martin luther king essay contest

Martin Luther King, Jr. Competitions

Essay contest.

Essay Prompt

Compose an essay outlining a civil rights victory and how this change improved the lives of a particular group of people. Secondly, reflect upon how this group could continue to be better served in the future and what actions might lead to the necessary changes. Be sure to include references from historically accurate sources such as texts, speeches, and periodicals. 

Contest open to Grades 4-12

Judging Divisions: 4-6 // 7-8 // 9-12 Up to 3 entries per division, per site will be accepted

Essay Contest Rules

• Essays must be the original work of the student. It must not have been published previously in any form, including online. Any indication of plagiarism will be grounds for disqualification.
• Essays must clearly address the contest theme and prompt.
• Essays may not be identical to any speech submissions. 
• 4-6th Grades -- up to 750 words
• 7-8th Grades -- up to 1,000 words
• 9-12th Grades -- up to 1,500 words
• Essays should be typed in English with size 12 font and 1” margins and include a works cited page
• Include a cover sheet with student name, grade, and school.  This information will be removed prior to judging to ensure anonymity.
• Students must submit essays by Thursday, November 30th at 11:59PM via Google Form.
• Top three entries from each division will be displayed and recognized at the awards ceremony on the evening of Thursday, January 11th at Clovis Veterans Memorial District.

FRESNO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

• Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, Superintendent
• 1111 Van Ness Avenue
• Fresno, CA 93721

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

• Mission, Vision, History
• MNEA Resolutions
• Executive Officers
• Board of Directors
• Headquarters Staff Directory
• Regional Office Staff Directory
• State Committees
• Local Affiliates
• Teachers & Certified Staff
• Education Support Professionals
• Higher Education Professionals
• MNEA-Retired
• Aspiring Educators Association
• Educators Rising Association
• NEA's Read Across America
• American Education Week
• Education Support Professionals Day
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• School Nurse Day
• Women’s History & Diversity Months
• At the Capitol
• At the State Board of Education
• At PSRS/PEERS
• Beginning Teacher Assistance
• National Board Certification Assistance
• Educators Rising Conference
• Student Loan Forgiveness Workshops
• Retirement Preparation Workshops
• Leadership Training and Rep Assemblies
• Graduate Course Offerings
• Want to be a teacher? Sign up for TeachMO
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Poster Essay Contest
• CHEER Grant
• Tuition Grant
• The NEA Foundation Grants & Global Learning Fellowship
• Cochran Education Major Scholarship
• Educators Rising Scholarship
• Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship
• Jack Kinnaman Scholarship
• Karlovetz-Favero Scholarship
• Public Relations Grant
• Student-Centered Bargaining and Advocacy Grant
• More Grants & Scholarships
• Elections & Candidate Recommendations
• $4 Million Professional Liability
• Legal Advocacy Webinar Series
• Legal Advocacy Flyer Series
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Legal Notices & Articles
• Contact Your UniServ Director
• Collective Bargaining & Organizing
• Attorney Referral Program
• Professional Development & Training
• Certified Staff
• Support Staff
• Start Smart Teacher Handbook
• ESSA Toolkit
• NEA’s School Crisis Guide
• Classroom Tools & Certificates
• Parents & Students
• Earn up to nine graduate credits for $200!
• Earn Micro-Credentials with NEA's Professional Learning Communities
• Earn your degree at Columbia College
• Cell Phone Discounts
• Theme Parks, Entertainment & Sports
• Travel & Dining
• Shopping & Classroom Supplies
• Investing & Retirement
• Group Insurance & AAA
• Identity Theft Protection
• NEA Member Benefits
• My Deals Mobile App
• My Deals Website
• NEA's Complimentary Life Insurance
• Something Better Magazine
• NEA Today Magazine
• In the Loop E-newsletter
• Legislative Update
• MNEA Connects Podcast
• State Board & MACCE Reports
• PSRS/PEERS Board Report
• Salary Research
• Focus MNEA-Retired Newsletter
• The Paraprofessional Connection
• Leaders’ Update
• Missouri NEA Mobile App
• Membership Update
• Take Action: Your Voice Matters
• Become an Education Advocate
• Attend Capitol Action Days
• Contribute to MNEA-PAC
• Contribute to TISPE
• Attend Trainings & Conferences
• Horace Mann Friend of Education Awards
• Leila Medley Quality Local Association Award
• Lorna Bottger Award for Individual Excellence in Political Action
• Membership Pacesetter Awards
• Shirley Cromer Leadership Award
• Soar with the Eagles Award
• Subscribe to Email Listservs
• Timeline for Action, Bylaws, & Forms
• NEA Representative Assembly
• MNEA Representative Assembly (spring)
• MNEA-Retired Business Meetings
• MNEA Summer Leadership
• MNEA Collective Bargaining Conference
• Recorded Leader Trainings
• Membership Materials
• Organizing Campaigns
• Communication Tools - Logos, Websites, Tablecloths & Templates
• MNEA Photos
• Political Toolkits & Guides
• CompTracker
• SurveyMonkey
• SIGN-IN eDUES
• SIGN-IN MNEA
• SIGN-IN NEAMB

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

MLK Celebration Sacramento

Congratulations to the 2022 MLK Essay Contest Winners.

We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 9th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest in conjunction with the MLK Celebration event. The essay contest was created to further engage our youth with Dr. King's legacy, his vision, and leadership that inspired a nation.   High School 1st Place - Lex Truong , Franklin High School (Elk Grove Unified School District) 2nd Place -   Aleeze Ali , Cosumnes Oaks High School (Elk Grove Unified School District) 3rd Place -   Jasmyn James , Capital Christian High School (Private)

Middle School 1st Place - Eddie Torres , California Middle School (Sacramento City Unified School District) 2nd Place -   Kate Hwang , Brookfield School (Private) 3rd Place -  Addie Luong , Folsom Middle School (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)

High School Division Lex Truong , 1st Place High School Division

From the American Revolution to now, Americans have long debated over who to extend the vote to. For me, though, there is no debate. Should only the educated or propertied vote? Or only Whites? Or only citizens? Of course not. Every American deserves the choice to vote. At the 1957 Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom, King delivered a passionate address about the promise of equality set by the three-year-old Brown v. Board decision and African Americans’ right to the ballot. He exhorted:

But even more, all types of conniving methods are still being used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters. The denial of this sacred right is a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic tradition.

Although King’s efforts pressured the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, we Americans still have much work to do. Even in 2020, many states use “conniving methods” to restrict African and Native Americans’ access to voting — imposing voter ID requirements, limiting the availability of polling places, shortening the timeframe of both mail and in-person ballots. While we currently struggle to get Americans to vote, these restrictions will further lower voter turnout. The People can not govern if they are not heard.

The question of who should be able to vote strikes at what it means to be an American. Unlike most other nations, we Americans are bound together not by one race or ethnicity, but by shared belief in the principles of equality and freedom — our “democratic tradition.” Drawn by these American principles, immigrants have come from all over the world to take part in our diverse society. America has not always lived up to its founding principles, but it has created a diverse culture, where differences bind peoples together. To maintain America’s role as the world’s bastion of cultural tolerance, we must extend equal rights and protections to all Americans, especially suffrage. The recent suppression of voting rights is simply un-American. Our nation has long progressed toward an equal future that allows everyone to reach prosperity — and we can not afford to backtrack.

