5th Graders Invited To Share Thoughts On Immigration
San Antonio Law Firm Announces 2008-2009 Writing Contest


    SAN ANTONIO, TX, November 13, 2008 /Texas News Articles/ -- As the new school year begins, the immigration law firm of De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Associates is proud to announce its continued participation in "Celebrate America", a writing contest sponsored by the American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) inviting local fifth-grade students to share their thoughts on the benefits of immigration to this country.

"Last year, we had over 100 students participate," says Joseph B. De Mott, founding partner of De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Associates. "It's very encouraging to see that so many young people are interested in the issues surrounding immigration and sharing their perspectives. In fact, with so many entries last year, it was hard to choose just one winner, so we chose six!" Jeanne Cantu, who recently retired after years of service as Reading/Language Arts Director for the San Antonio Independent School District, is a longtime supporter of this program, and encouraged her principals and teachers to participate in the contest annually. "When students hear about the contest, and when Mr. De Mott visits their schools, they want to get involved," she says. "They ask questions, they talk to their teachers, they want to know more about immigration, and they want to take part in the discussion." Sharon Scott, a teacher at Olmos Elementary School, concurs, adding that the participating students "are learning about the issues, and they're learning how to express themselves creatively."

For the 2008-2009 contest, De Mott will be joined on the judges' panel by Representative Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), who will serve as an honorary judge; Hernán Rozemberg, Senior Writer on Immigration Affairs for the San Antonio Express-News, who also helped judge last year's entries; and Tino Duran, Publisher & Owner of La Prensa and Director of La Prensa Foundation, Inc. "We're honored to have three outstanding individuals as judges this year," says De Mott, "and with Tino, not only is he passionate about education, but as a first-generation American, he has a personal perspective on immigration, and his record of community service is living proof of the impact of immigration on our society."

The contest is open to any fifth-grader enrolled in either a public or private school; home-schooled students are included in the private school category, and are strongly encouraged to enter. Entries are limited to 500 words on the subject "Why I Am Glad America Is A Nation Of Immigrants". All entries must be postmarked by Tuesday, January 20, 2009 and mailed to:

Immigration Writing Contest
c/o De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Associates
Immigration Lawyers
8930 Fourwinds Dr., Suite 106
San Antonio, TX 78239-1971

Local winners, chosen from both the public and private school categories, will then recite their entries in an awards ceremony during the City of San Antonio's Cinco de Mayo celebration, to be held at Market Square, and to complete the experience, they will also be invited to recite their entries at a naturalization ceremony, before an audience of new citizens. "The best part of the contest was getting to read my essay at the ceremony and watch the immigrants become citizens," says Julia Toney of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, who won first place in the private school category of last year's contest. Maddie Carrolla, a fellow private school winner (third place) and Toney's classmate at Blessed Sacrament, adds, "It was so much fun reading my essay in the contest. My whole family showed up, and we all had a great time."

Following the local ceremony, the winning San Antonio entries will also be submitted onto the national level, where the grand prize winner and his or her parents will be guests of honor at AILF's annual banquet, to be held in Las Vegas in June; the grand prize entry will then be entered into the Congressional Record.

For official details and more information, please visit AILF's official website for the contest, www.ailf.org/awards/essaycontest, or call Joseph B. De Mott directly at 210.590.1844.

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Press Release Contact Information:

Lee Hurtado
De Mott, McChesney, Curtright &
Publicity
8603 Crownhill Blvd., Suite 30
San Antonio, TX
United States 78209
Voice: (210) 822-3552