Junior Mayor & “If I Were Mayor…” Contests
The annual Junior Mayor and “If I Were Mayor…” contests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, are an excellent way for fourth-grade students to get involved in their community and learn about local government. Here’s what you need to know about these exciting contests.
The Junior Mayor Contest
The Junior Mayor Contest is held annually in Gaithersburg and is open to all fourth-grade students in the city. The contest winner is allowed to serve as the Junior Mayor of Gaithersburg for a one-year term. The Junior Mayor attends city events, meets with city officials, and leads the Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade.
The most recent winner of the Junior Mayor Contest is Milly Abdo, a fourth-grader at Fields Road Elementary School. Milly was sworn in on May 1, 2023, at the Mayor & City Council Meeting. She succeeds 2022 Junior Mayor Loriele Nix of Summit Hall Elementary School.
The “If I Were Mayor…” Contest
The “If I Were Mayor…” contest is a statewide essay contest sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League (MML), the Maryland Mayor’s Association, and the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company. The contest is open to all fourth-grade students in Maryland, including those in Gaithersburg.
The contest requires students to write an essay describing what they would do if they were the mayor of their city or town. The report should include ideas for improving the community, addressing local issues, and making the city or town a better place to live.
Gaithersburg has a strong tradition of participation in the “If I Were Mayor…” contest, and many local students have been recognized for their essays over the years. Last year, Abeer Dey, a ten-year-old student from Gaithersburg, was featured in a Scholastic article for his winning essay.
How to Participate
Participating in these contests is easy if you’re a fourth-grade student in Gaithersburg. The Junior Mayor Contest is typically announced in the fall, and students can enter by submitting an application and completing an interview process.
The “If I Were Mayor…” contest is typically announced in the winter, and students can enter by submitting an essay to their teacher.
