What does my municipal government do best?
That’s what the New Jersey State League of Municipalities wants to know from high school juniors and seniors in the annual statewide Louis Bay II Future Municipal Leaders essay contest.
Students are encouraged to write an essay of about 500 words to the mayor of their home town – in this case, East Windsor Township Mayor Janice S. Mironov – for consideration. The deadline to submit an essay is March 11.
A committee appointed by Mayor Mironov will review the entries and select a semifinalist from East Windsor Township. The semifinalist’s essay will be sent on for review by the Scholarship Committee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
The scholarship committee will select 15 finalists among the semifinalists’ entries statewide, and then winnow down the list to three winners. The winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship that will be presented to them by the mayor of their town.
The contest is named for Louis Bay II, who was the mayor of Hawthorne for 40 years. He was active in the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, serving as president and executive officer.
Bay also served on the Hawthorne school board and on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The goal of the contest is to raise students’ awareness of municipal government and the role that it plays in their lives, which is reflected in the essay contest’s theme – “What does my municipal government do best.”
“This is a positive program for high school juniors and seniors, which provides assistance toward higher education while spotlighting the important role of municipal government and officials,” Mayor Mironov said.
“By offering this type of program, we hope it will provide greater insight and interest in the functions and workings of local government – especially by young people,” Mayor Mironov said.
The full application packet is available at the Municipal Clerk’s Office at the East Windsor Township Municipal Building at 16 Lanning Boulevard, or by calling 609-443-4000, ext. 238. The office is open weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.