MLK Essay Contest

Essay Guidelines

  • Gaston County students grades 9 – 12 may submit an essay

  • Essays must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 1, 2025. No exceptions

  • Essays must be the student’s own work

  • AI generated content will not be accepted

  • Only one essay per student will be accepted

  • Essays will be reviewed for content, adherence to prompt, writing style, and grammar

    • Essays will be reviewed through blind adjudication by the essay committee

  • Essays should be between 500 – 1000 words, double spaced, standard font

  • Essay winner will be awarded a $500 scholarship towards continuing their education

  • The winner will be invited to read their essay at the MLK Unity Award Ceremony

Prompt

Visit the Gaston County African American Museum of History & Culture either in person or virtually. Reflect on your experience looking at the exhibits and learning about local African American history. Write about one person you learned about at the museum. Explain how they impacted Gaston County and how their legacy lives on in the County.