9/10/99

ATHENS, Ohio -- High school sophomores, juniors and seniors across Ohio will participate in the first round of Ohio University's 53rd American History Contest Oct. 4-22.

The multiple choice test will be completed by students at their local high schools and first-round winners will be announced in November.

Students who qualify for the final round of competition, a four-question essay exam, will take the exam on the Athens campus Dec. 2. Those who receive scores in the 99th percentile of the state and those with the highest score in their county or the second and third highest scorer in the least the 95th percentile from each county are eligible.

First prize is a four year, full tuition scholarship to Ohio University and $100. An additional 11 scholarships and cash awards will be awarded to the top student scorers in the contest.

Outstanding High School awards of $150 and $100 will go to the top two schools in three categories, based on the size of the school's 11th- and 12th-grade classes. Schools with the largest number of winners in the contest's two rounds will receive awards.

Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences, History Department and Office of Admissions sponsor the contest.