MLK Art & Writing Contest
2025 MLK Art and Writing Contest
To commemorate the life, work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., University of Idaho undergraduates, graduates and professional students enrolled for the 2025 spring semester at any U of I location are invited to create a written work or piece of art in ANY medium of their choice in response to the prompt below about equality and social, racial and ethnic justice. This year, all submissions will be digital. Works of art that are made outside of digital media can be photographed.
This year's theme is inspired by the following quotes:
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ("Strength to Love," 1963.)
“Now, we got to get this thing right. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love. (”Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” 1967)
12th Annual MLK Art and Writing Contest
Deadline: February 28, 2025 by 5 P.M.
Art & Essay Digital Submissions:
- Email with subject line "2025 MLK Art & Essay Contest Entry"
- Include in the email message if you are an undergraduate or a graduate student.
- Send to Jamaica Ritcher, jritcher@uidaho.edu
All University of Idaho degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled for the 2024 spring semester at any U of I location are invited to enter. No more than one written work and one art entry per student.
Written work (up to 700 words) will be judged on understanding of the topic, original thinking, effectiveness in presenting a personal point of view, literary style, grammar and spelling. Undergraduate and graduate/professional entries will be judged separately.
Art entries will be judged on how they evoke understanding on the part of the observer as to what civil rights issue or event or related message is being presented. Art entries can be submitted in ANY medium and may include an introduction up to 250 words to explain the entry. Artworks in non-digital media can be photographed for digital submission. Undergraduate and graduate/professional entries will be judged separately.
A scholarship will be given to the following:
- Best undergraduate student written work
- Best graduate/professional student written work
- Best undergraduate student art piece
- Best graduate/professional student art piece
Honorable Mention scholarships will be given as funding allows.
2024 MLK Art and Writing Contest Winners
Undergraduate Essay
Undergraduate Art
Graduate Essay
Graduate Art
Past Art and Essay Contest Winners
Graduate Writing
- Winner: Eureka Joshi
Undergraduate Writing
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Winner: Aiden Veselits
Undergraduate Art
- Winner: Anna Young
Graduate Writing
- Winner: Eureka Joshi
Undergraduate Writing
- Winner: Nevena Tulilov
Graduate Art
- Winner: Joseph Sedillo
Undergraduate Art
- Winner: Anna Young
Graduate Writing
- Winner: Akorede Seriki
Undergraduate Writing
- Winner: Jose Maciel
Art
- Winner: Carlie Houn
- Winner: Anna Young
Graduate Writing
- Winner: Naomie Pierre-Toussaint – Dear Diary
Undergraduate Writing
- Winner: Emily Wesseling – Lessons
Graduate Art
- Winner: Kelsey Grafton – In Light of Our Past
Undergraduate Art
- Winner: Anna Young – King Leading the People
Graduate Writing
- Winner: Caitlin Palmer for the essay "The Issue of Fifty Dollars"
- Honorable Mention: Staniela Nikolova for the poem "Do you see us?"
Undergraduate Writing
- Winner: Emily Pearce for the poem "Oh Doctor Hear our Voices"
- Honorable Mention: Nichole Etchemendy for the poem "Reaching"
Art
- Winner: Candace Sorenson for “The Restraints of Poverty”
- Honorable Mention: Lexy Jones for “Fight Against Poverty”
Undergraduate Writing
- 1st prize: Izaiah Dolezal for his essay "Building a Resilient Community: from 'Me' to 'We'"
- Honorable Mention: Emily Wesseling for her poem "Somewhere"
- Honorable Mention: Ayomipo Kayode-Popoola for her poem "Color of My Soul"
Graduate Writing
- 1st Prize: Courtney Cooper for her essay "The Value of Relationship in Resilient Water Futures"
- Honorable Mention: Alex Sosa for his essay "Together We are Bound, Together We Are Resilient"
Art
- 1st Prize: Megan Cosdon for her piece "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
- Honorable Mention: Alayne Chipman for "Fires of Opposition"
- Honorable Mention: Riley Hilel for "Slain by Sniper"
Undergraduate Essay
- Winner: Cruz Rodriguez
- Honorable Mention: Danny Bugingo
Graduate Essay
- Co-winner: Alexander Sosa
- Co-winner: Ashley McDermott
Poem
- Winner: Stacy Miller
Art
- Co-winner: Geoffrey Dasher
- Co-winner: Keegan Lawler
- Honorable Mention: Kelli Fry