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, 2026. 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

Research an influential civil rights activist other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from the 1950s or 1960s. Discuss how their work impacted the world and how it has impacted your life and/or the lives of those around you. Please also provide a brief biography (2 – 3 paragraphs max.) that discusses their early life, work during the civil rights movement, and, if applicable, their work and life after the civil rights movement.