The immigration law firm De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Associates announced today that the entry deadline for a writing contest for fifth grade students has been extended.

Submissions for “Celebrate America”, a writing contest sponsored by the American Immigration Council, will now be accepted through Friday, February 12, 2010, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (and three days before Presidents’ Day, in which Lincoln’s and George Washington’s birthdays are observed).

For Joseph B. De Mott, founding partner of De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Associates, the new deadline is fitting for a month that also includes Black History Month and the anniversary of the Mexican Constitution.  “February is traditionally a month where we honor the leaders who laid the foundation for our country,” he explains, “and immigration – from Mexico, from Africa, from all over the world – has been a vital part of that foundation.  So it’s a great time for students to think about and write about the ways that immigration has made America a place to celebrate.”

Any fifth grader enrolled in either a public or a private school (home-schooled students are included in the private school category, and are strongly encouraged to enter) is invited to share his or her creative writing and research skills by writing a poem, essay, or short story on “Why I Am Glad America Is A Nation Of Immigrants.”

Entries are limited to 500 words and can be an essay, poem, short story, interview, or the like. Each entry must include a cover page with the following information: student’s name; grade; age, school; address; telephone number; and proof of enrollment in the fifth grade, such as a transcript, report card, or letter from the student’s teacher, the school principal, or the guidance counselor.

All entries must be mailed or delivered in person no later than

Friday, February 12, 2010 to:

Immigration Writing Contest

c/o De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Associates

Immigration Lawyers

8930 Fourwinds Dr., Suite 106

San Antonio, TX 78239-1971

Entries will be judged by a panel including returning judge, Tino Duran, Publisher & Owner of La Prensa and Director of La Prensa Foundation, Inc; new judge, Martha Tijerina, Volunteer Host and Producer of Catholic Television of San Antonio (CTSA); and U.S. Representative Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), who will once again serve as an honorary judge. The judges will be looking for entries that reflect the creativity and celebrate the diversity of culture strengthened by immigration.

Three winners each will be selected from the public and private/homeschooled categories.  Each of the first place winners will receive a $100 cash prize, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty, the universal symbol of freedom, democracy, and diplomacy that has inspired millions of immigrants; the second place winners will each receive $60, and the third place winners will receive $40.  The winners will also have the opportunity to recite their entries at an award ceremony held locally, and each student will receive a certificate of participation; in addition, U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primomo has invited the six local winners to read their entries at a naturalization ceremony for approximately 1,000 new citizens on May 20, 2010 at Trinity University’s Laurie Auditorium.

After the award ceremony, winning local entries will be posted on the law firm’s website at www.demottusa.com, and submitted into the national competition.  The grand prize winner and his or her parents will attend as guests of honor at the American Immigration Council’s annual banquet (held in June), and the overall winning entry will be posted in the Congressional Record.

For official contest details, please visit www.celebrateamericawritingcontest.org, or call Joseph B. De Mott directly at 210.590.1844.