(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is inviting all Monmouth County high school students to enter the County Clerk's Annual Archives & History Day Photography Contest. The contest theme, "Monmouth County Life Through a Lens," coincides with the featured exhibit chosen for this year's event, a photography collection of the George Evans Studio, a former Freehold-based photography studio whose collection was made available to the Monmouth County Archives.

High school students residing in Monmouth County and/or attending a school in Monmouth County are encouraged to submit an original color or black-and-white photograph capturing something significant or special about Monmouth County life today that should be preserved for future generations. Submitted photographs will be archived by the Monmouth County Archives.

“This year’s Archives & History Day Photography Contest is particularly special, given our featured exhibit centers on photography,” said Clerk Hanlon. “I look forward to the creative entries from our county’s talent high school students and their interpretation of what life is like here in Monmouth County, perspectives that will be treasured for years to come.”

Gift card prizes will be awarded by Clerk Hanlon for first, second and third place, and the winners will be recognized at Archives & History Day on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.  

Contest entries will be accepted through Friday, October 18, 2024, via email to ClerkContest@co.monmouth.nj.us with the subject “2024 High School Photography Contest” and the image attached. Entrants are permitted to be creative with the usage of artistic effects, such as digital and/or special effects or editing.

Photo entries should be in JPG format with a resolution of 300 dpi and a maximum file size of 20MB. All entries must include the student’s name, grade, high school, address, phone number, and email address. Additionally, the student must include a description of what is highlighted in the photo and answer the question, “What does this photo tell future generations about life in Monmouth County?”

For full contest rules and eligibility, click here.

The Office of the Monmouth County Clerk is comprised of five divisions handling property recordings, elections, archives, passports and records management.  The County Clerk’s Office also provides resident, veteran and Gold Star Family identification cards to county residents, administers oaths to notaries and public officials and performs wedding ceremonies. The Monmouth County Clerk is a constitutional and administrative officer elected to a five-year term by the voters of Monmouth County. Christine Giordano Hanlon, Esq. was elected Monmouth County Clerk in November 2015 and was re-elected to a second term in November 2020.