In his speech to Langley High School’s class of 1994, former Justice Antonin Scalia described the three qualities needed to be “the best person you can be” — knowledge, judgement, and character. While not all Americans complete high school or college, every American can have good judgement. We don’t need knowledge to have good judgement, to be able to tell right from wrong, or to be able to vote. In the Early American Republic, the Federalists often granted suffrage to only propertied and educated men. They failed to see it then, but every American has the capacity to make sound decisions for the future of our nation.

We stand on the shoulders of giants who have endeavored to form a Perfect Union, an accepting nation that empowers all to succeed. The recent voter suppression mocks our predecessors and taints the American image of equality. Thus, with good judgement, we should resist these attacks on our democracy. 

Aleeze Ali,  2nd Place, High School Division Diary of a Student

I hear Christmas chimes, ringing bells, as my English teacher reminisces on her father’s death. I tune her out to rest my eyes, behind the harsh glare of my laptop screen. I write a eulogy on Santa Claus and pass the class with flying colors.

We laugh about the Mongols, the plague, and all degrees of murder. My hands fall into a rhythm of their own as I mindlessly jot down the date of Hitler’s death. I pause to survey my room, hidden from the sun and awashed in shades of blue. I am a straight A student. I am surrounded by petty comforts. I am okay.

I am okay when I ignore my chemistry teacher to watch the raid on the Capital. I am okay when I grow more aware of my mirrors. I am okay when I watch a man spark a resurgence of civil rights protests through the cold embrace of death. I am okay when I clutch my phone to my face, my one window to a wider world, to see doctors and nurses in tears, begging to be heard. I am okay when I watch wounds bloom across the bodies of those who scream for true equity. I am okay when I watch policemen and politicians and the nauseating ugliness behind Martin Luther King’s work, still unfinished. And watch, and watch, and watch.

I am okay when I realize we were lied to, history glossed over for easier truths. I am okay when I hear of crowded hospitals turning patients away, of unceremonious deaths and contaminated corpses.

I am okay when we are forced to return as if nothing happened. I’ve evaded morning traffic. I can graph trigonometric equations. I laugh and eat and pretend to see the smiles behind my loved ones’ masks. I ignore the imperfections that stain my grade book. I still earn As.

For I am a student. A United States citizen. A child. And I am okay.

Jasmyn James, 3rd Place High School Division

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I fell into uncertainty during the chaos. I felt discouragement over the loss of my friends, extracurricular activities, and what I thought was a full-bodied educational experience. Aspiring to apply to elite academic institutions, I thought I could never make up for my perceived educational losses. Instead, through persevering through the unpredictability, I emerged with new ideas about the distinction between education and schooling, and what being “educated” means to me. Though always a good student, my educational experience pre-COVID focused on completing assignments and getting the perfect grade with the help of external motivation. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that “the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” This definition is not confined to the walls of the traditional or limited by circumstances. Like everyone else I am required to attend school, where it can be so easy to mindlessly complete tasks to check the boxes, without properly absorbing the information or applying it to my life. School provides me with the ability to obtain a great education, but that is only if I decide to take control of my situation and maximize each opportunity to stretch my limits and take risks. It is through this value of personal investment that I make the greatest strides in achieving my goals. Waking up to attend my daily Zoom classes and complete my assignments, I made the daily decision to apply myself and develop the discipline and internal motivation necessary to get the most out of my assignments. As I adapted to the new rhythm and flexibility of my new school system, I felt gratitude for the free time it provided me. With shorter classes and more individualized assignments, I found myself diving deeper into the material. I looked beyond the standards, searching for the complexity and correlation between my classes and the world around me. I had space to reflect on current events, form new opinions, and independently engage with diverse materials to supplement my educational journey. When I returned to on-campus learning, I had the opportunity to tutor younger students who struggled with the self-regulation that remote learning required. This brings me to the second part of King’s quote: “Intelligence plus character– that is the goal of true education.” To be truly educated, it is not enough to learn something just to keep it to yourself, you must be determined to use what you learn to help others. Armed with my love of learning and compassion, I set out to empower my students to take ownership of their learning. Through tailored tutoring strategies and providing resources for them to use outside of our sessions, I inspired each student to reach beyond their perceived limitations. I helped bring them deeper into each subject while helping them fall in love with creating a practice of individual learning, just as I did.

Middle School Eddie Torres, 1st  Place Middle School Division

“So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind – it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact – I can only submit to the edict of others.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

This quote shows how the limitation and restriction of voting entirely undermines the idea of a democracy. Disregarding the opinions and ideas of certain members of our democracy takes away their freedom of speech and individuality. I find importance in this quote because of its great relevance in the modern day. It highlights what minorities and young voters feel in the midst of today’s complicated mess that voting has become. It has encouraged people who are disfavored to avoid voting entirely. This not only silences important voices in our democracy, but also amplifies the voice of people in power. This worries me because Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of voting rights in a time of extreme segregation, and sadly, these words are just as relevant today.

Fifty seven years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. This act stopped the use of discriminatory methods, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, which greatly restricted minorities from voting. However, after the false accusations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election, new legislation was introduced that once again restricted the voting of minorities and youth.

Georgia has been especially targeted when it comes to these restrictions. This is due to Georgia's uncharacteristic support for Democratic candidates in the 2020 election. For example, identification is now required for any absentee vote, however, student identification is prohibited. This is blatantly directed at students in an attempt to stop them from voting. Georgia has also restricted handing out water to those waiting in voting lines. This outrageous legislation targets African-Americans because long lines are much more common in their communities.

When I first heard about this legislation, I was appalled. It is unthinkable that states are trying to silence minority voices. This is undemocratic, as people in power are going out of their way to silence voices that need to be heard. As someone who will be able to vote in the near future, I feel greatly discouraged by these restrictions. I feel like I do not truly live in a democracy, as states try to silence the opinions of others. It is heartbreaking to see local governments prioritizing the suppression of minorities over the expression of their opinions. We need to pressure our government leaders into making it easier to vote as opposed to making it harder. We should also educate others on the insane legislation that restricts voting, so that more people are aware of what some states are trying to do, suppressing the voice of American citizens.

Kate Hwang, 2nd Place Middle School Division President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, outlawed slavery; however, enforcement of the Proclamation took a slow, painful pace to reach the slaves of Texas, the most remote state of the former Confederacy. Only two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, on June 19, 1865, did the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union General Gordon Granger, finally end institutional slavery in one of the last unfree states. That day became the recently federally recognized holiday of Juneteenth. However, just as the abolishment of slavery didn’t preclude Jim Crowe laws and segregation, recognition of Juneteenth does not end the racial injustices that persist in our society.

The world today is different from 1865, but not different enough. It takes nanoseconds for information and proclamations to be transmitted online across the world, yet some of us still believe African Americans are an inferior race. We know institutional slavery has ended, yet even I, a 12-year-old girl in Sacramento, California, understand that institutional racism still thrives.

