RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- High school juniors and seniors are invited to participate in an essay-writing contest focused on the achievements of outstanding African-Americans as part of Dominion's 2009 "Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership" series.

Schools in Dominion's service areas in North Carolina and Virginia may submit two student entries. Five winners will receive notebook computers, and their schools will receive a $1,000 cash award. Entries must be postmarked by Nov. 9.

"The Strong Men & Women writing contest allows students to explore the lives of leaders who have achieved and excelled," said Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power. "We selected these leaders for one reason - to inspire and challenge our youth to succeed in any endeavor they choose and to make meaningful contributions to society."

The Strong Men & Women series annually recognizes African-American state and national leaders. The students will research and write a 400-word essay about the achievements of leaders who have been honored during the series'19-year history.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Richmond on Jan. 21, 2010.

Contest guidelines, entry forms and honorees' list are available by visiting Dominion's Web site at www.dom.com, enter keyword: "strong."

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of more than 27,500 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage systems and serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion

SOURCE: Dominion

Web site: http://www.dom.com/