The Howard County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission invites Howard County middle and high school students to participate in the Commission’s annual Student Essay Contest. The winners will be recognized at the Commission’s Annual Celebration on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Reservoir High School.

To be eligible for the contest, students must be a Howard County resident and in either middle or high school. Essays must be typed and double-spaced (Microsoft word format) and include the following information: student’s name, address, telephone number, email address, name of school and grade. Middle school student essays are to be between 500 to 750 words in length, while high school student essays must be between 750 to 1,000 words. Essays will be judged on content, connection to Dr. King’s work, spelling, grammar and sentence structure.

Students with disabilities may submit entries that address the essay question through use of other media (posters, pictures, etc.). All submitted essays and entries become the property of the Commission.

Essay Question: "How do you translate Dr. King's vision in today's times?"

View the complete participation rules or call the Office of Human Rights at 410-313-6467. All completed nomination forms must be postmarked or emailed by 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 8th to: Howard County Office of Human Rights, ATTN: Dr. MLK, Jr. Holiday Commission, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 239, Columbia, MD 21046, or emailed to SubmissionsMLK@howardcountymd.gov.

First, second and third place high school student winners will be awarded $250, $200 and $150, respectively. First, second and third place middle school student winners will be awarded $200, $150 and $100, respectively.

For more information or questions, contact Farheen Sheik in the Office of Human Rights at 410-313-6467 or email fsheik@howardcountymd.gov.