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About The Lee Chamberlin Memorial Award Writing Contest

The South Florida American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and American Immigration Council are proud to sponsor the annual Celebrate America Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest. The Lee Chamberlin Memorial Award Writing Contest in South Florida inspires educators to bring U.S. immigration history and lessons into their classrooms and gives fifth graders the opportunity to explore America as a nation of immigrants. Fifth grade writers have used the themes “America as a Nation of Immigrants” or "Why I am Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants" to discuss their personal immigration experiences, learn about and share family histories or write about the broader questions of the challenges facing immigrants in a new land.

Since the contest began over 2 decades ago, nearly 75,000 students have participated in two dozen cities and 750 schools and community centers across the nation. We invite students to enter their work in the South Florida contest to be judged by professionals and dignitaries. The winner will share his or her written work with AILA members at the annual luncheon. The student winners work will be published and they will win the following cash prizes:

1st place will receive $500;

2nd place will receive $250; and

3rd place will receive $100.

As an added incentive, the 1st place student’s teacher will also receive a cash gift of $200, the 2nd place student’s teacher will receive $150 and the 3rd place student’s teacher will receive $100 from South Florida AILA.

One winner will be chosen from all of South Florida and entered into the national competition where entries are reviewed by a distinguished panel. The national winner will be invited to read his or her winning entry at the American Immigration

Council’s (AIC) American Heritage Awards dinner in June 2025 – a celebration that will take place in a destination which will be announced in the coming months.

It is EASY to Register! Read below for Instructions on how to enter the competition.

FIFTH GRADERS! HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO TELL YOUR IMMIGRATION STORY

INSTRUCTIONS

For Students: All fifth graders are invited to compete. Students may express themselves through a typed narrative,

descriptive, expository or persuasive writings, poetry, essay, and other forms of written expression that should not exceed

500 words. Judging criteria will be based on (1) theme, (2) presentation, (3) creativity and (4) message. NOTE: Entries in the form of drawings, illustrations and pictures will be accepted in the local South Florida contest only. If your student feels more comfortable through this form of artistic expression, the committee will accept it.

For Teachers: If you wish to invite one of our attorneys to your class to discuss the contest, and/or if your class will

participate, please contact one of our contest coordinators via email as soon as possible and provide the total

number of students who will participate from your class. On or before the April 2025 entry deadline, please

scan and email all your student entries at once to one of the coordinators in the CONTACT US section below. More details regarding this competition may also be found at: www.celebrateamericawritingcontest.org.

How to Register:

Complete the Form in the CONTACT US section below. You may also contact the Contest Coordinators listed in the CONTACT US section for more information.

Important Dates: April 2025 Student entries due:

April 2025 Regional winner (1) from South Florida to be chosen

May 2025 National winner (1) to be announced

June 2025 American Heritage Awards Celebration

REGISTER

CONTACT