Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Contest

Public School K-12 Student Essay and Visual Art Contest

2025 Contest Materials (pdf)

The Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee is sponsoring the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay and Visual Art Contest for K-12 public school students. The theme for the 2025 contest is "Youth for Change: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." This theme is meant to inspire young people to reflect on their role in carrying forward Dr. King’s vision of equality, justice, and peace. Contestants can share ways they can take the lead in creating a more just and peaceful future.

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 all 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: Lauren Vinson, 1810 E Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101.