mlk essay contest 2023

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Contest

Public school k-12 student essay and visual art contest.

2024 Contest Materials (pdf)

The Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee is sponsoring the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay and Visual Art Contest for K-12 public school students. The theme for the 2024 contest is "Leadership and Service." Students are being asked to reflect on the qualities of leadership and service that were exemplified by Dr. King, and how they can apply those qualities to their own lives. 

Winners are determined in six categories based on grade level. 

• Grades K-2 and 3-5: Written essay with a poster
• Grades 6-8 and 9-12: Written essay
• Grades 6-8 and 9-12: Visual Art (spoken word, poem, song, drawing/digital media)

 A certificate and gift card is awarded to each first-place ($75), second-place ($50), and third-place ($30) winner in the five categories. The teachers of winning students will receive one $30 gift card. 

An MNEA-affiliated local association must host the initial contest and submit first-, second-, and third-place winning posters in any or all of the six categories (up to 18 entries per local association). Entries must meet all the qualifying criteria to be judged at the state level. See the informational packet for details. 

Entries achieving finalist status should then be mailed or hand-delivered to Missouri NEA Headquarters, Attn: Roxane Bly, 1810 E Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

All final entries must be received by MNEA no later than Jan. 15. Late entries will not be judged.

Contest winners will be announced at the Spring MNEA Representative Assembly . Winners will receive certificates and gift cards soon thereafter.  Questions?  Contact Lisa Blaha, MNEA UniServ Director at  [email protected]  or (636) 614-7501, Roxane Bly at  [email protected]  or (573) 644-9606.

2023 Winners

1st place Meenakshi Raj Parkway School District

2nd place Dhaksha Thayalan Parkway School District

3rd place Maxwell Schneider Pattonville School District

1st place Grace Jones North Kansas City School District

2nd place William Purnell Pattonville School District

 3rd place  Donald McCullough Pattonville School District

3rd place Emily Kraft Meramec Valley School District

Grades 9-12

Not awarded in 2023

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Black News, Commentary and Culture | The Washington Informer

Winners of the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

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The MLK Holiday DC Committee, in partnership with the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute Alumni Association and community partners, presents the winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest 2023. Over 100 D.C. elementary, middle and high school students wrote essays addressing: What does Dr. King’s “Dream” mean to you? And the winners are…

What the “I Have A Dream” Speech Means to Me

Thane Frederick

Breakthrough Montessori PCS, 5th Grade, Ward 4 Resident

When I think of the “I Have A Dream” speech, I think of a wish, or a hope that things will get better. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” Later, King goes on to talk about how Black men and women are still not free.

I think when MLK said, “I have a dream,” it meant that he wanted everyone to take the final step. They took the first step to end slavery. He wants people to take the final step to end segregation and to end unfair laws for Black men and women.

The “I Have a Dream” Speech means to me that Black men and women have a wish that they can be free; a wish that they won’t just be free but will be free of unfair laws. When MLK made his speech about unfair laws, things were different. Black men and women were separated from white men and women and had different schools, neighborhoods, stores, and restrooms. One of the really bad things was that the stuff for the Black men and women was not nearly as good or fancy as the stuff that was for the white men and women.

From my personal experience, I never had this problem. First because those laws have been mostly resolved, and second because even if those laws had not been dealt with by now, I would not have had to deal with it because of my skin color. I would not have a complete perspective of the other side of the page.

Something that would make King happy right now is that, he said, “I have dream that Black boys and black girls will play with white boys and white girls,” and in my life that part of his dream has been fulfilled. In my school, I have a very diverse class with a lot of Black and white kids that play together.

Even though all of this has been said, we still have more to work on, like the fact that Black and white people are sometimes paid differently, even if they’re doing the exact same job, or the fact that Black people get shot more than white people.

We can use MLK as inspiration to keep going. We shouldn’t just stop here. You and I can make a difference by going to peaceful protests, or just being nice in general.

Nathan Goulbourne Williams

Brookland Middle School, 6th Grade, Ward 7 Resident

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech of August 28, 1963, is one of the most well-known and impactful pieces of American history. In it, he outlines his vision of an America in which all individuals are judged not by the color of their skin but instead by the content of their character. He outlines a new America in which the civil rights of all races and genders are respected and upheld, and his iconic closing words encapsulate his dream: “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

The dream has not changed from its original 1963 conception — that is, a nation in which all people are truly equal in the eyes of not just the law, but also in the eyes of society. This goes beyond simply legal equality, as unfortunately there are still many instances in which racial prejudice persists and will continue until tangible action is taken to stop it.

“The Dream” then was a call to action to fight systemic racism and economic injustice, while the Dream now is focused on dismantling oppressive systems and achieving equity and inclusion. We have seen progress since 1963 with more people of color, particularly Black people, gaining access to higher education and socioeconomic opportunities. At the same time, we have yet to fully realize “The Dream.” Racism and racial discrimination continue to threaten the ideals of equality, equity, inclusion, and justice for all. The recent civil unrest across the country due to police brutality has exposed the reality that “The Dream “still has many miles to go before it is realized.

Achieving this dream, however, is not an easy feat and will take the collective social and political efforts of individuals from all levels of society. It requires us to confront our biased notions of those different from us and have meaningful conversations rooted in trust and understanding. It requires us to challenge injustice when we see it being committed by someone within or outside of our community, and to create an environment of true respect and appreciation for all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or creed. It is through these efforts that we move even closer to realizing the dream envisioned by Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to acting individually, we must also act collectively and strive to support those

in government, companies, or other organizations that are actively making an effort to bring about a more equal and just America. This may include but is not limited to supporting legislation to end police brutality, working together to close the widening wealth gap, and ensuring that access to quality education and healthcare is made available to all people. Each of these steps can go a long way in helping to ensure that the dream Martin Luther King spoke of is achieved and less discrimination against races Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American leader in the U.S.

He [Dr. King] lost his life while performing a peaceful protest for the betterment of Blacks in America. His real name was Michael King Jr. He was among one of the great men who dedicated their life for the community.

Ultimately, there is still much more work to be done to fulfill the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. shared in 1963. And for us to reach a place of safety and acceptance for all our citizens, it is essential that we continue to push for change that is rooted in justice and equality for all.

Those of us who have the power to make an impact must use it to help bring about a future in which every person is respected and appreciated for the content of their character and treated equally. Only then can we live in a world where the King’s dream is fully realized. Therefore, we have many more things to understand, and we all have different opinions on things, but this should not be a problem although black people are not the only race that has been discriminated against and not paid well.

Justice Turner

Landon School 11th Grade, Ward 4 Resident

Have you ever desired something so profoundly, that you attempted to do the impossible to achieve your aspiration? If so, you can relate to the legendary, noble and renowned Martin Luther King Jr., who is embedded in our history.

