VALDOSTA — Sixth-grade students can submit essays about what they would do if they were mayor of Valdosta.

The 2019 “If I Were Mayor” essay contest is sponsored by the City of Valdosta and the Valdosta Youth Council. The contest gives students from public, private or home schools a chance to creatively use grade-specific language, art skills and civic knowledge to express how they would make a difference if they were mayor. 

Eligible essays must begin with the sentence, “If I were mayor, I would…” and may not be longer than 350 words. 

The 2019 entries must be mailed or hand-delivered by March 22 to the public information office labeled Attention: Essay Contest, 216 E. Central Ave., Valdosta, Ga. 31601. 

The submitted essays may be either typed or neatly handwritten and must clearly display the names of the student, teacher and school at the top of each submitted page.

First-, second- and third-place winners will be selected by judges and recognized by Mayor John Gayle at the April 25 City Council meeting, city officials said.

The top three winning essays will be displayed in City Hall during Georgia Cities Week, April 21-27.

The first-, second- and third-place winners of the 2018 “If I Were Mayor” essay contest got to read their essays during a Valdosta City Council meeting last year.

Gayle recognized first-place winner Stephen Moore, second-place winner Om Patel and third-place winner Emma Graybeal at the meeting.

Some places to learn more about what cities do include:

• City of Valdosta website: www.valdostacity.com

• The Georgia Encyclopedia website: www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

Call the public information office at (229) 259-3548 for more information.

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256