The city of Leander and Leander ISD are partnering to host an essay contest in honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 17. Students in any LISD school can submit an entry by Jan. 9, demonstrating their research on Dr. King and responding to essay prompts.
Submissions can be electronic to [email protected] or a physical copy to the student’s school. A committee for the city’s inaugural Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade and Street Festival will review and award prizes for the top submissions.
The city of Leander is hosting the Parade and Street Festival in Old Town Leander, on Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Organizations can participate by hosting a table at the festival or joining the parade. The event is free for the public.
The event’s theme is “Community Unity – Bright & Bold.”
- 10 a.m. – Community Parade Begins
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Festival, Diversity Marketplace, and Stage Performances
Essay Contest Details
Any Leander ISD student can participate in the Leander essay content for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.
High School and Middle School Prompt
Using the speeches, writings, and teaching of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. what ideas do you have about unifying communities during times of turmoil or conflict? What can we learn from Dr. King and how do we apply those concepts to move our community?
Submission Requirements
High School Students
One essay per student. Essays must be original, typed, double-spaced, and should not exceed 1,000 words. The cover sheet must contain the student’s name, school, home/cellular phone number, address, and email address (do not include this information in the body of the essay).
Essays will be judged based on organization, content, voice, creativity, and grammatical structure.
Middle School Students
One essay per student. Essays must be original, typed, double-spaced, and should not exceed 500 words.
The cover sheet must contain the student’s name, school, home/cellular phone number, address, and email address (do not include this information in the body of the essay).
Essays will be judged based on organization, content, voice, creativity, and grammatical structure.
Elementary School Prompt
Please research Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (examples could include reading a book or article, watching a video, or listening to a podcast) and share what you learned in your paper, and respond to the following questions.
- How can we be friendly to each other in our schools?
- What can we do to get along, be nice to each other, and make our world a better place?
Submission Requirements
One submission per student. Students must submit a writing sample, either typed or handwritten, not to exceed one side of one page. Writing samples can include illustrations, drawings, or accompanying original artwork. On a separate sheet of paper, we need the student’s name, school, and grade level.
Entries will be judged based on content, voice, and creativity.
City of Leander Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
The city of Leander MLK Committee seeks parade participants and performers. We seek a diverse representation of Leander and the surrounding area’s multiplicity of cultural experiences. More information at leandertx.gov/mlk.
