Glenburn State Rep. Stacey Guerin Encourages Participation in Bill of Rights Essay Scholarship Contest

AUGUSTA — State Representative Stacey Guerin (R-Glenburn) is encouraging young women in Maine from the high school classes of 2013 or 2014 to participate in the 16^th Annual Bill of Rights Essay Scholarship Contest, sponsored by the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) and the National Rifle Association (NRA). The six young women nationwide whose essays are selected will receive an award, a $3,000 
scholarship, and an all-expense-paid trip to NFWL’s 2013 Annual Conference. This 
year, the conference will be held at Washington, D.C.’s Ritz-Carlton from November 20-22.  Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for the scholarship by writing an essay on one of two topics:

• Recent events have shown the degree of personal information that can be, and may have been collected, by the government for purposes of national security. Where would you draw the line between the privacy afforded to individuals vs. the government’s right to know? Use references to the Constitution and or specific Constitutional Amendments and what you believe the Founding Fathers intended. Also use personal anecdotes about how your point of view might affect you directly.
• The military has grappled with the issue of sexual assaults, with a series of on- going scandals. According to one study, “a woman in the military is more likely to be a victim of a rape or sexual assault than be killed in combat.” Should the resolution of such cases be taken out of the hands of the military command structure, or should the culture of the military be changed, or both? Should there be any distinction in the role women play in the military, and what would the Founding Fathers have to say about this issue? Would you serve in the military if its culture does not change?

Interested applicants should contact Rep. Guerin at RepStacey.Guerin@legislature.maine.gov for more information regarding the application, contest guidelines, and sponsorship, or contact Alex Rich of NFWL at alex@womenlegislators.orgor (202) 293-3040. 
The deadline for entry is September 15, 2013.