University of Connecticut
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2015  Essay Contest
We invite Connecticut students in grades 9 through 12 to participate in the 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Essay Contest. The deadline for submission is Friday December 5, 2014. Contestants, their families, and
teachers are invited to attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on January 19, 2015, at the University
of Connecticut where winners will be recognized for their achievements.
2015 Essay Theme:
Breaking the Silence
Using the example set by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and enlightened leadership, students are asked in
their essay to discuss what it means to “break the silence” of injustice. Specifically, how can they as young
leaders work to end apathy and help to promote greater involvement and engagement amongst their peers to
realize the Dream?
Who may enter?
Connecticut High School students in grades 9 – 12. Prizes will be awarded in two categories: grades 9-10 and
11-12. All students who submit an essay will receive a certificate of participation from the MLK Committee.
We expect to award, per grade grouping, one prize for first place, second place, and third place.
General guidelines:
 Essays will be judged on adherence to the theme, originality, creativity and inclusion of Dr. King and/or
the messages for which he stood. Students should adhere to correct sentence structure, grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
 Submissions that include profanity and/or language inconsistent with Dr. King’s philosophy will be
disqualified.
 Students may not use copyrighted material without proper permission/citation.
 Students must attach the 2015 MLK contest entry form to their essay and can enter only once.
 Essays must be typed and between 750 to 1,000 words.
 Pages must be single-sided and numbered, with the student’s name, grade and school appearing on each
page.
 Entries must be received with entry form to Alfred Guante, Educational Outreach/Group Tour
Coordinator, University of Connecticut, by December 5th, 2014.
 E-mail all entries as a pdf or word document to: [email protected]
 Please place “MLK ESSAY 2015” in subject line of email.
 For more information or clarification, contact:
Alfred Guante
Educational Outreach/Group Tour Coordinator
University of Connecticut, Lodewick Visitors Center
860-486-6815 (Phone) E-mail: [email protected]
Key Dates:
 Submission deadline is Friday, December 5th, 2014.
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance: The 2015 celebration will be held on Monday, January
19, 2015 in the Student Union Theatre, Storrs, Connecticut.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
University of Connecticut
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2015  Essay Contest Entry Form
I am entering the: Check one box, of the following two choices:
 Essay contest (grades 9-10 only)
 Essay contest (grades 11-12 only)
Name:
Grade:
School:
Use full name, not abbreviations
Mailing
address
Street address
Phone:
Town
(
)
Area Code
Zip code
Number
E-mail:
Parent(s) or guardian(s)
Name
Phone
If different from yours
E-mail:
If different from yours
If a teacher at your school helped you:
Name
Phone
(
)
Area Code
Number
E-mail:
This entry form must be submitted along with your essay in order to participate.
The information submitted on this form will be used solely for the purposes of awarding and announcing prizes and inviting
participants to the University of Connecticut’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration (January 19, 2015). This information will
not be distributed in any manner to parties external to the University. Following the event, your contact information will be
appropriately discarded.
Signature of entrant (student)
Name: ________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________
Signature of parent, guardian
or teacher (optional)
Name: ________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________
All materials must be received at the University of Connecticut no later than Friday, December 5th, 2014