Youth Essay Contest

The Main Street Project's Youth Essay Contest was held in November 2002 and was open to all youth in the Trumansburg School District form ages 10-18.

Entries were judged on their creativity and their ability to capture the essence of life in Trumansburg as the Village enters the 21st century. Students were asked to write about how living in Trumansburg had contributed to making them the person that they are and/or what changes they hoped to see in the Village and what things they hoped remained unchanged. They were also encouraged to include details about important world news, family, friends, and school life as well as personal experiences that might be unique to living in Trumansburg.

Judges were local residents from the school (retired), business, and volunteer sectors. The four winning entries, one from each age group, were announced at the Trumansburg Festival of Lights in 2002.

All of the essays have been exhibited in some way. Some were displayed at local places, some were posted on the Main Street "Traveling Exhibit" at Cornell University and Main Street events. Winning essays were published in the Ithaca Child and will be included in the Ulysses Historical Society's Time Capsule. They will also be a part of the Main Street Commemorative Booklet when the Project is completed.