The Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission announces annual creative contests for students to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

Essay Entries are due by midnight November 18; Posters are due December 6

CHARLESTON, WV – The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission, in partnership with the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) invites West Virginia students to create original poster, art, music, film, or essay submissions, as well as the Living the Dream Awards, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Essay, Music and Film Contests
The 2025 Project on Racism is presented by the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission and the YWCA Wheeling. The contest accepts entries for essays, music, and five-minute films.

Essay, Music and Film Contests information

Any student from grades 1-12 attending public, private, parochial, or home school in West Virginia may enter. Students under the age of 20 enrolled in a high school correspondence / Test Assessing Secondary Completion program also qualify to compete.

The 2025 Project on Racism Contest will be based on the following quote from Dr. King:
 
“The surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.” 

Entries may be submitted by U.S. Postal Service, fax, email or hand delivery. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed contact information form and the original work.

All entries in this category must be received before midnight November 18, 2024.

Winners will be announced before the end of December 2024 and will be invited to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission Awards Luncheon on January 18, 2025.

Poster Contest 
The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission and the Beta Beta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, present the 41st annual poster competition.

Poster Contest information

West Virginia students from grades K-12 may enter the poster contest. The art must focus on the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: 

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

Posters must incorporate the quote. Although the artwork must be original, teachers are encouraged to assist students in developing original slogans or captions used in the poster.

The entry may be in any format. The piece can be created with pencil, crayon, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, serigraph woodblock, photography, or mixed media. The artist must explain the style and the selected media on the entry form, which must be taped to the back of the artwork. Entries without this information will be disqualified.

Submissions in this category must be postmarked on or before Friday, December 6. Judging begins December 19.

Winning entries will be exhibited at the Great Hall of the West Virginia State Culture Center from January 2025 to February 2025.

The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission will also create a 2026 calendar using the winning entries from the poster contest, and winners will be invited to participate in the January 18, 2025 Awards Luncheon.

Living the Dream Awards
Members of the public are invited to nominate individuals and organizations for the 2025 “Living the Dream” Awards. Completed nomination packets for individuals or organizations must be postmarked by Sunday, December 1, 2024, before 5 p.m.

Completed nomination packets can be delivered by U.S. postal service, email, or fax.

Living the Dream Awards information​

Send completed nominations and supporting information to:
Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission
“Living the Dream” Awards
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Building 1, Room 9R
Charleston, WV 25305

The awards will be presented Monday, January 20, 2025, as part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance.

Five awards are given to individuals who best exemplify – through action or personal traits – the principles and ideals characterizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his pursuit of social change. Any person, regardless of race, color, or creed, may be nominated. The individual award categories are the Advocate of Peace Award, the Sharing of Self Award, the Human and Civil Rights Award, the Scholarship Award, and the Governor’s Living the Dream Award.

For guidelines and entry forms for all the contests, visit the MLK Commission tab on HHOMA's website at minorityaffairs.wv.gov.