Entries are currently being accepted for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. essay, artwork and poetry contests, which are open to students. This year’s theme is, “Standing stronger together in unity ’til victory is won.”

The entry deadline for all three contests is Friday, Dec. 1. ​Winners will be invited to attend a ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort.

Essay Contest Requirements:

  • Open to students in grades 4-12;
  • Participants must be enrolled in a Kentucky school or home-schooled in Kentucky;
  • Poetry should be inspired by this year’s theme; and
  • Entries must 200 words or less.

Visual Arts Contest Requirements:

  • Open to students in grades K-12;
  • Participants must be enrolled in a Kentucky school or home-schooled in Kentucky; and
  • The artwork should be inspired by this year’s theme.

Poetry Contest Requirements:

  • Open to students in grades 6-12;
  • Participants must be enrolled in a Kentucky school or home-schooled in Kentucky;
  • The essay should be inspired by this year’s theme; and
  • Entries must be 500 words or less.

All writing entries will be judged on the criteria listed in the Kentucky Writing Scoring Rubric: purpose, awareness of audience, idea development, organization, language and correctness. All visual art and media entries will be judged on creativity, originality and how it addresses the contest theme.

For more information, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission Webpage.