Martin Luther King had one primary “Dream” in life, which was to eradicate all forms of discrimination, and oppression against African Americans and other minorities. To fight racism, King led a successful non-violent movement against an entire system ruled by a long history of oppression and intimidation. What Martin Luther King did was unimaginable, because most people who opposed racism were too afraid to fight. They witnessed lynchings, beatings, and other horrors of the times committed against African Americans and chose to stay quiet, but not King. King’s achievements made him one of the most well-respected African Americans in history.

As a young leader, the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about in 1963 continues to be a source of inspiration for me. To me, the dream represents the idea that all people, regardless of their race or background, should be treated with respect, dignity, and equality. It means that everyone should have the opportunity to live a full and prosperous life, free from discrimination and prejudice.

Thanks to King and a few other brave freedom fighters, over time there has been the increasingly better treatment of minorities, especially African Americans. Although we have seen improvements, the problems of the day revolve around racial profiling, police brutality, marginalization, and continuing unjust treatment of African Americans. Both African Americans and White Americans are equally responsible for ending this problem. We, as African Americans are going to have to do a better job to get rid of negative stigmas about our race by working better as a community. This is going to include stopping all the black-on-black violence, gun violence, and all irresponsible behaviors. We must do just as MLK did, to fight injustice with non-violent wisdom.

Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.

MLK was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is remembered each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. was important because he was a leader in the civil rights movement, which sought to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the United States. Through his leadership, activism, and inspiring message of nonviolence, he helped to bring about major changes in the laws and attitudes of American society.

MLK’s advocacy for civil rights and social justice inspired people around the world and he is widely considered one of the greatest figures in American history. Muhammed Gandhi was Martin Luther Kings inspiration for doing unimaginable things he did. They both shared the same concept of non-violence, which was revolutionary, because of how it changed the way white people looked at African Americans. Martin Luther King looked up to Mr. Gandhi as a source of inspiration to better his methods of nonviolence and share similar ideologies (Stanford University).

Even though Gandhi had an entirely different situation than MLK, they both used the same tactics to achieve a similar end goal. With this new concept of nonviolence emerged a brand-new type of protesting. The peaceful protest was the epicenter of how African Americans were able to express their inner beliefs and thoughts on the discrimination drawback (“Repression of Peaceful Protest”).

Regarding my viewpoint on the subject, essentially, I agree with all of MLK’s philosophies and beliefs. When I hear the word dream, I think of someone’s desire to achieve something in the distant future. However, these dreams could all be attainable if one puts their mind to them, and work hard for whatever it is that they desire.

Me, I have many dreams that I desire to accomplish by the end of my life, and reflecting on King’s fight, makes me know that my dreams are attainable as well. Me being a youth leader automatically gives me the responsibility to go above and beyond in my community. When looking at the MLK Jr. “I have a Dream” speech on YouTube, shows the immense support MLK had when delivering his speech (SullenToys.com).

MLK had a huge following of people, because of how powerful of a person he was. When I look back, I simply wonder if MLK could have accomplished his “dream” without the immense support of everyone that put their lives on the line to help him. People were constantly at risk of going to peaceful protests with groups like the KKK lurking at every corner (History.com Editors). It really shows the unity that was involved in this “dream” making it not MLK’s “dream” but rather our “dream.” Looking at King’s support, makes me realize that I am not in this fight alone. I must use those around me. “Two heads are better than One!”

MLK’s dream was a motivating factor for every African American citizen to help end this racial injustice that was present in all of America. King broke barriers so we would not have to break them again.

To me, the dream is a representation of all Black people and our aspiration for a better tomorrow. The overall philosophy of our dream has not changed much since the 1900s. We still desire equality!

The present-day dream of equality needs to be focused on racial profiling that is present in the United States, which leads to hate crimes against minority groups. A prime example in recent times was the killing of George Floyd, which was seen as police brutality against African Americans. The New York Times talks about how George passed away because an officer kneeled on his neck. This is merely one of the many examples of present-day racism.

There are also several issues that are hindering the victory of the dream. One of these is the ongoing problem of systemic racism, which affects many aspects of society and can be difficult to address. Additionally, there are those who oppose the idea of the dream and seek to maintain the status quo of inequality and discrimination. It is important for those of us who support the dream to stand up against these forces and work towards creating a more just and equal society.

To conclude, the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about in 1963 remains a powerful and inspiring vision for a better world. While there has been progress toward achieving it, there is still much work to be done. By taking action to address issues of inequality and injustice and working towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society, we can continue to move closer to realizing the dream for all people. This means taking action to address issues such as racial and social injustice, economic inequality, and prejudice against marginalized groups. It also means educating ourselves and others about these issues and advocating for change in our communities to attain the dream, we must continue to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

Specifically related to me, I still believe there is much work that needs to be done present day, to create a better tomorrow. Specifically, we as African Americans need to create a better image of ourselves rather than sit and complain when we are being discriminated against. Unfortunately, over the years some of us have painted ourselves in a way that doesn’t represent Martin Luther King’s dream.

Personally, my “dream” is to walk down the street without being seen as a “threat” to others because of the color of my skin. Fortunately for us, we have today and tomorrow to change this identity. We must not sit back and wait for a leader. We must realize that WE are that leader. I must be the one to create change! I must be the Dream!

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2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Essay Contest

A total of *$27,500 in scholarship awards will be presented to eight finalists:

• 1st Place receives  $10,000
• 2nd Place receives  $7,500
• 3rd Place receives  $5,000

*Awards of $1,000 will be presented to five honorable mentions.

Essay Contest Rules & Eligibility  

The 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest is open to high school seniors attending a City of Dallas high school. These Scholarships are to help defray the cost of tuition, books, room and board, etc. Winners will be required to submit a short video of their scholarship acceptance and will be formally recognized at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship & Awards Gala on Saturday, January 13, 2024 .

Submission Deadline:

December 1, 2023

Apply Online:

http://bit.ly/MLKScholarship24

Download Flyer

Incomplete applications WILL NOT be considered. Prior scholarship winners are ineligible to apply.

2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week

In January 2024, the City of Dallas will host its 41st annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a weeks’ worth of events highlighting issues of equity, diversity, and opportunity. The week will include a Day of Prayer, a Day of Service, a Wreath Laying Ceremony, Job Fair, Equity Symposium, Youth Summit, and Scholarship & Awards Gala. Celebration week will culminate with the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade.

Click here to learn more about 2024 MLK Celebration Week!

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New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission

Essay Contest NJ MLK Commemorative Commission 2023 ' Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere ' Scholarship Essay Contest

Mlk23 scholarship contest is closed..

SEMIFINALISTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL WHEN AND WHERE TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS & LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MAY. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

The NJ MLK Commemorative Commission's 2023 Scholarship Essay Contest is open to NJ residents in Grade 12.

