Being accepted to college is an exciting time. Paying for college is another story. You can win $1000.00 if you’re a senior in high school and not afraid to express your opinions about education in a letter to Governor Chris Christie.  Tell Governor Christie what you think he should do to improve education in New Jersey, and you could win as much as $1000.00 in the annual essay contest sponsored by Dr. Ron Rotem, a Toms River dentist. Monmouth Academy of Howell is also sponsoring this year’s contest for all high school seniors in Monmouth and Ocean counties whether they are in public or private school. The winner will receive $1000.00.  The first runner-up will receive $500.00; and Dr. Rotem will award $100.00 to the next five runners-up.               

Eligible public school or private school high school seniors should send all letters, postmarked by May 6, 2010, to Dr. Ron Rotem, 355 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, N.J., 08755. Because Monmouth Academy is co-sponsoring the contest, Academy students are not eligible to enter.  The letter, itself, should be addressed to Governor Christie and include the student’s full name, full address, phone number, and high school.  The winners will be selected based on the clarity of ideas and originality.

Dr. Rotem says, “Now that New Jersey has a new leader in Governor Christie, I thought this could be an opportunity for students to take the lead in expressing their ideas about education.  If they had the chance to sit in Governor Christie’s office, what would they tell the Governor to do about education in the state?”

All winners will be invited to Dr. Rotem’s office to meet other winners and share their ideas.  Dr. Rotem intends to send the winning letters to Governor Christie.  For more information, call Dr. Rotem at 732-341-8500.