Deadline for Secretary of Commonwealth's Census Poster Contest is March 26, 2010

Regional winners will have lunch with the Secretary and tour the State House in May

All Students (K-12) in Massachusetts are invited to participate in William Francis Galvin’s 2010 Census Poster Contest. Each school will choose one School Finalist per division by popular vote within the school community.  School Finalists will go on to compete at the Massachusetts Regional level.  There will be one Regional Winner chosen per division per region, for a total of 28 winners. 

Regional Winners will be invited to have lunch on Friday, May 21st, 2010 with the Secretary of the Commonwealth in the Great Hall of the State House, followed by a tour of the State House. Regional Winners’ posters will be displayed on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s census website, and will be displayed in the Great Hall during the May 21st Luncheon.

To help you get started:

Contact your child's school for specific details.

What is the Census?

The U.S. Census counts every person living in the United States and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $300 billion in federal funds each year.  The data collected by the census also help determine the number of seats Massachusetts has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Find out how the 2010 Census will affect you, your family and your school.  Research the Census topic at:

• www.ma2010.census.org
• www.2010census.gov

Secretary of the Commonwealth’s United States 2010 Census Poster Contest Rules

Who May Enter

Each student will compete against other students in the same grade division.  The four grade divisions are:

• Division #1: Elementary School (1) – Grades K – 2
• Division #2: Elementary School (2) – Grades 3 – top grade in each elementary school
• Division #3: Middle School/ Junior High
• Division #4: High School

Regions 

There will be one Regional Winner chosen in each age division, for a total of 28 winners.

• Region A: Berkshire & Hamden County
• Region B: Franklin & Hampshire County
• Region C: Worcester County
• Region D: Middlesex & Essex County
• Region E: Suffolk & Norfolk County
• Region F: Bristol & Plymouth County
• Region G: Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket County

Deadline Date

Completed poster designs must be submitted to your school by Friday, March 26th, 2010.

Poster Guidelines

1. Each poster must be hand drawn on paper sized no greater than 11”x17” and that is no thicker than ¼” thick.
2. Poster designs must be original, with no copyrighted material.  Collages or computer-generated art are not permitted.
3. The student, parent or teacher must complete the entry form and paste it to the back of each poster. Limit one poster per student.
4. Each poster must include the words “Census 2010”
5. You must choose one of the following themes:
   
   • The Direction of Massachusetts is Up to Us!
   • It’s Easy. It’s Safe. It’s Important.
   • It’s in Our Hands.
   • We Can’t Move Forward Until You Mail It Back.

The Selection Process

The criteria for poster judging will be based on how well the poster expresses its message about the United States 2010 Census in an original, creative and thoughtful manner. Crayons, markers and paints make more colorful posters than do pens and pencils.

Each School will display submitted posters during the week of Monday, March 29th – Friday, April 2nd.  The school community votes for their favorite of each age group.  The posters with the most votes in each age group in each school become the School Winner.

Wed. April 7th – Winning entry/division is announced in schools. 

School officials take a digital photo of the School Winner’s poster and email entry form details to MA2010CENSUS@sec.state.ma.us.

School Officials will include the following in the subject heading of their email:

Subject: 2010 Census Poster Finalist [Region] [School Name] [Division Number]

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR REGIONALS, EMAILS MUST BE SENT BY PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY WEDNESDAY APRIL 7, 2010 11:59PM.

School Officials hold onto the winning entries in case it wins the Regional level.

Mon. April 12- Friday April 23rd - A panel of educators, artists, and people involved in census outreach will determine Regional Winners in each age group, for a total of 28 winners.

Mon Apr. 26th - Winning entries are chosen. 

Fri. May 21st – Poster Contest Regional Winners join Secretary Galvin for a luncheon at the Great Hall.  The parent(s) and a teacher of each winner will accompany each winner to the Luncheon.

The entrant understands that the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office and the Department of Education intend to reproduce winning posters on the Web and in future promotional materials. By submitting a poster, the entrant gives a perpetual, royalty-free license to Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Department of Education to copy, distribute, make derivative works and publicly display the submitted poster.  Prizes are subject to change and restrictions.

Courtesy of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.