CCM is actively trying to engage Connecticut's youth. CCM is the state’s largest, nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, representing 168 town and cities in the state.  We work together with your town/city to improve your life and the lives of your friends, family, and neighbors. CCM wants to hear your voice! As we work to make your life better, we want to ask you about your local town/city.

Contest Overview

Think about the question - What is cool about local government?

Create an entry using this as the central question and general theme. Have fun, and be creative with this project! You may choose to submit an essay, poem, photo, video, painting, multimedia project, or any other medium you find appropriate. Images of three-dimensional art will be accepted.

Helpful Tips

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Do you know anyone who works in local government that you could speak to on the topic?
• What excites you about your town?
• What services do you like that your local government provides? (Club sports, theater, parks, fairs and festivals, parades, etc.)
• What is your favorite place in your town?
• What suggestions do you have to make your government cooler?
• What services do you wish your town provided?

Contest Information

Who Can Enter:
The contest is open to all Connecticut public middle (grades 6-8) or high (grades 9-12) school students. They may collaborate with peers and submit group projects of no more than 3 people.

Entry Rules:

1. All work must be original.
2. One submission per person/group.
3. Essays/poems must be limited to 500 words.
   • Note: No GoogleDoc submissions will be accepted. Please send in the following acceptable formats:
     • Microsoft PowerPoint
     • Word Document
     • Adobe pdf.
4. Photos must meet the following resolution requirements: JPEG or JPG format and at least 1600 pixels wide (if horizontal) or 1600 pixels tall (if vertical) or be a quality 8x10 print.
5. Videos must be limited to 2 minutes.
6. If submitting an original three-dimensional work of art, you may opt to submit images of the art for consideration. However, the original piece must be available upon request.
7. Winning entries must be able to be transported to Post University at a date to be determined.
8. Entry should have the full name of participating students and at least one guardian's name & number attached to submission email for identification purposes.
9. Any submission received by mail/in person will not be returned.
10. Entrants must complete the Official Contest Entry Form in its entirety.

Deadline:
All entries are due by Friday, October 4, 2024.

Judging:
The CCM awards committee will choose the winners based on the following:

• Closeness to the theme
• Originality
• Creativity

Winners:
The winning submissions* will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship presented during CCM’s Convention on December 3, 2024.  Winners will be invited to stay and attend the awards luncheon.

*Prize will be split equally among each group member should a group entry win. One high school and one middle school submission will be selected.

How to Enter

Complete the official entry form and send it along with your entry.

By Email: memberservices@ccm-ct.org
Be sure to use #LoCoolGov in your subject line.

By Mail:
CCM
Attn. Korbi Kelly-Banks
545 Long Wharf Drive, 8th Floor
New Haven, CT 06511

If you have any questions, email memberservices@ccm-ct.org or call 203-498-3049.

Click here to download a flyer about the scholarship.  We hope you will post it in your town hall, school, library, or anywhere Connecticut public middle and high school students might have access to it.