APPLE RIVER — The deadline for the Bald Eagle Essay Contest that the Eagle Nature Foundation (ENF) is sponsoring as part of its 60th Celebration in Galena, Ill. on Sept. 11 is approaching. All essays must be postmarked by Aug. 20 to be eligible to be considered for any prizes.

ENF has already received over 50 entries for the contest. But school is out and some teachers may have forgotten the deadline for the entries, which is before many schools reopen again for the fall session. Each school is limited to four entries in each division, Junior High and Senior High School. After Aug. 20, a panel of judges will determine the top four entries in each division and ENF will let the students and schools know who they are, so they can make arrangements for the students, who wrote the essays, to be present at the 60th to personally read their essays for the final judgment. This oral presentation of the essays will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 11, with the Award Ceremony being held at 2 p.m.

The top essay in each division will receive $100, the second-place winners will receive $50, third-place winners will receive $25 and fourth-place winners will receive $10. Each school which has the winning essay in its division will receive $50 and a trophy.

All schools; public, private, religious and home-schooled students are invited to enter their top essays. The essays must be 500 words or less and titled “What the Bald Eagle Means to Me” and have a Contest Entry Form attached to it.

For more information contact: Terrence N. Ingram, Exec. Director, Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001 Phone 815-594-2306