The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) announces the first annual Community College Week—NISOD Student Essay Contest in honor of Scott Wright, past editor of Community College Week (1995–2000), recipient of the 1998 Award for Excellence in Higher Education Journalism, and the reporter who brought national attention to developmental education and the unique mission community colleges possess in providing an accessible education.

Describe your most rewarding learning experience with a faculty, staff, or administrator at your college.

• $1,000 to the Student Author
• $1,000 to the Faculty/Staff/Administrator Featured in the Essay
• Complimentary 2009–2010 NISOD Membership to the Student’s College ($1,000 value)

Click here for a list of additional prizes.

• Each contestant may submit only one essay, and it must address the essay topic specifically.
• The essay text is limited to a minimum of 400 and a maximum of 500 words.
• The faculty/staff/administrator featured in the essay must be employed currently at a community college or community college district.
• The submission packet must be submitted by December 1, 2008, via the online form.
• Essays will become the property of NISOD and Community College Week. Submission constitutes an authorization for NISOD and Community College Week to use the essays for research and grants NISOD and Community College Week the authority to publish the results of the research and the text of the essays.
• Contestants will be notified by Monday, February 16, 2009.
• The student and the faculty/staff/administrator featured in the winning essay must forward their photos, bios, and college logo to NISOD by March 1, 2009.