STUDENTS CAN EARN TRIP TO IRELAND

Students participating in the Southeast Missourian's Newspaper In Education program have a chance to win an expense-paid trip to Ireland.

The trip is a grand prize of the Young Columbus 1994 program.

Thousands are expected to compete for the chance to represent their newspapers and the United States on the 10-day tour, April 12-21. In all, 150 students will visit Dublin, Mitchelstown, Ballyhoura Country, Killarney, Tralee and Shannon on the ancient Emerald Isle.

The Southeast Missourian will be working with teachers enrolled in the Newspaper In Education program and students grades 7 through 12.

In the first phase of the competition, students will write essays on the topic "Do you feel the role of the family is changing for better or worse? Explain your answer."

Students are asked to use at least three references from the Southeast Missourian in writing their essays.

Packets with details of the essay contest are available immediately.

Each participating school will select its two top candidates. School-level winners must have the recommendation of their teachers and principals.

Based on the essays and recommendations, five semifinalists will be chosen from the school-level winners.

Semifinalists advance to the second phase of the contest, the Southeast Missourian Current Events Quiz Bowl, planned in January.

The quiz bowl is a current events contest, much like a spelling bee, designed to test students on current events culled from the pages of a week's worth of Southeast Missourians.

This is the second year the Southeast Missourian has participated in the Young Columbus program, coordinated by Parade Magazine.

Kim McDowell, NIE coordinator for the newspaper, says "The Young Columbus program offers an opportunity for students from our area to travel abroad."

At the same time, she said, it rewards students for their skills in reading, writing and current events.

"In today's educational process, good character, independent study and knowledge of current events needs to be rewarded," McDowell said.

Last year's winner, Takara Stanley, a Cape Girardeau Central High School senior, traveled to London. Several of her essays appeared in the Southeast Missourian.

Since 1956, the Young Columbus program has offered American youths the opportunity to travel to Europe and act as junior ambassadors.

The Young Columbus contests which determine the winners are individually designed by newspapers that distribute Parade Magazine.

Teachers who have signed up for the NIE program may contact Kim McDowell at the Southeast Missourian in writing for information about the Young Columbus program: c/o Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.