But – you may ask – how can I, a third-generation Chinese American girl, understand the significance of Juneteenth? The answer is I can’t, at least not anywhere close to the depths of my African American friends, and even less so to the depths felt by their ancestors. However, I am beginning to understand that racism may not just be personal prejudice but rather is entrenched in how this country governs and disciplines. Patterns of discrimination that occurred in the 1800s continue today. Racism is woven into our criminal system (George Floyd), our educational system (the disproportionate disciplining of black students), and our health care system (uneven access to vaccines and PPE). I am beginning to understand that our choices today, even without intending to be racist, can fuel racism. But, I need the help of my teachers and community leaders for me to view racism with a wide-angle lens.

“100 years later, the negro still, is not free” As Dr. King delivered his powerful speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he praised Lincoln for freeing slaves from their bonds, but described how the African Americans were still not free, as they still faced segregation in America.

Fifty-nine years after Dr. King proclaimed those words, the negro still, is not free. The injustices of our criminal justice system and educational policy are only two of the legacies of slavery that persist. What can we do that has not already been done in the last fifty-nine years? We can implement tools in education to teach children about the persistence of segregation and racism, how it negatively affects our lives now, and what we must change to end it.

The world hasn’t yet learned how to accept everyone. We are only halfway down the path, but with the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, we are one step closer to the end of the hike.

Addison Luong, 3rd  Place Middle School Division

I have never been one to not enjoy school. Life at home and life at school were separate for me. My life at home was more accurately described as my life in homes. My family was always moving; our life was constantly changing. Au contraire, the schedule and structure of school gave me something to count on. But remote learning for two school years showed me the flaws of the schedule and structure I love, and taught me to appreciate my (pretty crazy) life at home.

School during the COVID-19 pandemic was far from schedule and structure.While there was a set time for virtual classes on Zoom, there were no longer bustling hallways, leading to a classroom. Instead, the upper half of my body glitched behind a black frame with my name on a screen. This new structure gave me more freedom than I ever had, and before I even realized it, my “school life” merged with my “home life.”

Every day, I am no longer exhausted from a day of hard work and play, but from staring at a screen. I wake up early only to huff and puff at technical difficulties of getting on to my first virtual meeting and sit through every class afterward. A day of distanced learning is not complete until I want to throw my computer out the window.While the majority of my classmates did not engage in classes, I did. Only, I was becoming too much like the computer I sat in front of every day. I felt like I was a robot programmed to get As; to think and do whatever it took to get an A. But my memory card was wiped at the end of the school year.

Education stretches beyond the four walls of a classroom — its impact on students wavers. Our different learning environments foster growth in other areas aside from typical school subjects. I, for one, discovered new subject matters that spurred my passions.

So out of 24 hours, I spent three 335 uneventful minutes in a trance and I had freedom otherwise — to do whatever I wanted. And that’s what I did. In between classes and during lunch break, I discovered my hobbies and my passions.

While a school year during the COVID-19 pandemic took away so much from so many students, it gave me something I would have never found if I did not sit through hours of virtual classes each day. Education should not be forcing students to be robots to produce As. Education should disregard As and show students a world of building robots or flying planes, snapping photos, or leading organizations. Education should open students’ eyes to see the stars, but let the students connect them into constellations.

Distanced learning added a few constellations to my sky, but I am only just getting started. I have a whole universe I have yet to discover, and make my own.

Essay Contest Sponsored By

With support from Alcalay Communications and The Sacramento County Office of Education

'We didn't come this far, to only come this far': Martin Luther King Jr. Student Essay Contest winners share visions for peace

In yet another year marked by loss, disease and violence, Milwaukee's youth picked up their pens to share their hope for change and peace in their city, and their ideas for the future.

This year marks the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay contest, which began in 1981 as a way to celebrate, remember and continue King's legacy. The essay contest is sponsored by the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (Journal Sentinel reporter Devi Shastri was the final round judge for the grade 9 and 10 competition.)

This year's theme is "Working Toward a World of Peace," and is inspired by King's 1966 essay titled "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom."

"There is no easy way to create a world where men and women can live together, where each has his own job and home and where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb ... It will be done by rejecting racism, materialism and violence ... and especially by working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation and peace," King wrote.

Peace is like an unsolved puzzle, wrote fifth grader Mahogany Hill, of Samuel Clemens Elementary, who won first place in her grade category. We each hold the missing pieces ― of peace, love and collaboration ― that are needed to complete the image, Hill explained.

"When we assemble our pieces, we will be closer to having the peace that Dr. King wanted for us all," Hill wrote. "We didn’t come this far, to only come this far! Dr. King reminds us that completing our puzzle will not be easy, but he tells us to pick up our pieces with courage.  Every piece, big and small, is needed.  Our puzzle for world peace is waiting for your piece!"

More: A year into pandemic, Milwaukee students apply MLK's words to their lives now in speeches recorded on video

This year's honorees wrote of many issues that affect their communities, including reckless driving, gun violence, racism and bullying on social media. They also presented their thoughts for what must change, and pledged to do their part to help their community.

"Throughout Milwaukee's history, peace has been nebulous. Racism and violence have increased, making overall crime skyrocket, which puts up a line of segregation: an enemy of King's dream. In Milwaukee, one cannot turn the news on without hearing about someone that was shot or killed," wrote Riverside University High School senior Darius Solomon, who took second in his grade category. "With all that is happening in the city, there is no surprise that some believe peace is a non-obtainable phenomenon."

"Despite the disorder, the light of peace is displayed by those who contribute to their community," he wrote. "Their efforts are recognized and commended by the Milwaukeean people. These are the people who have hope — people who change the lives of others for a better city — for better peace."

Read all of the first, second and third place winners' essays here.

Jump to: Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grade 6 | Grades 7-8 | Grades 9-10 | Grades 11-12

First place: Khyei Thang, third grade, Kluge Elementary

Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of people living in a world of peace. To me, a world of peace has kindness and people respecting each other. There would be no more violence, and people would get along with everyone. In a world of peace people would speak kindly to each other and try to help each other. In a peaceful world there is teamwork, trustworthiness and acceptance.

Dr. King said, "It is always the right time to do what is right." Working toward a world of peace is the right thing to do for all of us. It starts with you and me, and it needs to start right now. What does a world of peace look like to you?

Second place: Lizmarie Soto, third grade, Kluge Elementary

I want a world peace because I want everyone to be safe. I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that you can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream. This means you can kill a person, but you can’t kill their dream. This relates to world peace because even though Dr. King died fighting for peace and justice for everyone, people are still dreaming and fighting for world peace like me.

I believe to have peace we have to stop people from being abused. People are hurting others in many ways like being violent towards them like assaults, school invasions, shootings, and war.

To have peace, I will write a letter to the presidents of the world to help stop abuse, violence, and wars toward people. Especially to stop school invasions and school shootings. To fight for peace in my community I will put up flyers that say Stop the Violence! so people know that we have a problem. Everyone in the world should be safe.

