TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis announced Friday the theme for Black History Month this year and released information about student art and essay contests and other awards.
First Lady 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 K-3 can participate in an art contest while students in grades 4-12 can participate in an essay contest, according to a press release.
The art contest is open to all K-3 students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Two winners will be selected.
The essay contest is open to all 4-12 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 4-5), one middle school student (grades 6-8) and one high school student (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
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.
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 K-5), one middle school teacher (grades 6-8) and one high school teacher (grades 9-12).
Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student.
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida using the address below or submitted online by clicking here.
Volunteer Florida
Black History Month Committee
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
All entries must be received by 5 p.m. eastern time on Feb. 26.
For more information about the contests, click here.