Due Date: 5 PM, Friday, February 24, 2023

Note funds must be disbursed directly to the school by June 24, 2023.

**To apply for scholarship, complete online application below**

REQUIRED ESSAYS:

The New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission is proud to offer 10 scholarships to current high school seniors who are New Jersey residents in the amount of $5,000 per student. The scholarships will be awarded based on review of application by the independent reviewers appointed by the Commission. The online application includes three (3) essays on assigned topics. NOTE: Applicants selected for the final review will be required to email 2 school and community service reference letters and official high school transcript.

Applicants must respond to the following three essay questions:

• How does the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspire you as you think about your future? (100to 300 words)
• Please tell us about your service to others during your high school years. (100 to 300 words)
• The Gandhian Society recently opened the Eternal Gandhi Peace Center in Atlantic City, NewJersey. In your own words, how do you think Mahatma Gandhi influenced Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.? (100 to 300 words)

After initial screening, applicants who are selected to continue will be asked to email the Commission:

• Two (2) letters of reference from teachers, advisers, clergy and/or representatives of community-based service programs.
• Official High School Transcript from 11th Grade.

Failure to provide any of the required elements may disqualify the application.

Submit an Essay

* Required.

Applicant Information

Advisor/adult contact information:, essay questions.

Applicants must answer all three (3) essay questions. ( Write essay in word processing program and copy and paste finished essay into field )

How does the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspire you as you think about your future? *

Altanta History Center

History Channel

New Jerseyans Reflect on the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in commemoration of his 90th Birthday

NJ Quotes on MLK

MLK Essay & Poetry program Awardees

Dr. martin luther king, jr. essay & poetry program awardees.

Awardees 2024

1st : Ashlynn Marie Richwine 2nd:  Ariana Raji Joshi 3rd: Mila Maggio

Honorable Mentions Felicity Gray Sara Ruiz  Shayleen Colmenarez-Hernandez Reagan Schroeder Josef Castañeda Entry

1st: “Born to Love” – Benke Sepulveda 2nd: “ Nurturing a Sustainable Future: My  Contribution to Environmental and Social  Justice ” – Frida Pulido 3rd: “Contributing to Social Justice is a Privilege” – Linda Galindo

Honorable Mention “Time is of essence” –  Charlotte Carter  “The Time is Always Ripe to do Right”       Morality in Social Justice ”  – Alex Ceja  

1st: “Ripe Moment” – Takunda Chikowero 2nd: “True Colors and a beat up heart”  –  Kaiya Kaminski 3rd: “You made a difference ” –  Apolline Colburn

Honorable Mentions “Helping people” – Kai Wanner “Kindness is Justice” – Kristasofia Castañeda “Link” – Laney Checketts “Just one word”  – Tessa Hope “Rising Strong”  – Amelia Maday

1st: “A call for change” – Sara Fakinos 2nd: “Shining light on justice ” –  Evelyn Cakins 3rd: “MLK we remember ” –  Angel Santana

Honorable Mentions “Liminal”  –  Husna Baleven “Brown in a Room Full of White”  – Valeria Zamora “Rise Up”  –  Isla Barat

Awardees 2023

1st : “Speak Out” – Reagan Schroeder – Grade 6 2nd: “ Martin Luther King ” – Adaline Alexandra Le Renard – Grade 5 3rd: “From My Heart” – Isla Ramirez – Grade 4

Honorable Mention “He Had a Dream and So Do I” – Charlotte Carter – Grade 5

1st: “Flower to Fruit” – Benke Sepulveda – Grade 8 2nd: “The Importance of Martin Luther Kind Jr” – Taylor Bronson – Grade 9 3rd: “Impact On My Community” – Mayleen Montes De Leon – Grade 11

Honorable Mention “Hear and Heal” –  Clehann Howard – Grade 10  

1st: “Let Us Fly” – Amelia Maday – Grade 4 2nd: “He was…”  –  Alexandra Le Renard – Grade 5 3rd: “A Divided Poem ” – Declan Yeung – Grade 4

Honorable Mentions “Making People Happy” – Kai Wanner – Grade 2 “Change the World” – Julie Parker – Grade 2 “My Brother” – Lochlan Whalen – Grade 2

1st: “Broken Treasures” – Lauren Lee – Grade 10 2nd: “How to Fix 77 seconds ” – Anna Morrison – Grade 10 3rd: “Listening Goes A Long Way ” – Olgha Mbarka – Grade 10

Awardees 2022

1st : “Don’t Hide Your Feelings” – Amalia Cruz 2nd: “ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Dream ” – Jaden Barker 3rd: “Dreams” – Chloe Henson

Honorable Mentions “Essay” – Dominic James Beane “Martin Luther King, Jr.” – Lillian Richardson “Martin Luther King, Jr.” – Siena Schmidt

1st: “The Struggle for Equality” – Rick Juarez 2nd: “Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy” – Taylor Blackmore 3rd: “Abbie’s Essay.” – Abbigail Delwiche

1st: “Together” – Ronnie Gloo 2nd: “ Martin Luther King Day ” – Blaise Challen 3rd: “ The Voice we Have ” – Quincy Wong

Honorable Mentions “In a New Light” – Ximena Naranjo “I have a Dream.” – Camilla Elizondo “An Acrostic Poem in Honor of Dr. King.” – Laklyn Wood “Children of the Way” – Rudy Gloo

1st: “Fight Feathers” – Julia Weitzman 2nd: “A Single Garment of Destiny ” – Noah Slotnick-Latrisco 3rd: “ Waking Up” – Alejandro Marin

Honorable Mentions “It’s Raining Today” – Sierra Mayoral “MLK Poem” – Kate Cooney “Untitled” – Fiona Casbarro “Love and Hate” – Jasmine Lopez-Lopez “We Shall Overcome” – Liana Marie Ahedo

Awardees 2021

1st: “How should One’s Morals be Defined?” Kamea Boucher Carpinteria High School

2nd: “The Importance of Speaking up for your Ideals” Carolina Peace – 13 Marymount School

3rd: “What can make you a Better Person?” Hannia Hernandez Carpinteria High School

1st : “No More Silence” Noah Slotnick-Lastrico – 12 La Colina Junior High

2nd: “What Is Right” Ashley Hansen – 12 La Colina Junior High

3rd: “Martin Luther King Jr.” Lillian Richardson – 9 Marymount School

Honorable Mention : “Why it is so important to Speak up” James Steel Foothill Elementary School

