The Mathews County Democratic Committee has announced contest rules for its annual $500 scholarship for a Mathews High School senior who plans to attend college or pursue other post-high school training.

The award, which is offered in honor of longtime Democratic activists and former Mathews residents Jim and Betty Kenley, will be given to the student who composes the best essay. This year’s essay topic is the following:

The preamble to the U.S. Constitution states that one of the principal purposes of our government is to promote the general welfare. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, discuss the importance of the federal and state governments to our well-being.

Essays must be between 800 and 1,000 words and submitted to Lori Mountford, lmountford@mathews.k12.va.us, in the Mathews High School Counseling Office no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 30.

Essays are evaluated by a committee of Mathews County Democrats and administered by the Mathews High School Counseling Office. The scholarship funds will be sent to the college or post-secondary training school the student will be attending in 2020.

For more information, contact Kent Willis, vice chair of the Mathews Democratic Committee, at 804-399-4191 or rkentwillis@gmail.com.