EDUCATION
-
Take a class field trip to a county commission meeting.
-
Watch a commission meeting online – many livestream their meetings.
-
Ask your county commissioners to come speak to your class.
Find out what your county commission is working on in your county and encourage your students to write about it from the perspective of an 8th grader and why it matters to them. There are also a series of five informational videos here that details the roles and responsibilities of county commissioners.
Learn More About National County Government Month
Counties Work Game & Curriculum
An online game and curriculum to educate students about the important role and functions of county government.
-
CCAWV County Government Essay Contest Rules
A Day in the Life of a County Commissioner
The essay contest is open to all 8th grade students, beginning April 1, 2026, who are enrolled in
a West Virginia public, private or charter school.
Each essay is limited to a minimum of 400 words and a maximum of 500 words and must
address the following topic: “A Day in the Life of a County Commissioner” The essay must
address specifically the county commission of the county in which the student resides.
The official application and essay should be submitted to www.ccawv.org by going to
Education under the Events Tab. Please include the student's name and school in the submitted
essay.
Each Student is limited to one entry. The entries must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format and
must be submitted by the student’s teacher.
All entries must be submitted by Wednesday April 22, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
The winning essays will be announced in early May.
There will be a monetary prize for the 1st , 2nd , 3rd place student winners as well as honorable
mention and the teacher who submitted the 1st place essay will receive a monetary prize to be
used for classroom activities.
The winning students and his/her teacher will be invited to a County Commissioners’ meeting in
their home county to receive their awards.
Goal: For students to imagine they were selected to be county commissioners for the day. They
should think about their role as a commissioner and what problems need to be addressed, as
well as what they can do to help improve the county. This is great opportunity for students to get
involved in the life of their community and to get creative about what they would do if they were
in charge of the county.
Essays will be judged on the following criteria: Understanding of the role of a county
commissioner; grammar and spelling; clarity; organization of thought and creativity. While
content is important, essays will be judged on relevance to the essay subject.
By entering the contest, each student and teacher agrees to allow his/her name to be used in a
news release announcing the contest winner in the event their essay is selected as a winning
essay. In addition, they agree to allow their name and photograph to be published on the
CCAWV website and social media platforms.
CCAWV County Government Art Contest Rules
Civics in Color: A Local Government Challenge
The art contest is open to all middle school students in grades 6, 7 and 8, beginning April 1,
2026, who are enrolled in a West Virginia public, private or charter school.
“Civics in Color: A Local Government Challenge,” invites students to explore how county
commissions support their communities through creative art work and short written
explanations.
The official application and art work should be submitted to www.ccawv.org by going to
Education under the Events Tab. Please include the student's name and school in the submitted
illustration.
Each Student is limited to one entry. The entries must be in PDF or Jpeg format and must be
submitted by the student’s teacher.
All entries must be submitted by Wednesday April 22, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
The winning illustrations will be announced in early May.
Winning entries will appear in the online CCAWV Art Gallery and the official CCAWV Calendar.
There will also be statewide recognition.
Goal: Create original artwork in full color or black and white. Choose one activity, event, or
place funded by the county commission and illustrate it. Examples: parks, community events,
emergency services, and infrastructure.
Write a brief Description. Include 3-5 sentences explaining: what the artwork shows, why the
topic was chosen, and how it benefits the community.
By entering the contest, each student and teacher agrees to allow his/her name to be used in a
news release announcing the contest winner in the event their essay or illustration is a chosen
winner. In addition, they agree to allow their name and photograph to be published on the
CCAWV website and social media platforms.
April is recognized nationally as National County Government Month, and in celebration, the County Commissioners’ Association of West Virginia (CCAWV) is pleased to announce the launch of our annual student contests. These initiatives are designed to increase public awareness and understanding of county government, particularly the vital role of the County Commission—while encouraging civic engagement among West Virginia’s youth.
This year, CCAWV is hosting two opportunities for middle school students:
Essay Contest – 8th Grade Students
Participants are invited to submit a 500‑word typed essay on the topic: “A Day in the Life of a County Commissioner.” Students should explore the responsibilities, challenges, and community impact of this important elected office. The essay must analyze the structural and administrative functions of the County Commission as a legislative body, rather than focusing on the biography or actions of an individual commissioner.
Art Contest – Middle School Students (Grades 6–8)
We are excited to introduce a new contest titled: “Civics in Color: A Local Government Challenge.” Students are asked to illustrate one activity, event, or place funded by their county commission and include a brief 3–5 sentence description explaining their artwork and its significance.
Submission Information
All entries, both essay and art, must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Entries and applications should be uploaded through the CCAWV website at www.ccawv.org, located under the Education section of the Events tab.
Awards & Recognition
-
Essay Contest: Monetary prizes will be awarded to the winning students and the winning teacher.
-
Art Contest: Winning artwork will be featured in the CCAWV Art Gallery and the official CCAWV Calendar.
These contests provide meaningful opportunities for students to learn about their local government and the essential work of the County Commission.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Meagan James at meagan@ccawv.org.
County Government Month Contests
