High school and junior high school students in the William S. Hart Union High School District are being encouraged to submit an essay for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk contest, district governing board President Cherise Moore said during Wednesday’s meeting. `
Essays are due on Dec. 1, and Moore hopes more students submit their work as they take a week off from school to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.
The essay prompt is, “How can nonviolent action strengthen communities and heal a divided nation?” according to the contest flier.
The prompt must be answered in a minimum of 1,000 words for high school students, and in 500 words for junior high school students.
Not only will students have a chance to win a cash prize, but also first-place winners will be given the chance to read an excerpt of their essay at the fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk event program scheduled to be held on Jan. 19.
For high school students, the first-place cash prize is $150, second place is $100, and third place is $75. Junior high school students will have the chance to win a first-place cash prize of $125, second place for $75, and third place for $50.
Winners will be announced on Jan. 12.
Other contest requirements include a declaration and permission statement, and for the essay itself students must submit it with a title page that includes their name, student identification number, school and grade.
For more information on the Martin Luther King Unity Walk contest, visit: www.hartdistrict.org/apps/pages/upcoming-opportunities-for-students.
