NELSONVILLE — Dreaming, innovating, believing, and achieving! If you could invent something for your community, what would it be and what problem would it solve?

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) invites all 4th through 8th grade students who live and attend school throughout the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio to answer that question for its 6th Annual Child of Appalachia® Writing Contest.

“At the Foundation, we believe one of the most critical things we can do is encourage our region’s young people to believe in their ability to succeed,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “Through the Child of Appalachia Writing Contest, FAO is working to prompt thoughts and conversation in classrooms across the region with positive messages to instill the mindsets and confidence necessary for success.”

Awards will be available for winning students and their teachers, from each grade level in each of the 32 counties in Appalachian Ohio (384 total awards available).

FAO will provide each winning student, one per grade level in each county, with two tickets to COSI, Great Lakes Science Center, or the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science, depending on their county of residence. Additionally, the Duke Energy Foundation’s generosity will provide the teacher of each winning student with an iPad to be integrated into his or her classroom curriculum.

“This project can have a long-term, positive impact not only on students, but also on the region. It’s a great fit for the Duke Energy Foundation because it directly addresses our focus areas of education and environment, and it’s a great fit for the students who may one day be a part of our workforce,” said Karen Monday, Vice President of the Duke Energy Foundation.

This year’s prompt asks students to write about an invention they would create and tell about the problem it would solve for their community.

All submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, Dec. 21. Detailed information on the 2012 Contest, including guidelines and entry forms, can be found at www.appalachianohio.org.

Questions may be directed to Wendy Harbarger, Foundation Services Assistant, at 740-753-1111.