The Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee sponsors the annual 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).
Congratulations to the following 2023 contest 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