learn more about the opportunities available to them in accessing their government,” Governor Crist said. “I am committed to continuing to create more transparency and openness within all levels of government. It is my belief that government should be held accountable by the people it serves, and Sunshine Week is an excellent time for Florida’s students to get involved.”

{sidebar id=1}About the Essay Contest

The essay contest is open to all Florida public school students in grades 9-12 and the winner will be announced March 18, 2008. The first place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship, the second place winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship, and third place will receive a $1,500 scholarship. All winners will receive recognition at an event at the Governor’s Mansion. Essays should answer the question, “What role does open government play within a democratic society and a democratic government?”

Guidelines

Each student may enter only one essay, no longer than 500 words and typed or handwritten in print, rather than cursive writing.
Essays must include the student’s name, home address, telephone number, school the student attends, grade level and essay title.
Essays must be accompanied by a parental waiver form, which can be found at www.flgov.com/og_sunshine.
Entries must be e-mailed to SunshineEssay@myflorida.com or mailed to the Executive Office of the Governor, Attention: Sunshine Week Essay Contest, 400 S. Monroe Street, Suite LL-08, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
Entries must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, March 3, 2008.

About Sunshine Week

In 2002, the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors launched Sunshine Sunday in response to increased public and legislative awareness. After Florida’s trailblazing actions to establish sunshine laws, many other states have adopted Sunshine Sunday, which resulted in the American Society of Newspaper Editors designating a Sunshine Week.

Governor Crist’s dedication to the sunshine laws is clearly evident. In his inaugural address, Florida’s 44th Governor made open government a top priority. He quoted President Abraham Lincoln, pledging under his watch Florida government would be “of the people, by the people and for the people.” The next day in his first Executive Order, Governor Crist established the Office of Open Government and charged it with providing the Governor’s Office and all state agencies the tools necessary to serve the people of Florida in a professional and efficient manner.

For more information, please visit http://www.flgov.com/og_home .

This information originally published on February 12, 2008.

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