The 2025 Hurricane Season begins on June 1, and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) native Teri Helenese is engaging the next generation in partnership with the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) and the Virgin Islands American Red Cross through the 2025 Hurricane Preparedness Essay Competition.
This meaningful writing initiative encourages students from the USVI to sharpen their minds and demonstrate thought leadership during the summer break, while supporting our community—especially senior citizens—with fresh ideas and perspectives on readiness, resilience, and preparedness.
Who Can Submit an Essay?
Elementary, Junior High, High School, and University of the Virgin Islands students are invited to submit a 500-word (or less) essay answering one of the ten questions listed below. Please be sure to include the name of your school for verification purposes.
What Do the Winners Receive?
Each winner will receive a hurricane preparedness kit and a monetary prize based on their school level:
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University Student: $1,000
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High School Student: $1,000
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Junior High Student: $500
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Elementary Student: $200
Submission Instructions & Deadline
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Choose one of the ten provided essay questions.
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Write your essay in Microsoft Word, and save it as a PDF.
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Include a title and word count (must be 500 words or fewer).
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Essays must be USVI-specific and written by the student submitting.
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Submit your essay via https://bit.ly/hurricaneessay by July 1, 2025.
Who Selects the Winners?
A Selection Panel of five judges—each an expert in hurricane preparedness—will review submissions and choose four winners based on creativity, relevance, and clarity.
Winner Announcement & Celebration
Winners will be announced on August 1, 2025, on TeriHelenese.com and Teri Helenese’s Facebook page. They will be celebrated at a Back-to-School Barbecue in St. Thomas and St. Croix in late August 2025.