Howard County's Commission for Women invites students, including public, private or home-schooled, in grades 6-12 to participate in its essay contest in honor of Women's History Month. This year's theme is "Writing Women Back into History." Deadline is Jan. 20.

Essays should be e-mailed to women@howardcountymd.gov or mailed to the Commission for Women Student Essay Contest, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 300, Columbia 21046.

First-place winners will receive a $200 U.S. Savings Bond and be invited to read their essays at the Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 11 at Howard Community College.

For more information, call 410-313-6400 or go to howardcountymd.gov.