Third place: Brielle Denson, third grade, Trowbridge School of Great Lake Studies

Martin Luther King Jr. worked very hard toward equal rights for all people and to make sure we all lived in a world of peace.

He was a great man that helped change the laws so that all colors of people were treated the same. Back in the day black people weren’t allowed to use certain water fountains, eat in certain restaurants or sit in certain spots on a bus. He made sure people heard his voice which made other people join his mission in world peace and equality.

I want to be just like Martin Luther King Jr. because I want to make the community I live in better. Sometimes in my classroom I notice kids not being so nice to each other. I jump in sometimes and talk to them about coming up with better solutions.  I remind students to stop, count to ten and freshen their mind up so they don’t hurt their friends feelings. 

In my neighborhood I notice a lot of crazy fast cars that cause us a lot of anxiety. I’m only allowed outside with an adult because my mom is scared of the way people drive. I would like to rally for more speed bumps or for something to be done about the fast hill by my home.  My hopes are that people drive more peacefully and care about each other.

I hope someday I make a difference by spreading peace and kindness like Martin Luther King Jr.

First place: Mahogany Hill, fifth grade, Samuel Clemens Elementary

Have you ever put a puzzle together?  It feels good when all of the pieces fit together and the puzzle is complete.  However, when pieces are missing, we feel disappointed.  This is what is happening in our world today.  We have the ability to create the world that Dr. King sacrificed his life for.  We have the power to make his dream a reality, but the puzzle pieces that we need to make this happen are missing!

We need your puzzle pieces marked “peace”.  We need to get rid of violence of any kind.  We must fight for stronger laws against reckless driving which is causing violence in our streets.  We need to stop spending so much money to fight wars and make weapons which kill people.  We must not allow people to use their hate filled words to cause violence against each other.

We need your puzzle pieces marked “love”.  It must never be acceptable to live in a world where it is alright to hate or separate anyone because of the color of their skin.  It is never alright to hate someone because they are different from us.  If love is equally distributed to everyone, peace can be shared.  Empathy, acceptance, being the bigger person, and respecting each other are ways that we love each other.

We need your puzzle pieces marked “collaboration”.  We will live in a more peaceful world, when we start talking and brainstorming together.  We can’t ignore each other because we don’t agree.  We must understand why we disagree and find ways to work together for everyone’s good!  

I challenge each person to find their missing  puzzle pieces.  When we assemble our pieces, we will be closer to having the peace that Dr. King wanted for us all.  We didn’t come this far, to only come this far!  Dr. King reminds us that completing our puzzle will not be easy, but he tells us to pick up our pieces with courage.  Every piece, big and small, is needed.  Our puzzle for world peace is waiting for your piece!

Second place: Leigha Stewart, fifth grade, Samuel Clemens Elementary

Dr. King dedicated his life to walking a road of peace and non-violence.  In his speech entitled “Nonviolence: the Only Road to Freedom” he said that true and lasting world peace will happen only when we dedicate ourselves to walking this road!  However, it seems that we have lost our way and have been stuck on the wrong road. 

There are so many people who believe that peace is impossible.  People argue, fight, and disagree.  They make and use weapons which make people doubt peace.  That doubt affects other people’s thoughts and actions.  They become so blinded that they never can understand what peace can really be!

I choose to walk the road to peace where everyone unites in harmony.  It is the road where we walk together and engage in helping each other, instead of hurting each other.  It is the road where we accept each other for who we are, instead of passing judgements because we do not understand each other.  It is the road filled with the sounds of our voices, not making fun of people who are different, but supporting and building each other up! 

Let us walk the road of understanding, where we don’t build racist walls to separate and keep each other out.   Let us choose the road where people collaborate to get rid of guns, end war, and violence so that children can play and be free, instead of hiding in bunkers or their houses because it’s too dangerous.  Let us march united for equal rights for women and protest laws which tell women what to do with their bodies.  Let’s join our voices with the Mahsa Aminis of the world who protest against governments who control what women can wear.  Let us march for girls’ right to go to school so they don’t have to be afraid anymore. 

When love, empathy, and justice overcome the world, we will have the peace that Dr. King dreamt of.  Now is the time to walk united, so that the road we take, is one that we can all live with!

Third place: Isaiah Price, fifth grade, Samuel Clemens Elementary

I am going to teach you all how we can work toward a world of peace. Let's go over the learning goals. Goal number one, we will learn how to promote equality, and goal number two we will learn how to show kindness and compassion. Dr. King stated that “True peace is not merely the Absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” That means we need to work towards a world of peace and be brave and have the energy to make things happen.

Goal number one is promoting equality. How can we do that? Well, one thing I know is that we all have a voice and I know that we all can speak. I am a black intelligent male. I am tired of walking out of my house feeling that I am not worthy of being trusted in society because I am a black male. There are some black males who don’t make good decisions, but it’s not everybody making these types of choices. I am no thief or murderer. I am a black intelligent male who is working toward making a world of peace.

Goal number two is to show kindness and compassion. How much energy would it take for people to be kind to one another? A kinder person means a kinder world. I remember walking out of pick-n-save with my mom. I saw this lady and her hands were filled with groceries. I held the door for her. She was very thankful, but also surprised that I helped her. Why are people surprised when someone reaches out and helps someone? Our world has gotten so dreadful that when people help someone they are shocked. Let's all be kind and more compassionate.

Dr. King stated that “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream”. So your homework assignments starting tonight are to help people who are in need and start speaking out against inequality. If we all can do this we all will get an A plus on working towards a world of peace!

First place: Harper Edmonds, Milwaukee Parkside School

Our world is beautiful, and unique just like all living things that inhabit it. So many beautiful people, with big hearts, help people in need, or help people that aren’t treated right. Dr. Martin Luther King was one of those people that have big hearts, and do all that they can to help so many people. He has moved the world in so many ways. His ‘I Have A Dream’ speech has caused thousands of people with darker complexions to be treated normal, and not like they are less than anyone else.

Although, past the beauty, the way humans act toward each other, makes our world also full of hate. Though the world is that way, there is a flower of goodness in every human, and in our Earth. With every person doing even one kind act a day, our world’s flower, and the flower inside of us can bloom, and can make the world much better.

I have seen so much hate whether or not it is face to face, or online. I see kids trying to express creativity by making videos. Yet people still make fun of them, and If someone they know saw that, they could get bullied. That is not and never will be okay. Like Dr. Martin Luther King had said in his I Have A Dream speech, “ We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. “

Send love to people. Make them feel good about themselves. Even saying one kind thing about their outfit can make them feel good. If you disagree with someone, that’s okay. But you should not say mean things to them or call them names. That’s going too far.

We need to work towards a non-violent and peaceful way of living. Because in a lot of places, it is not safe to walk alone at night, but we should be able to do what we want and not have to worry. We shouldn’t have to watch what we say because if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person, bad things could happen to you.

Our flower of love, kindness, and peace can bloom. Our world has the ability to be peaceful. If you get angry, try removing yourself to prevent you hurting yourself, or someone else. Even you have the power to help it. If every person does even one kind act a day, our world’s flower, and the flower inside of us can bloom, and can make the world so much better.

