Gov. Charlie Crist recently announced Florida’s Black History Month “African-American Art – A Look at Our Past; A Glimpse into Our Future” Web site and invited students in kindergarten through 12th grades to participate in the Florida Black History Month art contests.
The governor also invited students, parents, teachers and principals to nominate full-time African-American educators in elementary, middle or high schools for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.
“Black History Month is a great opportunity to educate Floridians about the challenges and triumphs of African-Americans throughout history,” Crist said. “The cultural contributions to our state and country continue to leave a lasting legacy of strength, determination and pride.”
This year’s contests incorporate artwork from “The Kinsey Collection: The Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey,” currently on display at The Mary Brogan Museum in Tallahassee. Bernard Kinsey and Shirley Kinsey, Florida public school and Florida A&M University graduates, have been collecting art for more than thirty-five years.
The Black History Month art contest is open to all Florida students in grades K-3, and two winners will be selected.
Essay contest for grades 4-12: The Black History Month essay contest is open to all fourth- through 12th-grade students in Florida. Three winners will be selected — one elementary (4-5) student, one middle (6-8) student, and one high school (9-12) student. Winners will receive a full, four-year tuition scholarship to a Florida college or university of their choice, provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
Podcast contest for grades 4-12 – The Black History Month podcast contest is open to all fourth- through 12th-grade students in Florida.
Three winning podcasts will be selected: one elementary (4-5) entry, one middle (6-8) entry and one high school (9-12) entry. Groups of up to three students are invited to submit digital videos in DVD format. The teacher of the winning student groups will win a software package to be used in the classroom.
Visit www.FloridaBlack
History.com to download complete guidelines and entry forms.

Excellence in Education Award
Crist’s annual Black History Month Excellence in Education Award contest is open to all African-American, full-time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary (K-5) teacher, one middle school (6-8) teacher and one high school (9-12) teacher. Winners will receive a check prize.  
Nomination forms must be mailed to Executive Office of the Governor: Excellence in Education Award Committee, 400 S. Monroe St., Suite LL-10, Tallahassee, FL 32399, by 5 p.m. Jan. 22. Forms can be found at www.FloridaBlackHistory.com. Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent or student.