Throughout his lifetime Antonio Meucci was responsible for many inventions, improvements, and ideas. These innovations included smokeless candles, a tea and coffee filtering system, oil/kerosene lamps and, most notably, the telephone. In honor of the legacy of Italian inventor Antonio Meucci and Italian Heritage Month, the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is pleased to announce the Fall 2022 Antonio Meucci High School Essay Contest.

The Antonio Meucci Essay Contest is open to all students in grades 9-12 who attend either public or private school in New York State. The contest invites students to have fun as they discover, research, and explore one of the four essay topics listed below.

Cash prizes will be awarded to individuals for the best essay.

One 1^st prize winner will receive a cash prize of $250

One 2^nd prize winner will receive a cash prize of $150

One 3^rd prize winner will receive a cash prize of $100

The judges will be looking for:        

• Descriptive language
• Spelling and grammar
• Valuable content and/or research

PLEASE NOTE:  All entries must be received by Thursday, October 20, 2022.

Please email all essay submissions to [email protected]

PLEASE SELECT ONE TOPIC:

1 – Italian inventor Antonio Meucci is most famous for his invention of the “teletrofono” or telephone, a major form of communication. Guglielmo Marconi, the first Italian to win a Nobel Prize in physics, played a role in the development of another form of communication, wireless telegraphy. In what ways were Meucci and Marconi similar and different? Imagine the two men collaborated. What do you think they could have created together?

2 – General Giuseppe Garibaldi was an instrumental figure in the formation of the Italy we know today. Italy is a now nation of 59.55 million people and 20 regions that comprise 116,306 square miles, but Italy wasn’t always a nation. Can you describe the Italic peninsula in 1800 before it became the country we know today?

3 – The United States is a country predominantly made up of people whose roots travel back to another country or countries that span the globe. Antonio and Esthere Meucci left their beloved Italy for the theatrical stages of Cuba before finally settling down and making their home in the United States. Trace back your family roots. Who in your family has an interesting story about how they came to the United States? What struggles, difficulties or triumphs did their journey put upon them?

4 -- Like many cultures, family tradition is an important and defining characteristic of the Italian culture. What cultural traditions are important to your family? How did this tradition start? Is there a family member who is instrumental in carrying out your family’s cultural tradition? Do you think you will carry out this tradition in the future?

Rules:

1. All NYC students, currently enrolled in public or private school either in-person or remote, in grades 9 – 12 are eligible to participate.
2. Only one essay per student may be submitted.
3. Essay must be completed by one student only. Group participation for one essay is not permitted.
4. The length of each essay must be 250 - 350
5. Essay must be original content created by the contest participant.
6. The topic of the essay must be selected from one of the four topics listed above. Each essay must discuss only one essay topic.
7. No photos or diagrams.
8. The entry must include student’s name, home address, email address, telephone number, grade level and school name.
9. Winners will be notified by telephone and email address provided upon entry on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
10. All entries must be submitted via email by Thursday, October 20, 2022.
11. All entries must be emailed to [email protected]

Any questions please contact: AnnMarie Cicero, School Program Coordinator (718) 442-1608 [email protected]