The 10th annual Mayor for a Day essay competition for Troy students is under way and Mayor Jimmy Lunsford said all seventh grade students are encouraged to participate.

“Students are asked to write an essay explaining why they would like to be the Mayor for a Day,” Lunsford said. “In their essays, they might want to include improvements that are needed in Troy and suggestions as how to make those improvements.”

Lunsford said he is always excited about the competition because the essays are very insightful and impressive.

“We have received wonderful feedback from the students and I enjoy being able to look at the city through the eyes of our young people,” he said.

One seventh-grader from the city of Troy will be chosen to serve as the Mayor for a Day.

One student will serve as city clerk and five others will be the city council members for the day.

The essays will be judged by a panel made up of community members. The essays will be judged on originality, suggested improvements for the city and their overall excitement about being chosen as “Mayor for a Day.”

“The winners will spend a day touring Troy to give them insight on how Troy operates on a day-to-day basis,” Lunsford said. “The student chosen as mayor will have his or her essay published in an edition of ‘The Messenger’ and will receive a $100 savings bond from Troy Bank & Trust.”

The six other students will each receive a $50 savings bond courtesy of WTBF.

The 2011 Mayor for a Day activities will be on Feb. 8.

For more information, call the mayor’s office at 566-0177.