1st: “Betrayal, Silence” Kundai Chikowero Dos Pueblos High School

2nd: “Solidarity” Sarah Dent – 10th grade Dos Pueblos High School

3nd: “Our Voices Are Heard” Miles Souza – 17 Carpinteria High School

Honorable Mentions “I Am What I Am” Fatima Lopez – 17 San Marcos High School

“Martin Luther King was an Amazing Man” Ember Reiter – 13 Marymount School

“Rise Up” Ravi Pandya – 13 Marymount School

1st : “The Journey to Freedom” Elena Beckman Knox School

2nd: “This is Us” Zoe Rogers Peabody Charter School of SB

3rd: “When Happiness Goes Down” Sam Kasting- 7 Marymount School

3rd: “Say Their Names” Jonah Archer Foothill Elementary School

Awardees 2020

1st Alexis Persoon Carpinteria High School

2nd Asiah Raymie San Marcos High School

3rd Sasha Carter Los Olivos School Illianna Ramirez Santa Barbara Junior High

1st Noah Slotnick-Lastrico Washington Elementary School 2nd Angel Hernandez Washington Elementary 3rd Kaia Drayton Hollister Elementary Ashley Hansen Washington Elementary School

1st Summer Slotnick-Lastrico San Marcos High School 2nd Kundai Chikowero Dos Pueblos High School 3rd Hialei E. Pangaling Los Olivos School Svenja Leonard Carpinteria High School

1st Charly Crane-Flores Roosevelt School 2nd Santiago Munoz Roosevelt School 3rd Bella Hofmeister Foothill Elementary

Awardees 2019

1st Michelle Qin “All for All” Dos Pueblos High School

1st Nolan Carney “Standing up and Speaking Out” Roosevelt School 2nd Angelle Breton “Together We Stand” Roosevelt School 3rd Aislinn Wilson “Together We Stand” Santa Barbara Middle School

Gia Manriquez “Together We Stand” Roosevelt School

1st Kundai Chikowero “Together for A Future Generation” Dos Pueblos High School 2nd Delia Dominguez “Together we stand” Carpinteria High School 3rd Noor Guefroudj “Together we stand” Dos Pueblos High School Jasmine Gutierrez “Together we stand” Carpinteria High School

1st Jaeda Natale “Together we Stand” Roosevelt School 2nd Lea Anderson “Together we Stand” Roosevelt School 3rd Grace Gorman “Poem 1” Montessori Center School Gwen Chenoweth “Together we Stand” Roosevelt School

Awardees 2018

1st Michelle Qin “The Human Right” Dos Pueblos High School 2nd Gabriel Ohedo “Martin Luther King, Jr.” Carpinteria High School

1st Olivia Battles “Speak Up” Roosevelt School 2nd Noah Zakrzewski “MLK” Monte Vista School 3rd Noah Slotnick-Lastrico “MLK” Washington School Connor MacPherson “MLK” Montessori Center School

1st Kundai Chikowero “Follow the Legacy” Dos Pueblos High School 2nd Hali Schwasnick “Colors” Carpinteria High School 3rd Jeanette Fantone “For The Oppressed” Carpinteria High School Max Coppel “Life in America Has Changed” Carpinteria High School

1st Zachary Horne “My Dream for Our World” Roosevelt School 2nd Aspen Newhouse “Democracy” Montessori Center School 3rd Tessa de Albergaria “Living a Nightmare” Roosevelt School Tali McPeters “Democracy” Roosevelt School

Awardees 2017

1st Michelle Qin, Dos Pueblos High School

1st Alana Sanchez, Roosevelt School 2nd Gracie Meinzer, Roosevelt School 3rd Lyla Bollag, Montessori Center School Aislinn Wilson, Montessori Center School Omar Alsabagh, Montessori Center School Zahra Clark, Montessori Center School Lorraina Uyeno, Montessori Center School

1st Ava Gropper, Carpinteria High School 2nd Kundai Chikowero, Goleta Valley Junior High 3rd Jasmine Guilarte, Santa Barbara High School Jaime Hernandez, Carpinteria High School

1st Stella Scheim, Roosevelt Elementary School 2nd Quinn Davis, Roosevelt Elementary School 3rd Pearl Stadler, Roosevelt Elementary School Malaika Dewar, Roosevelt Elementary School Christian Frausto, Roosevelt Elementary School Sam Peacock, Roosevelt Elementary School Gabriel Gallardo, Roosevelt Elementary School

Awardees 2016

1st  Michele Qin, Dos Pueblos High School 2nd  Emanuel Goldam, Valley High School 3rd  Anahi Hernandaz, La Cumbre Jr High School 3rd  Analise Cuevas Poetry

1st  Kundai Chikowero  2nd  Wesley Lin  3rd Lauren Neubauer 3rd Finney Israel

1st  Crystal Landeros, Carpinteria High School 2nd  Sophia Qin 3rd  Jonathan Carrillo

1st  Madison Tuchman 2nd  Nayon Kim 3rd Brittany Gamble 3rd  Kathryn Chenoweth

ADL Essay Award  

Natasha Franco 

Awardees 2015

1st  Jaiani Hammonds, Franklin Elementary School  2nd  Allison Mooney, Roosevelt Elementary School  3rd Maddie Fitz, Roosevelt Elementary School  3rd  Charlie Hess, Roosevelt Elementary School

1st  Place Miranda Vazquez, Santa Barbara High School 2nd  Micaela McBee, Santa Barbara High School 3rd  Andrea Gaytan, Santa Barbara High School 3rd  Sofia Warren, Santa Barbara High School

1st  Celene Sanchez, Roosevelt Elementary School 2nd  Lola Crane-Flores, Roosevelt Elementary School 3rd  Owen Rybnicek, Roosevelt Elementary School 3rd  Jeffrey Helman, Roosevelt Elementary School

1st  Berenice Ruiz, Santa Barbara High School 2nd  Malia Jungert, Santa Barbara High School 3rd  Cooper Johnson, Santa Barbara High School 3rd  Alana Ochoa, Santa Barbara High School

Awardees 2014

1st  Michelle Qin, La Colina Junior High 2nd  Esme Butkiewicz, Goleta Valley Jr. High 3rd  John Givans, Goleta Valley Jr. High 3rd  Sammy Moore, Goleta Valley Jr. High

1st  John Chambliss, Santa Barbara High School 2nd  Lauren Flemming, Santa Barbara High School 3rd  Addy Santos, La Colina Jr. High School 3rd  Sarah Douglas, San Marcos High School

1st  Natasha Romanchuk, La Cumber Jr. High  2nd  Leo Glikbarg, Goleta Valley Jr .High  3rd  Benjamin Kreitzer, Roosevelt Elementary  3rd  Noah Robinson, Roosevelt Elementary

1st  Berenice Ruiz, Santa Barbara High School 2nd  Sarah Douglas, San Marcos High School 3rd  Martina Arroyo, La Colina Jr. High 3rd  Sam Haj, La Colina Jr. High

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Georgia Bulletin

The newspaper of the catholic archdiocese of atlanta.

