Peace Fest

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Welcome to Smith Mountain Lake Peace Fest 2016.

Education: A Pathway to Peace

(see our Peace Fest flyer)

We are very excited you are interested in our event. We have Nationally recognized speakers, our own Vicki Gardner,  Steel Drum Band,  Lunch ….   and much more!

High School Students -scroll to the bottom of the page for info on the 2 page essay that pays First Place $500, 2nd place $300 and $200 for 3rd place. No Entry Fee or Registration Fee.  Give it your best shot.

In addition to the cash prize winners there will be honorable mention (prizes) for essays that may not have exact grammar and spelling but the message in the essay is compelling.  This could include experiences (personal or otherwise).

April 30, 2016-

On the morning of August 26, 2015 WDBJ News Reporter Allison Parker and Cameraman Adam Ward were interviewing Vicki Gardner, Executive Director of Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce about the upcoming SML 50th Year Celebration starting in Spring 2016. Both Allison and Adam were fatally shot, and Vicki was shot in the back, on live TV.

Ever since this horrific tragedy the goal has been to provide something positive and non-political that ties into SML’s 50th Year Celebration. Several Community Leaders – including our Rotary Club, the Lake Anniversary Committee, Chamber of Commerce, County Law Enforcement, and others – have planned and will participate in Peace Fest ’16.

WDBJ is our Media Sponsor. Our theme is Education: A Pathway to Peace 2016.

This all-day event fits strategically into the schedule of 70 “SML 50” events running all spring and summer.

For Grant purposes we fall under “community development”: Education: A Pathway to Peace in the Workforce, Job Training and Development for all.

On April 30th we anticipate that 250 high school students, college students, friends and family will meet at Trinity Ecumenical Church (just down the road from Bridgewater Plaza, where the shooting took place) to learn, study and visualize a Pathway to Peace for the present and future…

Several speakers and law enforcement will be present as well as two Keynote Speakers. Our own Vicki Gardner will speak about “her vision” of SML and The Chamber of Commerce moving forward. The 2nd Keynote Speaker is David Anderson Hooker; he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our topic Education: A Pathway to Peace.

High School students will prepare essays to be judged. The top three – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places – will share awards totaling $1,000. The winners will each read their two-page essay at the event and presented their check.

There will be exhibits and a local steel drum band – excellent entertainment.

Registration includes Lunch:

Add as many tickets as you wish, then check out (above at right).

All of us are volunteers and we are sensitive to the those who want to attend but can’t afford a $10-$20 entry fee.  Wells Fargo Foundation wants to talk with you. For Registration Financial Assistance please call Tom Ulbrich at 540-510-3739 or email Thomas.Ulbrich@wellsfargo.com

For questions about the essay contest please contact shirleysorrentino@gmail.com.  Essays must be emailed to her on or before April 15th.

For all other questions please call Steve Miller 540-520-4028 / smiller801@embarqmail.com

 

(Student Ticket with Lunch, $10)

(Adult Ticket with Lunch, $20)

Education – A Pathway to Peace 2016
Saturday, April 30, 2016

Trinity Ecumenical Parish
Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Program

8:00-9:00 AM
Registration

8:00 AM
Exhibits open (Rotary, University and Civic Organizations)
There will be representatives from universities (including peace studies), and exhibits of local peace organizations.

8:30 AM
Opening Ceremony
Welcome by Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake President Carolyn Gordon
Welcome by Rotary District Governor Alex Wilkins

9:45-10:45 AM
Presentation by Dr. David Anderson Hooker, PhD, JD, MPH and MPD

11:00-12:00 PM
Panel Discussion by Sheriffs from Bedford and Franklin Counties

12:00 Noon
Lunch – Presented by the Youth of Trinity Ecumenical Parish (TEP)
Luncheon Speaker Vicki Gardner – SML Vision
1:00 PM
Steel Drum Band

1:30-2:30 PM
Presentation of High School Student Essays and Awards

2:30-3:30 PM
Presentation by Matthew Ford Rotary Peace Scholar – Rotary Peace Fellowship Opportunities

4:00 PM
Exhibits close

4:00 PM
Closing Ceremony

 

Peace Fest ’16 Essay Contest

No entry/ registration fee

The purpose of this contest is to merge horror of the shootings with the 50th year celebration of SML in a non-political way.  We want to bring awareness to our youth about Peace and Conflict resolution.  A 2 page essay is one way to accomplish this.   In addition to the cash prize winners there will be honorable mention (prizes) for essays that may not have exact grammar and spelling but the message in the essay is compelling.  This could include experiences (personal or otherwise)

The Essay Contest is open to students at the high school level of study.  Students must be enrolled full-time or part-time in coursework during the contest year.  Home-schooled students at the high school level are eligible to participate.

2016 Essay Contest

Essay Contest Topic: The theme for the essay shall be: Education: A Pathway to Peace.

Essay should be no more than two pages in length

Essay is to follow the MLA (Modern Language Association) format:

  • One- inch page margins
  • Double spaced paragraphs
  • A header with author’s first and last name, Education: A Pathway to Peace, name of high school attended. Home schooled students include email address.
  • A works cited page beginning on a separate page at the end of the paper

Essay will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Understanding of the topic (4x value)
  • Effectiveness in expressing a point-of-view (2x value)
  • Original thinking relative to the topic (2x value)
  • Literary style, grammar, and spelling

Entries must be submitted online by April 15, 2016. The email address is: shirleysorrentino@gmail.com   Please include your email and phone number with your submission.

 

Essay Contest Awards

Awards for the essays selected by our judges shall be:

First Place

  • $500
  • Recognition at the Peace Fest ‘16
  • Publication of the essay in the Smith Mountain Eagle
  • Second Place
  • $300
  • Recognition at the Peace Fest ‘16
  • Publication of the essay in the Smith Mountain Eagle
  • Third Place
  • $200
  • Recognition at the Peace Fest ‘16
  • Publication of the essay in the Smith Mountain Eagle If you have any questions, contact Shirley Sorrentino at shirleysorrentino@gmail.com.
  • These materials, and the activity described herein, are not sponsored by the Franklin County School Board
  • These materials, and the activity described herein, are not sponsored by the Bedford  County School Board
  • These materials, and the activity described herein, are not sponsored by the Roanoke County School Board
  • These materials, and the activity described herein, are not sponsored by the Roanoke City  School Board