Black History Month Contests For Florida Students Announced

FLORIDA — Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis is inviting students to participate in academic and creative contests based on the theme, “Community Champions – Celebrating the Contributions of African Americans in Florida’s Communities.”

Students in grades kindergarten through third can participate in an art contest. Students in grades four to 12 can participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.

About the Student Art Contest
The art contest is open to all kindergarten to third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Two winners will be selected.

About the Student Essay Contest
The essay contest is open to all grades four to 12 students in Florida. Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school student (grades four and five), one middle school student (grades six to eight) and one high school student (grades nine to 12). Each winner will receive a Four-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

About the Excellence in Education Award
The Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school teacher (grades kindergarten through five), one middle school teacher (grades six to eight) and one high school teacher (grades nine to 12). Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student.

Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online.

All entries must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 26.

For more information about the contests, visit www.FloridaBlackHistory.com.