The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission invites Howard County middle and high school students to raise their voices through the 2027 MLK Oratory Contest. This year’s theme is “Let us build the future through stones of hope.”
Students are to prepare a 2–3 min peech that clearly reflects the theme and connects Dr. King’s legacy to today’s world. Submissions must include a video link of the student performing the speech, a typed PDF version of the speech, and 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