Washington Association for Chinese Education (WACE) has launched a scholarship competition to create statewide awareness of Chinese language and culture.

The organization’s goal is to help students in America gain the competitive edge and worldwide perspective needed to succeed in the dynamic global environment of the 21st century, in which China plays an increasingly bigger role each day, according to students from Issaquah, Bellevue and Sammamish, who are involved with the program.

Grand prize in the competition is an iPad 2 (or the cash equivalent),

Middle and high school students from across the state must express their interest in or knowledge of Chinese culture and language through either a written entry, an essay, poem, or song (300 to 500 words) or a video consisting of a song, poem, speech, or another creative format (5 minutes maximum).

Students don‘t need to know Chinese to enter; entries must be in English.

The competition continues though Oct. 31 and entries must address the question, “Why should we learn Chinese?”

Winners will be announced online by Nov. 10 with the awards ceremony held from 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Seattle Chinese Garden.

More information is available at www.waceducation.weebly.com.