PULLMAN, Wash. — May 1 is the deadline for Washington State University
full-time undergraduate students to enter the annual WSU Dolores Huerta
Essay competition.
Named for the United Farm Workers of America co-founder, the competition’s
objective is to inspire students to consider solutions to controversial issues
that impact the Chicano/Latino community, said Jennifer Mata, a WSU
American studies graduate student and member of CAMARADAS, the
university’s Chicano/Latino graduate student association and competition
sponsor.
“Her passion for social justice has established her as one of the great leaders
and activists of our time,” said Mata of Huerta. “She has been at the forefront
of environmental justice issues addressing environmental injustice from the
perspectives of race, class, gender and sexual orientation.”
Essayists are asked to describe “how environmental injustice has impacted a
community based on its racial, class, sexual orientation and gender
composition, and to provide possible strategies towards resolution,” she said.
Judging the essays will be a committee of WSU graduate students, faculty and
staff.
First-, second- and third-place essay winners will receive respective $200, $100
and $50 awards. Winners will be announced and awards given on May 5 as
part of the WSU Chicano/Latino graduation ceremony on campus.
Huerta, UFWA secretary-treasurer, was a keynote speaker during WSU’s
“Environmental Justice 2000: Building Coalitions for Environmental and
Economic Justice in the Northwest” meeting earlier this month.
Each essay entered must include a completed application form. The forms are
available at the Chicano/Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, African
American and Native American student centers; the Multicultural Center; the
Office of Multicultural Student Services; the Women’s Resource Center; and
the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Allies Center.
For information, contact the Chicano/Latino Student Center, 509/335-2616.
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