Second place: Milan Hardrick, Milwaukee Parkside School

Working towards a world of peace, what does that mean? It means that little boys and girls won't be treated differently because their skin is a little darker than others. It means that society should stop treating people differently because they look different. It's ridiculous to treat people differently for something they can't control. You can't choose if you want to be black or white. You just have to accept it.

One of those ways to achieve peace and equality is to give every single person on this planet the same human rights. No matter their skin color. Even if we all don't look the same, that does not give people a single right to discriminate against others that look different than them. We are all humans so why can't we treat everyone the same? We all have to work together as one race of humans to overcome all the challenges in life. One of the first steps is to equally treat people the same way.

When I say give people the same human rights I don't mean physically fighting people to get them. It's really frustrating to see others being treated better than you all because their skin is lighter. But we can’t be punching people. We have to find a more peaceful way to handle racism. Thankfully many people have already found a more peaceful way to handle racial inequality or just human inequality in general.

For example Mahatma Gandhi. Martin Luther King Jr. Fredrick Douglas. Nelson Mandela. Rosa Parks and so many more. We need to be like these people and fight any problems we have with peace. Their ways have changed the world but not every part of the world has changed to accept everyone. Maybe you can follow in their footsteps and help change the world so that everyone can find peace.

Third place: Christian Wilder, Independent Entry

"The Richer We Have Become Materially, The Poor We Become Morally And Spiritually. We Have Learned To Fly In The Air Like Birds And Swim In The Sea Like Fish, But We Have Not Learned The Simple Art Of Living Together As Brothers". As a young black male, I'm up against an era where balloons tied to a tree and large groups gathered with candles to remember loved ones lost due to gun violence is considered normal for me especially when my mom is driving me to school or extracurricular events. Every balloon, tear and person represents a bandage, we're covering up each incident without applying any ointment to fully heal! How do we bring peace when we have become immune to the pain?

My city might have flaws but as a 6th grader I have a plan to make my city Milwaukee and the world a better place. It won't happen overnight but it will happen. Therapy is looked upon as "crazy" in my generation but if it was talked about back in the day peace wouldn't be so hard to find. Having a safe place to go or a person to speak to will eliminate bottled up anger. Anger leads to unnecessary acts that may involve violence. Therapy will help with finding peace within so when we encounter others it will be demonstrated.

"The Internet Made Me Do It" is a prime example of why social media should be decreased throughout homes around the world. Most violence is provoked through a status, message or cyberbullying. Social media should display positive stories to increase peace outside homes. I'm not saying eliminate tik toks but let's post more love and decrease the time we're online as well. If we stay online long enough, we start to believe that negative things that are being posted bring us peace but it does not.

I will continue to stay active in my community to be able to put myself in a position as an adult to help change laws that will bring peace to neighborhoods. I will maintain good grades to be accepted into schools that will help me change the world. "It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence". I EXIST and definitely will be apart of the change the world will seek to bring peace!

First place: Syria Winston-Robertson, eighth grade, Hi-Mount Community School

We can bring this world to peace by standing for social justice, showing kindness and compassion, and by being a world citizen.

To make this world more peaceful instead of hateful, judgeful and with all this violence we have to smile at people no matter whether they are indifferent, angry, or unhappy. We must forgive people and take them as they are. We have to respect every living thing, and never support violence.

We live in turbulent times, and sometimes it feels like peace is a distant concept that will only occur when we are no longer around to experience it. But when you look at the big picture, it becomes clear that peace has been achieved in the past and can be achieved again. To work toward peace, we (alone) have more power than we would like to believe. 

We All Have a Responsibility When It Comes to Creating a Better World

We always say that other people did this or that, but we are never responsible for what happens to ourselves. We must take responsibility for our own actions, and make choices that help bring about peace.

If we can change our attitudes, I think a lot of things will change. By influencing others around us, we can change the way people think about war and how they can help keep the peace. You do not have to be famous or rich to influence others, all you need is an idea and a strong desire to share it with those around you. Peace education enables people to make informed choices and determine their own path in life.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." He also said that peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold. We should keep these ideals in mind as we work for peace in our families, schools, and communities.

We can promote peace in our homes, by treating everyone with respect and kindness, even when they are angry or upset. We can even promote peace online or through social media by always staying positive and not talking about others.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say ‘We must not wage war.’ It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace.”

Second place: Kaleigha Weber, seventh grade, Milwaukee School of Languages

I think we could be working harder for peace.Because we have not reached peace, have we? People are working hard for it, but no one else really cares.Peace is in some places, yes, but not everywhere. But peace is not something that stays. Peace is a feeling, which comes and goes. Peace can go to anger, and frustration in seconds.But, I think that peace will come to us one day.Peace is not inevitable, but it will come. When I think of peace, I think of a pretty forest.In that forest, the only noise is the birds chirping.For others, peace is not hearing gunshots every hour.For others, peace is not hearing parents arguing.For others, peace is no bombs falling on your city.Peace is different for many people. But it all happens to everyone differently. It comes and goes, and for some people, it stays. For others, it’s on and off. One day it’s here, the next it’s not.And sometimes… it never comes.But I think if we keep working towards it, keep spreading peace,For those people who never have it, they will. But sometimes peace is scary.Sometimes, you’ll hear loud noises, scary noises.But then, it all gets quiet. It's peaceful. No noise.Yet for some reason, it makes you more scared.Either that, or you don't even feel better. Some people pass away with peace. Others... do not. I hope we do reach peace in life. Towards a world where everyone can be with peace.But maybe we’ll never get there.Maybe we’ll be stuck in the endless loop where no one can have peace.Maybe, it’ll get worse, maybe there will be no peace, ever.But, if we do work our hardest for it, I believe we will get that peace.The peace that everyone is happy with, and can live with.That is what working towards a world of peace means to me.

Third place: Lilyana Sanders, eighth grade, Manitoba School

Dr. King once said “The time is always right to do what is right.” We all want peace. But some of us won't act to do so. I will not be one of those people. I will work towards a world of peace by Picking up trash in my neighborhood, helping my mom with things she needs, and trying my best to focus in school.

In my community I will help pick up trash. What I would do to help is by walking around my neighborhood to see if there is trash. And if there is I would pick it up and throw it in the trash or in the recycling if it needs to be recycled. This would affect me, my community and the earth. I would get more exercise, the neighborhood would be cleaner and the earth would be a little less polluted. Hopefully by doing this I will lead by example and other people will do it.

In my Home I will help my mom with things she needs. For example if she needs me to help her clean my grandpa's house I will do it no matter how much I don't want to do it. This would affect my mom for the most part. By doing this I could reduce her stress just a bit.

In my school I would try my best to focus in school. I would try to do little tips and tricks and not focus on other things like movies I have already watched.  This would affect me and my parents. By doing this I would have better grades, be able to go have a good job and my parents would not have to be worried about me too much.  

By doing these acts I hope that I can lead a better future and once I am an adult I can do more.  I can do more for myself and others. Sometimes people need a little help and I want to be the one who helps them. Just like Dr. King said “We have before us the glorious opportunity to inject a new dimension of love into the veins of our civilization.”

