The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission invites Howard County middle and high school students to participate in the 2027 MLK Essay Contest. This year’s theme is “Let us build the future through stones of hope.”
Students are encouraged to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and share their thoughts on service, justice, hope, human rights, and the future they want to help build. Essays must be 500 words or less, typed, single-spaced, submitted as a PDF, and include a completed application.
Prizes:
Middle School: 1st Place $150, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $50
High School: 1st Place $200, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100
Submission Deadline: October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST
Submit entries to: MLK@howardcountymd.gov
Learn more: https://bit.ly/MLKCONTEST27
9820 Patuxent Woods Dr Suite 224
Columbia, MD 21046
United States