Ridgecrest, a retirement community located in Mount Airy, is sponsoring a writing competition for high school seniors with $1,500 in prizes.

The Silver Pen Scholarship is open to high-school seniors with plans to graduate this year. The winning recipient will receive a certificate and $1,500 to go toward college expenses.

The winning participant will receive the prize at a formal award reception at RidgeCrest in May. In addition, the winning submission will be featured on www.WrinkleThink.com, a pro-aging blog hosted by Senior Living Communities, which owns and operates RidgeCrest.

Incoming entries will be screened and delivered to members of the Silver Pen Scholarship Committee at RidgeCrest for the formal judging process. The Scholarship Committee is made up of retired business professionals, educators and community leaders dedicated to assisting deserving students reach their highest potential.

All entries will be judged based on several criterion including creativity, fluidity of language and the ability to convey complex feelings in a concise and clear manner.

RidgeCrest Executive Director Linda Vernon said the topic, which asks students to consider the impact Baby Boomers will have on the senior adult culture, is one way to bridge the communication gap between older and younger generations.

“There’s no doubt that we can do a better job of educating our children and young adults about important topics related to aging in America,” Vernon said. “Our country is faced with a shortage of knowledge and resources for a rapidly aging population. The goal of The Silver Pen is to get young adults interested in the process of aging so that we can foster a culture of mutual understanding and respect for the aged in our society.”

Vernon said applications have been distributed to participating schools in the Surry County area including: Mt. Airy High School, White Plains Christian Academy, North Surry High School, East Surry High School, Elkin High School and Surry Central High School.

The deadline for entries is April 20. Students interested in participating in The Silver Pen contest should request an application by email at sgriswold@ridge-crest.com.