MLK poster, essay contest winners inspired by Scripture 

By georgia bulletin staff | published january 20, 2023.

ATLANTA—As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Office of Intercultural Ministries and Office of Catholic Schools coordinate an annual essay and art contest for students.   

The theme for this year’s contest was based on Romans 12:12 to be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Students reflected on the Scripture when creating art and writing for the program.  

The 2023 student winners in the three categories, as chosen by judges, are:  

Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest (Chosen by a committee of representatives from the Office of Intercultural Ministries)   

1st Place—Adrienne Bartlett, St. Thomas More School.  

2nd Place (Tie) Valentina Martinez, St. John the Evangelist School and Felicity Burchfield, St. Catherine of Siena School.  

3rd Place—Isabella Nguyen, St. Mary’s Academy.  

MLK Poster Contest (Chosen by a committee of representatives from the Office of Intercultural Ministries)     

1st Place (Tie)—Regina Hung, St. Peter Claver Regional School; Kelsie Nguyen, Zia Topple and Bowan Taylor, St. Joseph Parish School (Athens).  

2nd Place (Tie)—Andres Diaz-Garcia, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Cannon Roberts, St. Mary’s School (Rome).  

3rd Place (Tie)—Katy Karschner, Holy Redeemer School and Sienna Smith, Our Lady of the Assumption School.  

Chancery’s Choice Poster Contest (Selected by employees of the Chancery)  

1st Place—Margo Lair, Queen of Angels School.  

2nd Place—Jackson Small and Sarah Small, St. Thomas More School.  

3rd Place—Vivienne Guthrie, St. John the Evangelist School.  

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Archdiocesan Mass recalls Martin Luther King Jr.'s enduring legacy

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Winners of the 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Contests Announced

Winners will be recognized Jan. 15 during celebration event.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay, Art, Photography and Sculpture Contest winners (listed below) have been announced ahead of the 31st annual MLK Celebration scheduled for January 15. The theme for this year’s event is “Becoming One: The Time is Always Right to do What is Right.”

The winners will be recognized during the event. Contest winners will receive awards and prizes ranging from $50-$250. The winning art and photography works will be put on display during the celebration before moving to the Lewisville Grand.

This year's event will also feature planned performances from LISD and community organizations, as well as local and national speakers.

31 st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration Monday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m. Lewisville High School Stuver Auditorium

For more information about the contests and celebration, visit mlkofnorthtexas.org .

Lewisville ISD staff attending the celebration will have the opportunity to earn trade day credit by enrolling HERE before January 15 and completing a reflection survey following the event.

2023-24 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay, Art, Photography and 3D Sculpture/Ceramics Contest Winners -Essay- 4th Grade 1. Renee Sanchez | Garden Ridge ES | Cade 2. Emmeline Haba | Garden Ridge ES | Cade 3A. Dhruv Patel | Donald ES | Siler 3B. Victor Roberts | Donald ES | Pfister

5th Grade 1A. Grayson Bybee | Hebron Valley ES | Brown 1B. Dia Patel | Coyote Ridge ES | Puri/Martinez 2. Laasya Venna | Memorial ES | Head 3A. Ifra Fias | Liberty ES | Winkler/Morton 3B. Aashna Shah | Bluebonnet ES | Erickson

6th Grade 1. Eva Johny | Creek Valley MS | Simons 2. Tanvi Korrapati | Shadow Ridge MS | Reinacher 3. Hariyank Raman | Shadow Ridge MS | Reinacher

7th Grade 1. Zoya Tapia | Creek Valley MS | John 2. Pandora Morrow | Downing MS | Whithauer 3. Navya Gupta | McKamy MS | Thielemans

1. Reeva Joshi | McKamy MS | Miller 2. Elijah Min | Lamar MS | Reynolds 3. Stephanie Chong | McKamy MS | Miller

9th Grade 1. Ayaan Gupta | FMHS9 | Greenlaw 2A. Harmony Cornelius | LHS Harmon | Shelander 2B. Heloisa Lucia Lago | LHS Harmon | Shelander 3. Alexa Megliorino | FMHS9 | Greenlaw

10th Grade 1. Madison Berry | LHS Harmon | Crow 2. Gia Nguyen | LHS Harmon | Saiki 3. Jackson Braudaway | LHS Harmon | Saiki

11th Grade 1. Aanya Nuna | FMHS 

12th Grade 1. Aditi Singh | FMHS | Bowen 2. Sakshat Puri | FMHS | Bowen 3. Kimble Gould | LHS | Counts

4th Grade 1. Rianshi Mothe | Bluebonnet ES | Turner 2. Junia Rodriguez | Vickery ES | Ventura

5th Grade 1A. Bella Lee | Wellington ES | Hanson 1B. Paridhi Mankar | Bluebonnet ES | Turner 2A. Divam Mehta | Bridlewood ES | Shipley 2B. Coco Tang | Wellington ES 3. Ifra Fias | Liberty ES | Echols

6th Grade 1. Meryam Mikhail | Forestwood MS | Kilam 2. Anika Lal | Forestwood MS | Kilam 3. Jocelyn Wu | Killian MS | Decker

7th Grade 1. Saaish Adhyapak | Briarhill MS | Amick 2A. Sahana Thagadur | Killian MS | Calixto 2B. Mariana (Zimeng) Wang | McKamy MS | McCloud 3A. Vaibhav Pachipulusa | Downing MS | Felan 3B. Dylan Johnson | Lamar MS

8th Grade 1. Arnesa Pajic | Forestwood MS | Stelmar 2. Mariajose Armas Traconis | Lakeview MS | Fuentes 3. Riddhi Sharma | McKamy MS | McCloud

9th Grade 1. Tim Frasier | HHS9 | Hines 2. Camila De La Parra Carrete | MHS9 | Bellevue 3. Santiago Semeco | HHS9 | Hines

10th Grade 1. Elisabeth Waterman | HHS | Mennsfield 2. Braedon Shrier | HHS | Mennsfield 3A. Jeph Dela Cruz | HHS | Mennsfield 3B. Andrea Garcia | HHS | Mennsfield

11th Grade 1. True Davis | MHS | Bellevue  2. Jamie Yoon | FMHS | Lawrence 3. Briceidy Mendoza | HHS | Mennsfield

12th Grade 1. Mary Hannemann | MHS | Murdock 2. Vidhi Jadeja | FMHS | Lawrence 3. Jennifer Banh | MHS | Bellevue -Photography-

Elementary School 1. Aashna Shah (5th Grade) | Bluebonnet ES | Murguia

Middle School 1. Chloe Setzler (8th Grade) | Lakeview MS | Coleman 2. Tanvi Padala (8th Grade) | McKamy MS | Standifer 3. Zoya Tapia (7th Grade) | Creek Valley MS | John