Grades 9-10

First place: taliyah grant, ninth grade, riverside university high school.

In order for Milwaukee and the world to be a more peaceful place, we need to use our resources and motivate and encourage the children. In the same way that I look up to leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I have little cousins who look up to me, and I want to build a future for them where they are safe. One issue I see as impacting the safety and peace of the youth is the massive amount of abandoned, run-down spaces, not only around Milwaukee, but in communities of color around the US. I think we can use these abandoned buildings like houses, empty parks, and open fields, and put them to use by making them into beneficial places. Make them into group homes, shelters, foster homes, & community centers. For example, a lot of kids in Milwaukee steal cars. And I feel like if they actually find something similar to stealing cars like robotics, that would be the start of change. If adults gave young people more activities they enjoy, instead of the same couple of things. They would be involved more.

In addition to needing safe spaces, kids need role models. When kids don’t have people at home that keep them motivated or encourage them to do good, they’re not going to do good. This is because if they're not getting told right from wrong or that they shouldn’t be doing something, they're going to continue to do it. They’re not going to care that what they are doing is not right, if the adult is not doing the same. To add on, parents are not always to blame. Some kids act up so much that the adult is tired and just gives up because they don't listen. I know a handful of parents who actually did care once but the children continued to act up, so they stopped trying. By providing things and activities they enjoy doing and role models to support them, it can keep young people from doing the bad things.

Dr. King said that a peaceful world is one, “where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb.” This is important to me because I also believe all kids should get an education but, there's so much going on in the world it's making kids not care about their education as much. Some schools that are free or that are in the neighborhood aren't always the best school for the child. Especially, when they already live in a bad neighborhood or community. In my opinion, the community & environment can affect the way a child learns. Nine times outta, most of the time positive learning environments will make the child feel more comfortable, engaged & motivated. You can’t just expect change, you have to be the change.

Second place: Auggie Hoffman, tenth grade, Riverside University High School

Peace sometimes seems unattainable in this violent world, but as Vincent Van Gogh said, “There is even peace in the storm.” What does peace mean to me? Peace means that there are no hate crimes and/or discriminatory violence. Laws being made against LGBTQ individuals and discrimination against black people both in law and socially causes unrest among the people. Gun violence and police brutality towards protesters is a result of prejudice. Innocent black people would not be killed by white police if they weren’t racist. The government wouldn’t try to silence protesters if they weren’t trying to keep discriminatory laws and policies in place. So in conclusion, hate crimes and discriminatory violence keeps us from being peaceful, if we all just accept one another and get over our prejudices, our country and the world will be a safer place.

Do I live in a peaceful city? No, I don’t believe I do. With gun violence, gangs like the Kia boys, theft, and large amounts of poverty. Even in school we are not safe, with there being a shooting near our school last year and a kid showing off a gun on campus earlier this school year. Car theft is a huge issue and reckless driving causes many car accidents, sometimes causing deaths. Many people are poor and it's almost impossible for minorities to get out of that situation. Living in dangerous areas and people living on the streets because of our stingy economy. Last year an adult came up to me and my friends begging for money for food, and there are people begging children for drug money. Milwaukee is not a peaceful place with segregation, violence, and discrimination plagueing our city.

What needs to change to make Milwaukee a more peaceful city? Milwaukee needs stricter gun laws, traffic re-enforcement, more funding for public schools, and unification. Gun violence will go way down if who can own a gun is strictly regulated, with assault rifles completely banned, we don’t need weapons that are only used to hurt each other. If there is more traffic reinforcement, unsafe drivers will be taken off the roads, reducing car accidents. This will also help stop car theft and hopefully the kia boys. If school is reconstructed to the needs of the kids instead of to produce factory workers. If we put more money into the system we can pay teachers liveable wages and make a positive environment for children to learn. If people want to be in school and are exposed to different kinds of people and are educated, they will be less likely to engage in violence and discrimination. If the city becomes less segregated, then different ethnic backgrounds and races will learn to accept and love one another. This will lead to less hate crimes and discriminatory violence from police and citizens. These things will help Milwaukee become a more peaceful and beautiful city. When people accept one another, and don’t hurt each other, this city will be a much better place.

Third place: Donavan Coleman, tenth grade, Riverside University High School

What is peace to you? Peace to me is when you can sit down on a towel on the beach drinking pink lemonade looking at the sea hearing the waves crash with each other. We can create peace by stopping car thefts and larceny in Milwaukee. We also can help create peace by giving them motivation to do something instead of fit in (do trends).

Have you ever seen any problems in your community? One of the serious problems I see in our community are the “Kia Boys.” “Kia Boys” are one of the most known problems in Milwaukee. The “Kia Boys'' are known for taking your car or taking parts from your car and even selling them. When the “Kia Boys” take your car they increase the deaths that can be devastating to family members. That behavior can be stopped if we put children that have an inspiration with cars so that they can become engineers, NASCAR drivers, and maybe mechanics. We can also influence the other kids to play sports like basketball, football, soccer, or golf. Sports would keep them out of trouble, and the GPA needed would allow them to have acceptable grades so they can do something productive. We also can take that behavior away by taking away social media. Social media can create a lot of habits like procrastinating and trying to fit in “joining the trend.” This is another way we can stop car thefts and larceny in Milwaukee.

Has there ever been a time where you’ve seen violence around your area? Maybe you’ve seen people arguing. Maybe you’ve seen violence on television. I have a way to hypothetically stop violence. I would take them to better environments, give them better teachers and better schools. Almost like giving them a reason to go to school. We could also give the students some type of competition like games so that students are getting the education they need but aren’t making bad choices. Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, “where all children receive as much education their minds can absorb.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “There is no easy way to create a world where men and women can live together, where each has his own job and home and where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb….It will be done by rejecting racism, materialism and violence …and especially by working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation and peace.”

Milwaukee can learn a lot from Martin Luther King's words by creating neighborhoods with parks, so that people have a safer environment. Milwaukee can create more gyms to give people things to do. Also parents in Milwaukee should care more or have better security protocols like cameras so they know where their children are. Or parents can utilize “life 360” to access their children's locations so then they have no reason to be playing around (or being irresponsible). This is what Milwaukee should do to help Milwaukee become safer.

Grades 11-12

First place: tatiyana dockery, eleventh grade, riverside university high school.

Every morning when I wake up, I am reminded of how certain people don't think positively about Black people and how this impacts me personally as a person of color. P.E.A.C.E.: Why can't we just have a world like this, where everyone can coexist peacefully? In his essay "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom," Martin Luther King addresses this issue by outlining how we must cooperate to achieve peace and freedom. Martin Luther King once said that “We must come to see that at the end we seek a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience,” meaning that we need to be concerned about the problems or injustices of society or simply just care about those who are less fortunate by being them peace.

