Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay-Poster Contest
MNEA Human Rights Committee sponsors 2023 contest
The Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee is sponsoring the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay-Poster Contest for K-12 public school students. "Fulfilling Dr. King's Dream: Reading to Lead and Transform" is the theme for the 2023 contest.
Winners are determined in five grade-level categories: K–1, 2–3, 4–5, 6–8, and 9–12. A certificate and gift card is awarded to each first-place ($75), second-place ($50), and third-place ($25) winner in the five categories. Teachers of winning students will receive a $25 gift card.
An MNEA-affiliated local association must host the initial contest and submit first-, second-, and third-place winning posters in any or all of the five grade-level categories (up to 15 entries per local association). Posters must have, an attached essay, completed entry form, and meet the size requirements of no smaller than 8.5" x 11" and no larger than 11" x 17". Entries achieving finalist status should then be mailed or hand-delivered to Missouri NEA Headquarters, Attn: Roxane Bly, 1810 E Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
All final entries must be received by MNEA no later than Jan. 15. Late entries will not be judged.
Contest winners will be announced at the Spring MNEA Representative Assembly. Winners will receive certificates and gift cards soon thereafter.
Questions? Contact Lisa Blaha, MNEA UniServ Director at lisa.blaha@mnea.org or (636) 614-7501, Roxane Bly at roxane.bly@mnea.org or (573) 644-9606.
Download 2023 Contest Materials
2023 Winners
Grades K-1
1st place
Meenakshi Raj
Parkway School District

2nd place
Dhaksha Thayalan
Parkway School District
3rd place
Elana Wainit
North Kansas City School District
Grades 2-3
1st place
Siddhaarthan Kumar
Parkway School District
2nd place
Emma Riley
North Kansas City School District
3rd place
Maxwell Schneider
Pattonville School District
Grades 4-5
1st place
Grace Jones
North Kansas City School District

2nd place
William Purnell
Pattonville School District

3rd place
Donald McCullough
Pattonville School District

Grades 6-8
1st place
Shree Kumar
Parkway School District
2nd place
Lakshita Raja
Pattonville School District
3rd place
Emily Kraft
Meramec Valley School District
Grades 9-12
Honorable Mention
Melvin Hampton Jr.
Special School District
Honorable Mention
Markele Howard
Special School District
Not awarded in 2023