High School 1. Syna Deshmukh (12th Grade) | MHS | Champion 2A. Peyton Phillips (12th Grade) | MHS | Champion 2B. Joshua Webb (11th Grade) | MHS | Champion 3. Eliza Glaser (9th Grade) | FMHS9 | Greenlaw

-3D Sculpture/Ceramics-

Elementary School 1. Aeri Ha (5th Grade) | Hebron Valley ES | Brown 2. Gautam Mudunuri (5th Grade) | Hebron Valley ES | Stegall 3. Diara Mitra (5th Grade) | Bluebonnet ES

Middle School 1. Audrey Nguyen (6th Grade) | Forestwood MS | Shelman 2. Mahi Sharma (6th Grade) | Shadow Ridge MS | Sawyers

High School 1A. Juliet Padilla (10th Grade) | MHS | Fletcher 1B. Diya Roy (12th Grade) | MHS | Fletcher 2A. Emma Martinez (11th Grade) | MHS | Fletcher 2B. Kaetie Samuels (11th Grade) | MHS | Fletcher 3A. Noah Kang (10th Grade) | FMHS | Kruk 3B. Ainsley Robbins (10th Grade) | MHS | Fletcher *Chairman's Prizes*  Vanessa Bautista (4th Grade) | Lewisville ES | Reiser Michelle Nguyen (8th Grade) | Creek Valley MS | Brazell Aanya Nuna (11th Grade) | FMHS | Lawrence

Thank you to the MLK of North Texas Committee for continuing support Lewisville ISD students and LISD Fine Arts. The 31st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration event is proudly sponsored by:

Gold Level Sponsors

• Joan-Parks Saunders and Mark Saunders
• The Town of Flower Mound
• The City of Lewisville
• The City of Highland Village
• Lewisville ISD
• Tau Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Nebraska Furniture Mart
• Credit Union of Texas - FairLease
• John J. Saunders, MD

Silver Level Sponsors

• Vernell Gregg
• Davoodi Family Medicine
• Denton-Lewisville Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
• Minuteman Press-LV
• Rho Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Bronze Level Sponsors

• The Baha'is of Flower Mound
• The Greater Denton County Chapter of the Links, Inc.
• Rembert Builders
• Hindu Education Foundation (HEF), a project of HSS
• Saberre Law Firm
• Delia Parker Mims of Parker Legal, PLLC
• Jacqueline L. Shaw of Shaw In-Home Childcare

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2023 Poster & Essay Contest Winners

The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the Poster and Essay Contest. Students from various schools throughout Brazoria County along with their parents, grandparents and other family members gathered on February 23 at Brazosport College. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in both categories received a medal and a check from the MLKCC. In addition to the medal and cash awards, the first-place essay winners were also gifted a tablet from BASF. The students created posters and wrote their essays centered around the MLKCC theme “Creating The Change.” Judges for the poster and essay contest were Chantal Jones, Ezra and Brianna Sidney, and Rachael Welsh.

Poster Winners

Poster & Essay Winners

2023 Poster and Essay Winners are:

Category I: 1st Place –  Perry Beverly – Westside Elementary (Angleton) 2nd Place –  Joanna Olctade – Westside Elementary (Angleton) 3rd Place – Aliyah Murphy – Southside Elementary (Angleton)

Category II 1st Place – Jayden Murphy – Angleton Junior High School 2nd Place – Whitley Ferry – Brazosport Christian School 3rd Place  – Jaren Branch – Angleton Junior High School

Category III 1st Place – Andrew Hillman – Sweeny Junior High School 2nd Place – Brian Armstrong – Angleton Junior High School 3rd Place Carsten Eddlemon-Brazosport Christian School

Category IV 1st Place –  Mary Claire Hughes – Glenda Dawson High School (Pearland) 2nd Place – Bryanna Armstrong – Angleton High School 3rd Place – Michael ST Edwards – Brazosport High School

Essay Winners

Category I 1st Place – Peter Hughes – Berry Miller Junior High School (Pearland) 2nd Place – Jayden Murphy – Angleton Junior High School 3rd Place – Brian Armstrong  -Angleton High School

Category II 1st Place – Andrew Hillman – Sweeny Junior High School 2nd Place – Jazmin Ocuna – Clute Intermediate School 3rd Place – Maximiliano Reyes – Sweeny High School

Category III 1st Place – Patrick Hughes – Glenda Dawson High School (Pearland) 2nd Place – Michael T. S. Edwards – Brazosport High School 3rd Place – Bryanna Armstrong – Angleton High School

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Martin Luther King jr. Essay Contest

sponsored by First Missionary Baptist Church Scholarship Ministry

Eligibility

Contest open to Grades 5-8 and 9-12

Theme: "Advancing the Dream"

Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech speaks to peace, justice, and equality that he wanted to see for all. For your essay, please write about your dream for this nation and how it will continue to move us closer to fulfilling Dr. King’s dream.

Or Chose one of the six statements “I Have a Dream” and write how you have seem this being live out today.

Grades 4-8: Word Count: 300-500

Grades 9-12: Word Count:800-1000

ATTENTION: The deadline has been extended!! New deadline is January 9th.

1. Only one entry per student is allowed.

2. The first three lines of the essay should be the title, the name of student, and the grade classification, followed by a double space, then the essay.

3. The essay must be the original work of the student, meet the word count assigned to the grade division, and be typed, double spaced, in a 12-point font size.

4. Students must submit essays by Monday, January 9th 2023 @ 11:59PM No late entries will be accepted.

5. Essay must not contain any slang, vulgar language or racial slurs

Submitting Your Entry

To enter the contest, follow the steps below to fill out the entry form:

type your essay into any word processing program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, or even an email to yourself

save the essay

fill out the entry form linked at the button below

copy your essay to the clipboard, paste it into the essay response window on the entry form, and then format it .

select the entire essay

make it 12 point font

make it double spaced

submit the form entry

Direct any questions or correspondence about the contest to: [email protected]

Judging & Prizes

Prizes will include:

5-8th Grades – 1st Place/ $250.00/2nd Place $150.00/3rd Place $100.00 place winners will be recognized at the MLK Celebration event on January, 16, 2023.

9-12th Grades –1st Place/ $250.00/2nd Place $150.00/3rd Place $100.00 place winners will be recognized at the MLK Celebration event on January, 16, 2023.

Essay Contest Entry Form

The objective of the K-12 Student Essay/Poetry and Poster contest is to capture Dr. King’s legacy in word and art. ASU will host its 39th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast on January 18, 2024. A highlight of the celebration is the recognition and awards ceremony for Arizona K-12 students who are winners of the statewide essay and poster contest.

First place essay winners read their work at the celebration - and for the poster winners – their art is transformed into bookmarks that all guests receive at the celebration.