My peace is a world in which people appreciate me for who I am as a person, regardless of race. I am a person of color, though, and I do not fit into any of the categories mentioned; instead, I am a quiet young woman who sincerely values education and aspires to attend college to become a doctor. I'm a Black young lady who enjoys staying in binge-watching K dramas while covered in blankets. I'm a Black woman who despises violence and strives to live a peaceful life. I am a young Black woman, and I have never hit anyone but my siblings. My serenity comes from not being terrified or uncomfortable about going into a predominantly white store without someone suspecting me of stealing something. My peace is a world in which we may all come together and be equal without regard for skin color.

I've never hated someone in my life, let alone a different race that I'd never met. However, when it comes to Black people, some claim to despise us. Why is that? Why do some people harbor such intense hatred for others they have never attempted to understand instead basing their opinions only on what others have said? I am aware that some people of color exhibit all the characteristics I listed in the paragraph above, but that does not justify comparing one black person to another. Without worrying about skin tone, everyone should get to know one another.

Racism is one wrongdoing in society, and it will still exist in 2022. Given that slavery was abolished over 155 years ago, why do people of color still have to endure hearing racist slurs and experiencing prejudice based on our skin tone and outer appearances? The civil rights movement for which Martin Luther King Jr. fought so tenaciously is gradually crumbling. Instead of going back to the past, we ought to be moving forward and uniting as one. I used to wonder how racism was in the past, but right now I am literally witnessing how the past keeps resurfacing. Will there ever be a civilization where we can overcome racism? We are only able to put the broken pieces of the world back together with P.E.A.C.E. All we require for cooperation and unity is P.E.A.C.E. Therefore, if everyone could just find peace in the world, perhaps we could all come together.

Second place: Darius Solomon, twelfth grade, Riverside University High School

Peace is a never-ending battle for the soul of the world, a fight fought by all of us, whether we know it or not. To me, peace is the harmonization of everyone and everything, a state of self-consciousness in which uncontrollable factors, like our skin tone, gender, and ethnicity, are not judged, ridiculed, and questioned. It is the path to a future of tranquility– a path to a better world of potential prosperity and righteousness– the walk we as individuals need to endure if we ever want to achieve world peace.

Dr. King challenged us to reject “racism, materialism, and violence” as they are obstacles to this peace. Some of us attempt to avoid such matters, but others are devoid of the same vision, especially in Milwaukee. Throughout Milwaukee's history, peace has been nebulous. Racism and violence have increased, making overall crime skyrocket, which puts up a line of segregation: an enemy of King's dream. In Milwaukee, one cannot turn the news on without hearing about someone that was shot or killed. With all that is happening in the city, there is no surprise that some believe peace is a non-obtainable phenomenon. Despite the disorder, the light of peace is displayed by those who contribute to their community. Their efforts are recognized and commended by the Milwaukeean people. These are the people who have hope– people who change the lives of others for a better city– for better peace.

Milwaukee needs a series of changes to achieve true peace; that change begins with its citizens. For instance, our view of objects of our desires needs to stop being our focus and driving force — the "materialism" Dr. King wanted us to reject because it enables us to segregate our needs from our wants — an ailment of peace. Materialism is often mistakenly associated with people and communities of color. However, when you peel back the layers of that stereotype, you can attribute it to the fact that the white population has the highest distribution of our country's wealth. These privileges leave those who aren't economically privileged white folks to feel there is no avenue to social wealth or material gain. Therefore, here in Milwaukee, stealing seems to be the only method of getting what they want. These stereotypes are why those with racist, sexist, and homophobic views should evaluate why they have those views. It allows another line of segregation to occur, which authorizes countless battles or protests to fight, and once again disrupts the mending peace of the city.

Those views do not contribute to peace, especially the ongoing issue of racism. Racism does not provide any comfort to someone of color. Day-to-day, we experience microaggressions, stereotypes, or blatant racism, which is unwanted in a world of peace. It does no good for us and gives us fewer opportunities than someone white. If everyone in the city and country is willing to cooperate more, we can diminish such views over time, as many of us have already been doing in the current era. In these efforts, we will achieve a peace that will be desirable to everyone, no matter their color, sexuality, or sex. Ultimately, this is the goal Dr. King had strived for; as King had expressed, "it will be done… by minorities and white people of goodwill ."

Third place: Jennifer Adongo, twelfth grade, Bay View High School

"World peace," alternatively referred to as "peace on Earth," is the idealized position of unity, equality, and tranquility between and among all individuals and nations on the entire planet. The definitive objective of world peace would be to remove discrimination to a considerable extent. Although actions have been taken to reduce bias, it will require a significant shift in society today to capture the full scope of Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision.

Making as many volunteers as possible is my current vision in order to bring about world peace. Volunteering in the community aids in resolving various issues that aren't addressed by governmental and cultural institutions. Since teens are the time of day and they would receive the mark from day, talking about volunteering with teens should be the start of a better life. In various nations around the world, schools have made it a requirement for students to graduate from the 12th grade that they complete a certain number of hours of community service. Volunteerism may have long-lasting effects on not just the people who get assistance, but it will also enhance individual volunteering. Volunteering is the only way certain groups can accomplish their goals. Volunteers are significantly more likely to retain their lives by giving time to improve because they are helping those who will not better themselves. Regardless of how significant the effort is, volunteering has an impact on some people's lives.

Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of using nonviolent protest to bring about world peace; mine is not exactly the same as his, though it is nonviolent. Nonviolence can be practiced individually as a way of life or collectively as a means of resolving conflict and creating a peaceful society. Practitioners of non-violence employ a variety of effective techniques in their quest for cultural transformation. They have tried to bring about cultural change through messages to administrations, nonviolent resistance, nonviolent protest, and communication through the media. "Nonviolence offers the only way to freedom for my people," says Martin Luther King in "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom."

In order to redistribute power in society, nonviolent campaigns also include a wide range of creative protest tactics as well as extensive non-cooperation and nonviolent interventions. With this desire or even with these words, Dr. King did not waver. He went out of his way to find a solution. He was actively involved in the fight for racial equality before he celebrated. In "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom," Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "This is a time for action." "What is needed is a strategy for change." After giving his talk, he wrote books, spoke with religious and political figures, and continued to strive for justice. Martin Luther King writes in "Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom," "The road to freedom is a difficult, hard road; it always makes for temporary setbacks." The desire does not alter the efforts. Continue to be magnanimous by taking action to finish this last account on a certain topic. It can entail creating prayer groups, reaching out to individuals in this manner, or locating an organization already engaged in the endeavor you have chosen to undertake.

STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

The Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday Committee of Washington, DC in partnership with the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute Alumni Association and our Community Partners have joined together to sponsor The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Essay Contest.

Presented by: Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute Alumni Association

View essay contest rules and submission instructions below before getting started. ALL students must UPLOAD their essays via a .WORD DOC or a .PDF

Essay Topic

“ Bending Toward Truth and Justice “

Elementary School Essay Prompt:

Identify two problems in your neighborhood or community and what would you do to solve those problems.

Middle School and High School Essay Prompt

What solutions would you offer to bring peace to our city? What would be the role of young people in your solutions?

Word Requirements:

Elementary 4th-5th  |  250-500 words Middle  6th-8th  |  500-700 words High School 9th-12th  |  700-1,000 words

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 at 11:00 PM

 Email Questions and Concerns ONLY to: [email protected]

ESSAY WRITING SUPPORT!

