Pettit Memorial Thanksgiving Essay Contest which was launched in all secondary schools this week.

A $1,000 grant will be presented to the student who writes the winning essay on the subject of "Why I Am Thankful'', with six others in line to receive Commendation of Excellence awards worth $500 apiece.

And for the first time the First Prize winner's school will also be presented with a grant for $1,000.

Well-known American journalist and NBC Nightly News anchorman Tom Brokaw is supporting the contest and his public service announcement urging Bermudian students to take part in the competition is expected to air locally starting this week.

Tom Pettit was an Emmy-Award-winning television journalist for 40 years and upon his retirement he moved to Bermuda.

The Tom Pettit Award for excellence in writing was established in 1997 by Patricia Pettit, the journalist's widow who is a marketing consultant on the Island.