MIAMI — Junior and senior high school students are invited to submit a 500 to 700-word essay expressing their views on different topics related to women and gender. Essays must focus on one of the three related topics: reproductive health; gender and media; and violence against women.

The contest is a joint effort between the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, the Women’s Park and FIU’s Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, and will run through April 30. Winners will be featured at an award reception at the Women’s Park in late May.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three essays.  Awards include:  $500 first place award, $350 second place award, and $200 third place award. 

Submit entries in PDF or Word format via email to wstudies@fiu.edu by midnight, April 30.  Entries must include the students’ full name, email address, phone number, their current grade, and the name of their high school.  All papers will go through Turnitin.com for review. 

The Women’s Park, founded June 16, 1992, was the first park dedicated to women in the United States. It was created to honor all women past, present and future for their contributions to the betterment of the quality of life in Miami-Dade County. Members of the Women’s Park Founder’s Committee include Roxcy O’Neal Bolton (“Mother of the Park”), Bonnie Lano Rippingille, Molly Turner, Teresa Zorilla Clark, Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Leona H. Cooper, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Elaine Gordon, Monna Lighte and Helen Miller.

 For more information, please email Rosa Henriquez at henriqur@fiu.edu or the Women’s Park at thewomenspark@miamidade.gov