The 5 Step Essay Writing Process That Will Help You Write Better Papers

• Step 1: Determine your purpose for writing the paper. …
• Step 2: Write down everything and anything about your topic. …
• Step 3: Organize your thoughts. …
• Step 4: Start writing, then take a step back. …
• Step 5: Grade your own paper.

Essay Topic Support Videos & Essay Writing Assistance Links

• High School Writing Link – https://form.jotform.com/MYLIAA/2024-mlk-jr-dc-essay-contest—HS
• Middle School Writing Link – https://form.jotform.com/MYLIAA/2024-mlk-jr-dc-essay-contest—MS
• Elementary School Writing Link – https://form.jotform.com/MYLIAA/2024-mlk-jr-dc-essay-contest—elem

Essay Contest Rules and Submission Instructions

Contestants must be a DC Resident and a student attending a Public School, Charter School or Private/Parochial School.

  Essay Contest word count submissions for each contestant group will be:

• Elementary School Students Grades 4 and 5 a minimum of 250 and a maximum of 500 words
• Middle School Students Grades 6, 7 and 8 a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 700 words
• High School Students Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 a minimum of 700 and a maximum of 1,000 words
• Submissions must be original work that has been produced or created by the contestant.
• We ask that all contestants include their name, school, grade and e-mail address (if you have one) with your essay submission.
• All essay contest winners will be requested to provide a short biography and a picture that could be published with your essay in local newspapers, on the internet on the DC MLK, Mayor’s Youth Leadership Alumni Association and some of our partnering organizations websites, publications, and television shows. Winning contestants will be required to sign a Media Release Form. Contest Winners that are 17 years and younger must have the parent/guardian(s) sign the Media Release Form.
• All essay submissions must be received by December 16, 2023 , 11:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
• Contestants can submit only one essay entry.
• Submissions must be relevant to the essay topic as mentioned above. Essays will be judged upon their clarity, relevance to the topic submitted, organization, sentence structure, grammar, mechanics and spelling.
• Contest finalists will be notified by email.
• Contest winners will be announced.
• Contest winners schools will be notified as well.
• 1st Place Elementary, Middle School, High School Divisions -$300 dollars
• 2nd Place Elementary, Middle School, High School Divisions -$200 dollars
• 3rd Place Elementary, Middle School, High School Divisions- $100 dollars
• Prizes will be awarded through check or money/pay cards.
• Essay Contest entrants who do not have access to the internet or an understanding of how to submit their essay on-line are encouraged to get assistance from a parent/guardian, family member, teacher or school administrator to submit their essay on-line.
• Handwritten essays should be scanned to a file and submitted on-line.
• In the event that a student has no means to submit the essay on-line they should call Norman Nixon on (202) 236-6904.

Essay Contest Submission Instructions

• Go to the MLK Holiday DC website at https://mlkholidaydc.org and click on the Get Involved link and scroll down to the MLK Student Essay information page and click on the Get Started link to fill out the contest application and submit your essay.
• Essays can be typed into the essay submission portal or uploaded through the attachment link provided.
• The MLK Holiday DC Committee or the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute Alumni Association (MYLIAA) are not responsible for connectivity issues or unexpected site outages that my prevent participants from submitting essays for consideration before the deadline. We consistently maintain the site in order to have it available and operational at all times. However, it is recommended that contest submissions are not left to the last minute in case of unexpected technical difficulties with the site.
• In order to be considered, all essays must be submitted by December 16th, 2023 – 11:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
• If you have any additional questions, please submit them to: [email protected]

Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.

• Manage Account
• Website Survey
• Things to Do
• Public Notices
• Help Center

news Inspired

Read the winning entries in an MLK essay contest for Richardson students

‘we are all people who were put in this world to make a difference,’ wrote one student..

By Teri Webster

4:13 PM on Mar 2, 2021 CST

Richardson has announced the winners of the inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest for students in grades 3 through 12. Students were asked to write an essay about how to use King’s teachings to support diversity and inclusion.

Here are the winners and some excerpts from their entries:

Clara Eves won in this division for her essay that included examples on how to make people feel included and welcome.

“I can make everyone feel included by being kind, standing up for others, and by helping people. If I do all these things I will make more friends in my school community,” she wrote.

Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.

By signing up you agree to our  Terms of Service  and  Privacy Policy

Sara Heiser’s winning entry was titled “The Art of Including Others.”

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, in Washington, D.C on August 28, 1963, ‘I have a dream…[that] little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and little white girls as sisters and brothers.’” she wrote. “I think that there are many ways to promote Dr. King’s dream of inclusion in the city of Richardson, and if everyone works together toward this dream we can become a diverse community in which people include others that are not like themselves.”

Grades 9-12

Grace Brantley wrote about the diversity of Richardson in her winning entry.

“We can use the teachings of MLK to realize that just because someone looks different than you doesn’t mean you cannot be friends or that they are lesser than you,” she wrote. “We are all people who were put in this world to make a difference. We are all unique, yet we are also similar in so many ways. No one should ever be punished or bullied because of how they look.”

Each winner will receive $100. Their essays will also be published in various city communication outlets. Additionally, the students will be recognized at an upcoming city council meeting.

The winning essays are posted online .

The contest was open to students in grades 3-12 who live in Richardson or attend a Richardson ISD or Plano ISD school in Richardson. The contest was sponsored by the city council, Richardson ISD, Plano ISD and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Related: Richardson opens up internship opportunities for students this summer

Teri Webster , Special Contributor . Teri Webster is a freelancer covering Plano for The Dallas Morning News. She has worked as a staff writer and freelancer for several area news outlets and is a regular contributor to Fort Worth Weekly. Email story tips to [email protected].

Most Popular

Late-night tornadoes kill at least 7, injure 100 others in north texas, authorities say, map: see which areas of north texas were hit by saturday night’s deadly tornado, mavericks center dereck lively ii exits game 3 vs. t-wolves after taking knee to the head, patrick mahomes, dirk nowitzki among celebrities at mavs-wolves game 3, photos: heavy damage seen in valley view, texas after a suspected tornado.

COVID-19 Information

• Text: NJCOVID to 898-211
• ·
• Call NJPIES Call Center: 800-962-1253
• Call: 2-1-1
• Need help? Vaccine Appointment Support

Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google™ Translate. Google™ Translate is an online service for which the user pays nothing to obtain a purported language translation. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. - Read Full Disclaimer

• Search close

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

Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

Jones-gordon school students win essay contest.

Two students from the Jones-Gordon School submitted essay’s to the town of Paradise Valley, Arizona to commemorate and honor the ideals Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. The essays submitted were based on the topic, “Changing hearts and minds” and this topic represents a powerful message and the compassionate approach Martin Luther King Jr. used as he strived to bring equal rights and civil liberties to all Americans.

Join us in celebrating our two winners by reading their essays and discover the impact that MLK has had on our students.

Essay title:

Changing hearts and minds

Martin Luther King Jr.

Contest requirements:.

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.

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.

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!

Share this:

Upcoming events.

• There are no upcoming events.