MWRA Poster, Writing and Video Contests for 2017-2018 Main Page

Update 04/23/2018: Winners announced!

It's MWRA contest time! Once again the MWRA is sponsoring Poster and Writing Contests for students who live in or attend school in a community served by the MWRA.

2017-2018 Topic
for Poster and Writing Contests

A Clean Boston Harbor: Healthy For All

Since MWRA completed the Boston Harbor Clean-up, humans, plants and animals have returned to enjoy the clean waters and beaches. Use your creative skills to design a poster, and/or write an essay, poem or story to show how people, plants and animals have benefited from the clean-up of Boston Harbor and its beaches.

For more ideas, check out these links to specific research resources on Boston Harbor's recovery.

Entry deadline: Wednesday March 14, 2018

We hope the students will have fun with this topic and learn some important facts in the process. Good luck to all participants!

Poster Contest (grades K-12)

Create a poster to show how people, plants and animals have benefited from the clean-up of Boston Harbor and its beaches.

Posters will be judged in four categories:
Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12

Writing Contest (grades 3-8)

Write an essay, poem or short story to show how people, plants and animals have benefited from the clean-up of Boston Harbor and its beaches.

Entries will be judged in two categories:
Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.

Deadline

Entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Early entries are encouraged.

Rules

Rules are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

Required Forms and Labels

Every group of student entries must have a Contest Registration Form and each entry must have a Student Label attached securely to the back of the entry. Forms and labels are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

Students may enter on their own if they live in or attend a school in the MWRA service area. You must include the student label on the back of your entry. Labels are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

Prizes

First prize in each category is a $100.00 gift card, 2nd prize is a $50.00 card, and 3rd prize is a $25.00 card.

All winners, including honorable mention winners, are invited with their families to an Awards Ceremony at Deer Island on Friday, May 25, 2018.

How to Submit Contest Entries

All entries must be mailed to:

MWRA School Contest
2 Griffin Way
Chelsea, MA 02150

What Makes a Good Poster Entry

Make sure your poster is on topic. Don't try to include too many ideas or activities
on your poster. A single message, clearly illustrated, is more effective. If you use
lettering, make sure it can be read from across a room. For inspiration and examples, check out our poster contest winners for 2016-2017.

What Makes a Good Writing Entry

First, be sure your entry addresses the question. As good as a piece might be, if it isn't on topic, it can't win a prize. Then, use your creativity to make your entry stand out. The reader should remember your work because there was something unique about it. An essay can be just as creative as a poem or dialogue, if it has a clear theme and is developed cleverly. For ideas, take a look at our writing contest winners for 2016-2017.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers for teachers and students are included in the contest entry packet (PDF).

How to Submit Contest Entries
All entries must be mailed to:

MWRA School Contest
2 Griffin Way
Chelsea, MA 02150

Deadline: Wednesday, March 14, 2018

What if I still have some questions?

If you still have questions, please contact Meg Tabacsko, MWRA School Program Manager, at meg.tabacsko@mwra.com. If you do not have access to email, please call Meg at 617-305-5646.