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MLK Art & Writing Contest

2024 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 2024 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 quote:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (Letter from Birmingham Jail)

11th Annual MLK Art and Writing Contest 

Entries Due: Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 by 5 p.m.

Art & Essay Digital Submissions:

  • Email with subject line "2024 MLK Art & Essay Contest Entry"
  • Include in the email message if you are an undergraduate or a graduate student.
  • Send to Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen, caitlinc@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

Undergraduate Writing

Undergraduate Art

Graduate Writing

  • Winner: Eureka Joshi

Undergraduate Writing

Graduate Art

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

Undergraduate Writing

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

Contact Us

Aleksandra Hollingshead, Chair