Everyone we meet in Denver is so excited for the Democratic National Convention to come to town. For the younger people in the community, the Convention brings the chance to become involved in the democratic process, even for those too young to vote.

Such an opportunity became available yesterday, when the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) joined with Post-News Educational Services and Qwest Communications at East High School in Denver to unveil the “Write to Lead” youth essay contest and delegation ambassador program. Representatives from each of the partner organizations were joined by Sara Lass and Marlene Smith – two 11th grade student government leaders from East – for the big unveil.

The “Write to Lead” contest invites students in grades 6-11 across the state of Colorado to submit an original essay answering one of two questions in 300 to 500 words:

• Grades 6-8: What qualities make a great leader? How could one exhibit those traits in everyday life?

• Grades 9-11: Looking to the future, what do you see for our country? What qualities does a leader need to take our country forward?

The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 18, and the finalists will be announced the week of May 19, with names and hometowns of each student appearing on www.demconvention.com and in a full-page ad to run in either the Denver Post or the Rocky Mountain News. The finalists will also serve as ambassadors for Convention delegations throughout the summer – playing an integral role in helping us to introduce Convention attendees to the West. And ideally learning a bit about the key role delegates play in the democratic process along the way.

In addition, two Presidential Winners will be invited to attend the 2008 Convention in Denver, awarded a laptop computer to aid with future writing projects and have his or her essay published in the newspaper.

To find out more information or to submit your essay, click here.