A project conceived last fall by Gretchen Sorin and Roe DiBona of the Youth Services Committee has come to fruition with the help of generous gifts and grants. The project, “Make Your Mark,” is a contest to inspire local high school students to explore what voting in free elections means to them.

“This project is designed to get students involved in the electoral process; to get them interested in the importance of voting; to teach them about the individuals who fought for voting rights,” notes Gretchen, “and most importantly, to actively participate in the process of good citizenship.”

Gretchen and Roe successfully pursued grants from the Community Foundation of Otsego Country and the League of Women Voters US. The grants will cover the cost of printing promotional posters (at left) and fund prizes for the students: $500 for the first place poster, $300 for second-place, $100 for third-place, and four honorable mentions at $50 each.

This first year will focus on a pilot group of schools: Cooperstown, Springfield-Cherry Valley, Richfield Springs, and Milford. If successful, the plan is to expand the contest to the entire county. Graphic designer Doreen DeNicola donated her time to develop a poster for the contest. The Cooperstown Graduate Program is also a partner and will be the drop off point for the posters and assist with the judging will assist with the distribution of posters and information packets for teachers. Judging will take place in September and the posters will be exhibited during the fall prior to the mid-term elections.