Click below to enter.

2024 essay/poetry entry form 2024 poster entry form

2024 contest winner media

2023 contest winner media

2022 contest winner media

2021 contest winner media

2020 contest winner media

2019 contest winner media

2018 contest winner media

2017 contest winner media

2016 contest winner media

Inspirational resources.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Day, Death, Quotes

National Geographic Kids - Hero For All: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | Smithsonian Institution

Text of the "I have a dream" speech

Stanford Univerity's Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

Day of Service

“The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Martin Luther King, Jr. and Clayborne Carson

“A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Martin Luther King, Jr. and James M. Washington

“Becoming King: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Making of a National Leader.” by Troy Jackson PhD and Clayborne Carson

Speeches by Dr. King

MLK, Jr. Remembered

“We Shall Overcome” audio with images

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Biography for Children, American History for Kids – FreeSchool

Essay Contest

2024 Town of Paradise Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

All 5 th , 6 th , 7 th , and 8th-grade students are invited to submit an essay on this year’s theme. There will be one winner picked from each grade level, and these winners will be announced in January 2024.  Each grade level will have one winner.

Winners will be given a Trophy and Gift Card during the  Town of Paradise Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in Town Hall on Monday, January 15th, 2024 .  Winners and their families are invited and encouraged to attend the event.

Essay Submission Deadline:   December 15, 2023

Essay Topic: “Changing Hearts and Minds”

Requirements:

• The essay should be two total single-sided pages. 
• Format should be in Times font and 12 pt., double line spacing with a 1” margin. 
• Student name, school, and grade should be on the first page of the essay. 
• Please save the essay in a PDF or .doc format.
• Please submit a pdf, doc, or docx of your essay:  Contest Submission or go to the website https://www.mlkparadisevalley.org/submissions/

Essays will be judged on the following:

• Relevance – to topic, content, and clarity. 
• Focus and Coherence  – The ideas are related and well-supported from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Organization – The writer uses smooth transitions and clear ideas.
• Development of Ideas  – The writer uses specific details to develop ideas.
• Voice – The writer engages the reader with the choice of words, and the writer’s unique personality comes through.
• Conventions  – The writer uses correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.

By submitting your essay, you approve the essay to be published and used in promotions, along with the student’s name, grade, and school. You are also committing to the original quality of the paper. Any papers that are not original will be automatically disqualified.

Please submit pdf, doc, or docx of your essay: Contest Submission

This event is sponsored by the Bahá’í Community of Paradise Valley and the Town of Paradise Valley.

Paradise Valley, AZ

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Open Letters: Our New Opinion-Writing Contest

We invite students to write public-facing letters to people or groups about issues that matter to them. Contest dates: March 13 to May 1.

By The Learning Network

What’s bothering you? Who could do something about it? What could you say to them that would persuade them to care, or to make change?

And … what if we all read your letter? How could you make us care too?

These are some of the questions we’re asking you to ponder for our new Open Letter Contest. An open letter is a published letter of protest or appeal usually addressed to an individual, group or institution but intended for the general public. Think of the many “Dear Taylor Swift” open letters you can find online and on social media: Sure, they’re addressed to Ms. Swift, but they’re really a way for the writer to share opinions and feelings on feminism, or ticket sales, or the music industry, or … the list goes on.

As you might already know if you’ve read Martin Luther King’s famous Letter From Birmingham Jail , an open letter is a literary device. Though it seems on the surface to be intended for just one individual or group, and therefore usually reads like a personal letter (and can make readers feel they are somehow “listening in” on private thoughts), it is really a persuasive essay addressed to the public. This recent letter signed by over 1,000 tech leaders about the dangers of A.I. , this funny 2020 letter addressed to Harry and Meghan , and this video letter from young Asian Americans to their families about Black Lives Matter are all examples of the tradition.

Now we’re inviting you to try it yourself. Write your own open letter, to anyone you like on any issue you care about, as long as it is also appropriate and meaningful for a general Times audience.

Whom should you write to? What should you say? How do open letters work?

The rules and FAQ below, along with our Student Opinion forum and related how-to guide , can walk you through ways to get started.

This is a new contest and we expect questions. Please ask any you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.

Here’s what you need to know:

The challenge, a few rules, resources for students and teachers, frequently asked questions, submission form.

Write an open letter to a specific audience that calls attention to an issue or problem and prompts reflection or action on it.

Whether you choose to write to your parents, teachers, school board members or mayor; a member of Congress; the head of a corporation; an artist or entertainer; or a metonym like “Silicon Valley” or “The Kremlin,” ask yourself, What do I care about? Who can make changes, big or small, local or global, to address my issue or problem? What specifically do I want my audience to understand or do? And how can I write this as an “open letter,” compelling not just to me and the recipient, but to the general audience who will be reading my words?

The Times has published numerous open letters over the years, to both famous and ordinary people. You can find a long list of free examples in our related guide .

This contest invites students to express themselves and imagine that their words can lead to real change.

Your open letter MUST:

Focus on an issue you care about and with which you have some experience. You can write about almost anything you like, whether it’s a serious issue like bullying , or something more lighthearted like why bugs deserve respect , but we have found over the years that the most interesting student writing grows out of personal experience. Our related Student Opinion forum and how-to guide can help you come up with ideas.

Address a specific audience relevant to the issue. Choose an individual, group, organization or institution who is in a position to make change or promote understanding about your topic.

Call for action, whether the change you seek is something tangible , like asking Congress to enact a law or demanding a company stop a harmful practice, or something more abstract, like inviting your audience to reflect on something they may have never considered.

Be suitable and compelling for a wide general audience . An open letter simultaneously addresses an explicit recipient — whether Joe Biden or your gym teacher — as well as us, the general public, your implicit audience. Though your letter might seem to be meant just for one person, it is really trying to persuade all readers. Make sure you write it in such a way that it is relevant, understandable, appropriate and meaningful for anyone who might come across it in The New York Times. (Again, our related guide can help.)

Be written as a letter, in a voice and tone that is appropriate for both your audience and purpose. Are you simply taking an argumentative essay you’ve written for school already and slapping a “Dear X” on top of it and a “Sincerely, Y” on the bottom? No. A letter — even an open letter — is different from a formal essay, and your writing should reflect that. Can you be informal? Funny? If that makes sense for your purpose and audience, then yes, please.

Our related guide, and the many examples we link to, can help you think about this, but we hope the format of a letter will let you loosen up a bit and express yourself in your natural voice. (For example, you’ll be writing as “I” or “we,” and addressing your letter’s recipient as “you.”)

Also attempt to persuade a general audience. Though it is written in the form of a letter, it is an opinion piece, and you are trying to make a case and support it with evidence, as you would any argument. Remember that you are trying to change hearts and minds, so you’ll be drawing on the same rhetorical strategies as you might have for our long-running editorial contest . (Again, more on this in the related guide .)

