<Date>
 

Science Department Coordinator
<Name> High School
<Address>
<City> <State> <Zip>

To the Science Coordinator:

I am a member of the scientific society known as the Sleep Research Society (SRS).  The SRS is a professional organization dedicated to the study of sleep and sleep disorders.  For the past 7 years, the SRS has sponsored a High School Essay Awards Program.  The goal of the program is to further knowledge about sleep among high school students, and possibly spark interest in a future scientist to consider the study of sleep as a career.  I am writing today to invite your students and science faculty members to participate in this year’s SRS Essay Awards Program.
 
I have enclosed a copy of the Official Entry Form and Contest rules for you to distribute to interested teachers and students.  These materials are also available on the world wide web at:

http://www.websciences.org/trainee/Essay.htm

First place awards of $250 each and a certificate of merit will be presented to the five best entries, as judged by a panel of experts from the SRS.  Each high school that is represented by a first prize recipient will receive a copy of the Encyclopedia of Sleep and Dreaming, an excellent resource on sleep that is geared towards high school students.  Additionally, all entrants will receive a “sleeping brain” t-shirt and all teachers of students submitting entries will receive a copy of Basics of Sleep Behavior, a syllabus that could be used to incorporate the topic of sleep into the science curriculum.
The deadline for entries is March 15, 1999.

Winners of the 1998 contest were:

Jason Rusten, Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, Maryland
Amber Wallin, Hattiesburg High School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Rumya S. Putcha, Clear Lake High School, Houston, Texas
Rosalinda Bustamante, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, Texas
Peter Davio, Hesperia Christian School, Hesperia, California

 
An extensive bibliography on sleep is available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Sleep Contest Inquiry, Sleep Research Society, 1610 14th Street NW, Suite 300, Rochester, MN  55901-2200.  The bibliography is also available on the world wide web at the following address: http://www.websciences.org/trainee/EssayRef.htm.
 
If you would like further information about sleep, I can be reached at <Your name>,  <Your address>, <Your phone number>.   I look forward to reading some entries from students at your school.

Sincerely yours,

<Your name>
<Your title>
 


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