Motorcycle club seeks kids for essay contest

The Free Riders Motorcycle Club of Aiken is looking for local students' help to honor Black History Month.

The club is sponsoring a Black History Month Essay Contest, open to all Aiken County middle school and high school student. Essays should be written on the topic of "African-American Firsts Often Overlooked By Society," and the deadline for entries is Saturday.

"The essay contest is our way of involving the students in Black History Month, to encourage them to read, research and write," said Free Riders Business Manager Linda Taylor-Cummings.

Prizes for the contest will include a $100 and a $50 gift card to a bookstore of the winners' choices, and winners will read parts of their essays at the Free Riders' Black History Month Program.

"Honoring the Past While Inspiring the Future" will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at Schofield Middle School and will feature local gospel choirs, soloists, speakers and praise and worship teams.

"The Black History Tribute is a mixture of gospel, that's the music genre we chose, students, local praise and worship teams, and soloists. The speakers we have will take a critical look at African-American firsts, and promote education," Taylor-Cummings said.

Admission to the program is $5 for adults and $2 for students, and proceeds go to the Free Riders Scholarship Fund. Scholarships will be awarded to two local high school seniors in May, according to Taylor-Cummings.

Essay contest entry forms and rules are available at Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, or those interested can e-mail soft07baller@yahoo.com for entry forms and rules.

For more information about the essay contest or Black History Month Program, call Linda Taylor-Cummings at 295-0238.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.