Knights of Vartan Armenian Genocide Essay Contest for High School Students

Announcement:
“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.”

These words, by renowned Armenian-American writer William Saroyan, now ring true more than ever as the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches. Although there is continued denial by the Turkish government, and limited international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia have flourished in the century since the systematic genocide against the Armenians was carried out in 1915 by the Young Turk government, in which 1.5 million people perished.

Please write a 750-1,000 word essay focusing on what can be done in the face of denial to ensure the Armenian Genocide is remembered in the years to come.

One winner and two runner-ups will be selected by a panel of judges. First place winner will receive $300, second place runner-up will receive $200 and third place runner-up will receive $100. The winners will also be recognized at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration at Times Square on Sunday, April 26, 2015.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Wednesday, March 31, 2015
(800 words maximum, double-spaced 12 point Arial type: Please include student’s full name, age, teacher’s full name and subject area, name of high school, year in school, hometown/state, phone #, and email address at the top of each page of the essay.)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
The three winners will be contacted directly and announced to the mainstream and Armenian media the week of Wednesday, April 7, 2015.

PLEASE SUBMIT ESSAYS VIA EMAIL BY Wednesday, March 31, 2015 to:
Taleen via email at april24nyc@gmail.com