51ĀŅĀ×

In the spirit of reflection and creative expression, 51ĀŅĀ× Southernā€™s Council on Diversity and Inclusion has announced its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest for 2025.

Open to middle and high school students across the tri-state area, the competition offers young people a chance to engage deeply with the enduring messages of Dr. King and consider how his words resonate in their lives today.

Participants are invited to select a quote from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., and respond with either a poem or short essay, drawing connections between the chosen quote and their own communities or personal experiences. The contest serves as a platform for students to explore the power of Kingā€™s legacy through their own lens.

For Dr. Hayley Haugen, an English professor at 51ĀŅĀ× Southern and a long-time judge of the contest, the event is both a professional and personal highlight.

ā€œEach year it is my honor to help coordinate this writing contest,ā€ Haugen says. ā€œIt provides a wonderful opportunity to encourage young writers to reflect on Dr. Kingā€™s life and legacy, and we always enjoy reading their thoughtful, often profound, submissions.ā€

Students can submit their entries by Dec. 20, 2024, with cash prizes ranging from $25 to $100. Judges will assess the works based on originality, creativity and relevance to the theme. Beyond the cash incentives, Robert Pleasant, 51ĀŅĀ× Southernā€™s director of student services, hopes the contest inspires students to reflect on Kingā€™s vision for justice and equality.

ā€œWhile the prizes are nice, we hope students take away something more lasting ā€“ a sense of how they can influence change in their own communities,ā€ he said.

The winning entries will be published on the Universityā€™s website and will be honored at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration Legacy Awards Reception on Jan. 28, 2025. There, theyā€™ll receive certificates of achievement, marking their creative engagement with Kingā€™s timeless ideals.

For more details on how to participate, interested students can contact Pleasant or Haugen.