19th Annual Tacoma Maritime Fest Announces:
“Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship”

Essay Contest

For over 18 years, the Commencement Bay Maritime Fest has spotlighted Tacoma’s working waterfront; built awareness of Tacoma’s 50+ miles of shoreline; and promoted stewardship of our natural marine resources. Over 150 years ago Tall Ships transported lumber from Tacoma’s waterfront to build cities on America’s West Coast. Many of Tacoma’s families have lived and worked on these shores for generations; others settled here from lands around the world.

Today Tacoma thrives on the innovation, ingenuity and creativity of blended populations and eleven Sister City multi-national programs to build Tacoma as a great maritime city. We also face the challenges that urban development brings to the health of our waterways. In response to these challenges, the 19th Annual Commencement Bay Maritime Fest announces an exciting new contest to encourage youth involvement in clean, safe boating and environmental responsibility.

The Commencement Bay Maritime Fest in partnership with Citizens for a Healthy Bay announces the 2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship” Essay Contest. The contest is open to all public and private high school students in the Fife, Franklin Pierce, Peninsula, Puyallup, Tacoma, University Place school districts, and to home schools.

The scholarship essay contest is designed to encourage original thinking and creative approaches to build a more sustainable future for Puget Sound through youth boating activities. Students are invited to write and submit original essays of 1,500 words or less on the topic of “A Healthy Puget Sound: What Can I Do to Help?” Each individual student essay submitted shall represent a class, club or team from their respective school.  A teacher, administrator or other sponsor shall complete and submit the Teacher/Administrator form to accompany each essay entered into the contest. The essay selected as the winner of the contest shall entitle the school group represented by the essay to receive the “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship.”

3-day, 2-night Marine Science Expedition

The school group represented by the winning essay will be awarded the 2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship” in the amount of $7,500 for up to 30 students to experience a 3-day, 2-night marine science expedition with Salish Sea Expeditions (www.salish.org), a non-profit organization that conducts innovative “science-under-sail” programs for student groups on board the 61′ sailing research vessel Carlyn. All expeditions occur during the school calendar year on the waters of the Puget Sound on dates agreed upon between the winning school group and Salish Sea Expeditions.

Building Environmental Leadership

The purpose of the 2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship” is to:

• encourage Tacoma area youth to pursue responsible recreational boating
• advance “clean water” stewardship and environmental education
• raise awareness about the urgent need to protect and preserve our waterways
• inspire leadership in addressing these issues

Scholarship Partners and Scholarship Award Selection

The Commencement Bay Maritime Fest and Citizens for a Healthy Bay have partnered with Salish Sea Expeditions for this new scholarship. A review panel of members of the Commencement Bay Maritime Fest Education Committee and Citizens for a Healthy Bay will select the winning essay and high school group.

Scholarship Funding

A portion of 2011 Commencement Bay Maritime Fest registration fees, sponsorships, and direct contributions from supporters, as well as corporate sponsorships, will go toward funding the 2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship.”

Scholarship Presentation and Terms

The winner of the scholarship essay contest will be announced and the award will be presented at the 2011 Commencement Bay Maritime Fest on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Noon at Thea’s Park on Foss Waterway in Tacoma. The school group awarded the scholarship shall contract directly with Salish Sea Expeditions to arrange the date and details of the expedition.

Contest Deadlines and Award Presentation

Entries must be postmarked by June 15, 2011. Winners will be notified by July 15, 2011. The winner of the essay contest will be honored and the scholarship will be awarded at the 2011 Tacoma Maritime Fest.

Contest Entry Instructions

Each student’s essay representing their class must be accompanied by a 2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship Essay Contest” Teacher/Administrator Agreement signed by the individual who will serve as the contact person/expedition coordinator for the school awarded the scholarship.

Submit essays and forms (postmarked by June 15, 2011) to:

2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship” Essay Contest
Citizens for a Healthy Bay
535 Dock Street, Suite 213,
Tacoma, WA 98402

Include with each essay:
1) Student’s name
2) Student’s (or parent/guardian’s) phone number
3) Student’s (or parent/guardian’s) email address
4) Signed “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship” Teacher/Administrator Agreement

The Commencement Bay Maritime Fest and Citizens for a Healthy Bay are eager to expand the region’s student learning outside the classroom! Join us August 27-28, 2011 for a celebration of boating fun, maritime events, and the scholarship essay contest award presentation!

Click links below!

2011 Youth on Board Scholarship Essay Contest Guidelines

2011 Teacher Administrator Agreement

For more information about the 2011 “Youth on Board Clean, Green Boating Scholarship” Essay Contest, contact:

Madhuri Hosford Marketing & Marine Science Program Manager Maritime Fest Education Committee Member Foss Waterway Seaport 705 Dock Street Tacoma, WA 98402 T   ext. 102 F   C

Jeff Barney Bay Patrol Director Maritime Fest Education Committee Member Citizens for a Healthy Bay 535 Dock Street, Suite 213 Tacoma, WA 98402 T  ext. 102 F   C