Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission

Annual Poster Contest

The West Virginia Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, in collaboration with Beta BetaOmega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is pleased to announce the 41st Annual Poster Competition.

Each year, students throughout the state of West Virginia have shared their artistic abilities by submitting their entries as a way of celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year the mission of the Martin Luther King, Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission is to celebrate the occasion of the 41st Annual Poster Competition as a means to depict the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The poster must focus on this quotation by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.”

Classroom teachers are asked to assist students in the development of original slogans/captions to be used in the development of the poster. All work must be original. If pictures are used to develop posters, the source must be given. The quote must be incorporated into the artistic work.

Click here => MLK Poster Guidelines for 2024 to download a printable copy.

All entries must be received by Friday, December 6, 2024 and should be mailed or delivered to:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Contest
ATTN: Patricia Wilson
627 Wallace Hall
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV 25112

Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. Winning entries will be on display in the Great Hall of the WV Culture Center. Final information about winning entries will be sent to schools by December 19, 2024. Awards will be presented on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, WV.

ANNUAL POSTER CONTEST GUIDELINES

The Annual Poster Competition is designed to celebrate the life and dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. and to reaffirm the American ideals of freedom, justice and opportunity for all.

ELIGIBILITY
Open to all West Virginia residents (Students in grades K-12). Poster size cannot exceed 36 inches by 48 inches.

FORMAT
Student entries may be in any format. The style and the selected media must be explained on the attached entry form. Entries without this information will not be judged.

MEDIA
Pencil, crayon, pen and ink, water color, acrylic, serigraph wood block, photography and mixed media.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Each entrant is allowed only one entry which may not exceed these dimensions: 36 inches by 48 inches. Each entry must be completed by one student. Posters that are submitted as a joint entry (completed by two or more students) will be disqualified. All entries will become the property of the Martin Luther King, Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission. All work must be original and not created from the internet. Print the name of the student and the school on the back of the poster.

The poster must focus on this quotation by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.”

AWARDS AND PRIZES
There will be three prizes (first, second and third) in each category:

Categories by Grade Level: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

CALENDAR
December 6, 2024 is the deadline for receipt of posters by mail or delivery in person. Deliver or mail to:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Contest
Attn: Patricia Wilson
627 Wallace Hall
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV 25112

Click here =>MLK Poster Guidelines for 2024 to download a printable copy.

PreviousPoster Winners

2021 awards ceremony

2018 Poster Winners>> Click Here to View 2018 Artwork Photos <<
2017 Poster Winners
2016 Poster Winners.pdf
2015 Poster Winners.pdf
2014 Poster Winners.pdf