Five writing and video student contests are now open for submissions—the Gaithersburg Book Festival poetry contest; Partners for Automated Vehicle Education’s essay contest; a Black history essay competition and video contests from Choose Respect and the Keeping It Safe Coalition. In some cases, cash prizes are up for grabs. Details are below:
The 2023 Gaithersburg Book Festival’s annual high school poetry contest is now open for submissions. This year’s theme is “Diversity or Inclusion.” To participate, students must be enrolled in grades 9-12. The deadline is midnight on Thursday, Feb. 23. First, second and third place winners will receive $250, $100 and $50 gift certificates, respectively.
High school students also have an opportunity to participate in a Black history essay contest sponsored by WJZ-TV, CBS Baltimore. Students are asked to choose one of the three quotes below and write an essay (500 words or less) describing what it means to them. The quotes are:
- “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”—George Washington Carver
- “Don’t sit down and wait for opportunities to come … Get up and make them!”—Madam C. J. Walker
- “Impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen.”—Charles W. Chesnutt
Entries are due by email on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Application for WJZ Black History Oratory Competition
WJZ Black History Oratory Competition Rules, 2023
Partners for Automated Vehicle Education’s (PAVE’s) essay contest encourages high school juniors and seniors to contemplate a future with automated vehicles, and to write about what this could mean for their communities. Learn more on the PAVE essay contest website. Submissions are due Tuesday, Jan. 31.
The Choose Respect video contest challenges middle and high school students to create an original 60-second public service announcement (PSA) video to promote awareness of dating abuse and domestic violence among teens. Students can earn 10 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for the successful completion and quality submission of a PSA video. Contest rules and more information are available here. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13.
The Keeping it SAFE Coalition: Under Twenty-One Alcohol Prevention Coalition video contest asks students to create a 30-second public service message addressing the risks and dangers of under 21 alcohol use. This year’s topics are:
- Standing Your Ground: Fighting Peer Pressure from Friends to Drink
- Ways to Help/Support Friends Who Are Abusing Alcohol
- How Alcoholic Drinks Affect Mental Health
Students can earn five SSL hours for quality video submissions. Contest rules and more information are available here. Entries are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 31.