Make your case in 460 words or fewer. Your title and sources are not part of the word count.

Inform with evidence from at least two sources, including one from The Times and one from outside The Times. We hope this contest encourages you to deepen your understanding of your topic by using multiple sources, ideally ones that offer a range of perspectives. Just make sure those sources are trustworthy .

Because this is a letter, not a formal essay, we are not asking you to provide in-text citations, but we will be asking you to list the sources you used — as many as you like — in a separate field that does not contribute to your word count. Keep in mind, however, that if you include evidence from those sources, our readers (and judges) should always be able to tell where it came from. Be careful to put quotations around any direct quotes you use, and cite the source of anything you paraphrase.

In addition to the guidelines above, here are a few more details:

You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate , and all students must have parent or guardian permission to enter. Please see the F.A.Q. section for additional eligibility details.

The writing you submit should be fundamentally your own — it should not be plagiarized, created by someone else or generated by artificial intelligence.

Your open letter should be original for this contest. That means it should not already have been published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.

Keep in mind that the work you send in should be appropriate for a Times audience — that is, something that could be published in a family newspaper (so, please, no curse words).

You may work alone or in groups , but students should submit only one entry each.

You must also submit a short, informal “artist’s statement” as part of your submission, that describes your writing and research process. These statements, which will not be used to choose finalists, help us to design and refine our contests. See the F.A.Q. to learn more.

All entries must be submitted by May 1, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time using the electronic form at the bottom of this page.

Use these resources to help you write your open letter:

Our step-by-step guide : To be used by students or teachers, this guide walks you through the process of writing an open letter.

A list of free examples of open letters published both in and outside The New York Times, which you can find in our step-by-step guide .

A writing prompt: To Whom Would You Write an Open Letter? This prompt offers students a “rehearsal space” for thinking about to whom they’d like to write, the reason they’re writing and why they think that issue is important — not only for the recipient but also for a wider audience.

Argumentative writing prompts: We publish new argumentative writing prompts for students each week in our Student Opinion and Picture Prompt columns. You can find them all, as they publish, here , or many of them, organized by topic, in our new collection of over 300 prompts .

Argumentative writing unit: This unit includes writing prompts, lesson plans, webinars and mentor texts. While it was originally written to support our Student Editorial Contest , the resources can help students make compelling arguments, cite reliable evidence and use rhetorical strategies for their open letters as well.

Our contest rubric : This is the rubric judges will use as they read submissions to this contest.

Below are answers to your questions about writing, judging, the rules and teaching with this contest. Please read these thoroughly and, if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, post your query in the comments or write to us at [email protected].

Questions About Writing

How is this contest different from your long-running Editorial Contest? Can we still use those materials?

For a decade we ran an editorial contest , and the students who participated wrote passionately about all kinds of things — A.I. , fast fashion , race , trans rights , college admissions , parental incarceration , fan fiction , snow days , memes , being messy and so much more . You can still write about the issues and ideas that fire you up — it’s just that this time around you’ll be framing your work as a letter to a person who has the power to make change on or bring understanding to that issue.

Our related guide has more about the differences between a traditional opinion essay and an open letter, but the many materials we developed for that earlier contest are also woven into the guide, as concepts like ethos, logos and pathos are still very much relevant to this challenge.

I have no idea what to write about. Where should I start?

Our Student Opinion forum can help via its many questions that encourage you to brainstorm both the audience you might write to and the topics you’d like to address.

Can I actually send my open letter?

You can! Just wait until after you have submitted your work to us to do so. (As always for our contests, you retain the copyright to the piece you submit, and can do whatever you like with it.)

Questions About Judging

How will my open letter be judged?

Your work will be read by New York Times journalists, as well as by Learning Network staff members and educators from around the United States. We will use this rubric to judge entries.

What’s the “prize”?

Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to have your work published in the print New York Times.

When will the winners be announced?

About 8-10 weeks after the contest has closed.

My piece wasn’t selected as a winner. Can you tell me why?

We typically receive thousands of entries for our contests, so unfortunately, our team does not have the capacity to provide individual feedback on each student’s work.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES

Who is eligible to participate in this contest?

This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry. However, high school students (including high school postgraduate students) who are taking one or more college classes can participate. Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate. In addition, students age 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate.

The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.

Can I have someone else check my work?

We understand that students will often revise their work based on feedback from teachers and peers. That is allowed for this contest. However, be sure that the final submission reflects the ideas, voice and writing ability of the student, not someone else.

Do I need a Works Cited page?

Yes. We provide you with a separate field to list the sources you used to inform or write your open letter. You’re allowed to format your list however you want; we will not judge your entry based on formatting in this section. Internal citations in your letter are not necessary.

Why are you asking for an Artist’s Statement about our process? What will you do with it?

All of us who work on The Learning Network are former teachers. One of the many things we miss, now that we work in a newsroom rather than a classroom, is being able to see how students are reacting to our “assignments” in real time — and to offer help, or tweaks, to make those assignments better. We’re asking you to reflect on what you did and why, and what was hard or easy about it, in large part so that we can improve our contests and the curriculum we create to support them. This is especially important for new contests, like this one.

Another reason? We have heard from many teachers that writing these statements is immensely helpful to students. Stepping back from a piece and trying to put into words what you wanted to express, and why and how you made artistic choices to do that, can help you see your piece anew and figure out how to make it stronger. For our staff, they offer important context that help us understand individual students and submissions, and learn more about the conditions under which students around the world create.

Whom can I contact if I have questions about this contest or am having issues submitting my entry?

Leave a comment on this post or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH THIS CONTEST

Do my students need a New York Times subscription to access these resources?

No. All of the resources on The Learning Network are free.

If your students don’t have a subscription to The New York Times, they can also get access to Times pieces through The Learning Network . All the activities for students on our site, including mentor texts and writing prompts, plus the Times articles they link to, are free. Students can search for articles using the search tool on our home page.

How do my students prove to me that they entered this contest?

After they press “Submit” on the form below, they will see a “Thank you for your submission.” line appear. They can take a screenshot of this message. Please note: Our system does not currently send confirmation emails.

Please read the following carefully before you submit:

Students who are 13 and older in the United States or the United Kingdom, or 16 and older elsewhere in the world, can submit their own entries. Those who are 13 to 15 and live outside the United States or the United Kingdom must have an adult submit on their behalf.

All students who are under 18 must provide a parent or guardian’s permission to enter.

You will not receive email confirmation of your submission. After you submit, you will see the message “Thank you for your submission.” That means we received your entry. If you need proof of entry for your teacher, please screenshot that message.

If you have questions about your submission, please write to us at [email protected] and provide the email address you used for submission.