The deadline for submissions to this school year’s Student Essay Contest on Kootenai County History is midnight Feb. 17. Entries received after that time cannot be included in the competition.

The contest is sponsored by the Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Information about the contest is posted on the county’s official website: www.kcgov.us. One can simply locate and click on the “Historic Preservation Commission” prompt under the “Committees” menu on the website’s home page. This, in turn, will take you to the HPC’s home page where you can click on the “Annual Essay Contest Information” prompt under the “Department Links” prompt to access the contest flier, a list of 20 historic homes located throughout Kootenai County (from which students can choose one as their essay topic) and the contest’s detailed rules/guidelines (eligibility, format, judging process, prizes, etc.).

This is the third consecutive year the contest has been offered. The HPC received 52 total entries in the first year (38 middle school entries/14 high school entries). The number of middle school entries the second year of the contest increased dramatically to 88 while the number of high school entries dropped precipitously to only seven, bringing the total number of entries submitted to 95. The HPC was very encouraged by the overall increase in the number of entries, being particularly encouraged by the significant increase in the number of middle school student entries. Conversely, the HPC was openly discouraged and expressed its concern over the lack of participation by high school students … especially after ascertaining that there are roughly 7000 high school level students in public, private and home school venues throughout Kootenai County. Surely we can do better than that!

Our goal this year is to receive at least 100 entries from middle school students and at least 50 entries from high school students. The former is perceived to be a reasonable indication of sustainable growth in the middle school participation rate. The HPC believes the goal of 50 high school student entries is not only reasonable but necessary to establish a baseline for sustainable growth in the high school student participation rate.

We realize that reaching the participation rate goals for this year’s contest will take a concerted, tri-lateral commitment by students, parents and teachers alike. Accordingly, my HPC volunteer colleagues and I are asking everyone reading this to encourage middle and high school students living in Kootenai County to participate in this year’s contest. Rest assured: Students who participate, as well as their parents and teachers, will gain a much greater appreciation for the richness of our local history and the need to help preserve it!

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Skip Fuller is Vice Chairman of the Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission.