04/25/2007 - National DNA Day Essay Contest National DNA Day Essay Contest for 7th-12th graders is part of National DNA Day, which is held every April 25th. There are multiple different opportunities to get involved; the essay contest is just one. Tearchers around the country are encouraged to consider adding this as an "assignment" during their genetics unit and then submitting their best essays to the contest. Three winning students for each essay are selected each year and the teacher of the first prize winners receive $2000 to spend on classroom science equipment. Applied Biosystems is also sponsoring cash awards for 6 student winners and up to 5 stipends for students chosen to work in a science laboratory near their home during summer 2007. Last year the teachers of the winning students were able to equip their classrooms with brand new electrophoresis equipment that they selected themselves.Sponsored by the American Society of Human Genetics. For more information, see www.genednet.org/pages/k12_dnaday.shtml or contact Kenna Mills Shaw, PhD, of ASHG at 301-634-7342.