Save Texas History

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Essay Contest

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2023 Save Texas History Essay Contest Results.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the 2023 Save Texas History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office’s Save Texas History Program. Fourth- and seventh-grade students from across Texas answered the question, “What history in your community is worth saving?”

"It has been an honor to read about young Texans' passion for our state's rich history. These students truly produced many incredible essays for this one-of-a-kind competition," said Commissioner Buckingham. “Both of our grand prize winners, Katy and Coltier, wrote about unique parts of their communities that bring people and families together in tradition and good fun. Congratulations to this year’s winners, the finalists, and all who contributed their creativity and invaluable perspectives to the ongoing story of Texas' history!"

The fourth-grade grand prize winner is Katy Bowman, daughter of Melony and James Bowman. Katy is in Yeraldinne John’s class at Doral Academy Texas in Buda. Her essay, My Courthouse , shares her love of Caldwell County’s courthouse and square. She particularly loves the many festivals and events it hosts, such as farmers’ markets, Courthouse Nights, Run for the Bulls, Día de los Muertos, and the annual Christmas parade. As Katy notes, “People from the community come and listen to music, talk, dance, and laugh together.”

  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ESSAY

The seventh-grade grand prize winner is Coltier Dodd, son of Lauren and Shawn Dodd. Coltier is in Darcey Ham’s class at Northside ISD in Vernon . His essay, The Santa Rosa Rodeo Grounds – Keeping Traditions Alive , showcases the only wooden rodeo arena still in use in Texas. Coltier’s connection is also personal, with both his grandfather and mother having a long history with the local riding club – and hopefully that will continue “for many more generations to come.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ESSAY

The grand prize winners will each receive a $500 gift card courtesy of Christopher Cantu of Kingsview Partners in Georgetown. The ten finalists will each receive a $100 gift card courtesy of the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) – Moses Austin Chapter, and Buck Cole. In addition, the SRT, Texas State Historical Association, and Texas General Land Office will provide an assortment of contest prizes to all the winning students and their teachers.

Fourth Grade Finalists:

Thiago Braga

Dearing Elementary School

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Andrea Fernandes and Augusto Braga, Pflugerville, TX

Teacher: Jamie Cowan

Essay Topic: Texas Capitol Building

William Miller

Brentwood Christian School

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Lindsay and Michael Miller, Austin, TX

Teacher: Brittney Rackley

Essay Topic: Walnut Creek

Olen Nnabuihe

Windermere Elementary School

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Miriam and Obi Nnabuihe, Pflugerville, TX

Teacher: Tim Lee

Essay Topic: Lake Pflugerville

Arielle Solomon

Ohr Zahava School/Great Hearts Online Texas

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Leah and Avraham Solomon, Houston, TX

Teachers: Sara Masarsky and Megan Salaiz

Essay Topic: Honeybees and the local environment

Kinsey Paige Weinheimer

Industrial Elementary West

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Joleen and Klint Weinheimer, Inez, TX

Teacher: Kori Bordovsky

Essay Topic: Industrial Little League Ballpark

Seventh Grade Finalists:

Ganessa Kluger

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Megan and Jacob Kluger, Houston, TX

Teachers: Sara Masarsky and Jessica Guinn

Essay Topic: Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

Malayshia Livingston

Odyssey Academy

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Meoucha Davis and Aretha Davis (Grandmother), Galveston, TX

Teacher: Kella Dohring

Essay Topic: 1900 Great Storm Statue

Yukta Sri Mididoddi

Bill Hays Middle School

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Swarna Latha and Gopi Krishna Mididoddi, Frisco, TX

Teacher: Jessica McDowell

Essay Topic: The St. Louis San Francisco Railway

Benjamin Rottinghaus

Memorial Middle School

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Tracy Leroy and Brandon Rottinghaus, Houston, TX

Teacher: Caroline Maddox

Essay Topic: Texas expressions and language

Pranati S. Tumuluri

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Madhavi and Srinivas Tumuluri, Frisco, TX

Essay Topic: Cattle Trails on Preston Road

All public, private and home-schooled students of appropriate age for the fourth grade or seventh grade were eligible to participate. Essays for the annual contest were judged on originality of idea, cohesiveness of thought and organization. Proper grammar, spelling and punctuation were also taken into account.

For more information, contact [email protected] .

The Texas General Land Office Save Texas History™ program is a statewide initiative to rally public support and private funding for the preservation and promotion of more than 35 million historic maps and documents. With the twin goals of preservation and education, the Save Texas History program seeks to conserve these documents for future generations and educate Texans about the rich heritage found in these vital records.

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Texas History Essay Contest

About the scholarship.

Texas History Essay Contest recognizes and rewards, with college scholarships, high school seniors who write outstanding essays on the history of Texas.

  • Essay Required : Yes
  • Need-Based : No
  • Merit-Based : No
  • This competition is open to graduating seniors in all high schools in the United States.
  • Applicants submit an essay on a topic that changes annually but relates to the history of Texas; a recent topic was "Dr.
  • Anson Jones, Last President of the Republic of Texas." Essays must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length and conform to standard academic style.
  • Only 1 essay may be submitted from each high school.
  • Selection is based on the depth of research in Texas history, originality of thought and expression, and organization.
  • Country : US

About The 7th Grade Essay Contest

The mission of The Battle of Flowers® Association is to teach the history of our state and to keep alive the patriotic traditions of Texas and San Antonio. This annual contest creates awareness and fosters an appreciation of our Texas heritage while providing 7th-grade San Antonio students a unique opportunity to study and write an essay on Texas History.

Contest Details

The Texas History Essay Contest is open to all 7th grade students in the San Antonio area. The 2024 Essay Contest topic is “Chiseled in Stone: Iconic San Antonio Architecture”.

texas history essay contest

Two divisions will award top three (3) student finalists in public or private school division:

Public Schools Division

  • First Prize: Laptop Computer
  • Second Prize: $500
  • Third Prize: $250

Private Schools Division

The teacher or advisor of the first prize-winning student in each division will receive $1,000 for his or her department. The first-prize winning student from each division will also be invited to participate in the Battle of Flowers® Parade on Friday, April 26, 2024.

This year’s contest deadline is December 15, 2023.

Information & Resources:

  • Intent to Participate Form
  • Entry Packet for 29th Annual Battle of Flowers® 7th Grade Texas Essay Contest

For questions and more information, email our chairman, Milby Hartwell .

2023 Contest Winners

Essay contest first place winner 2023.

1st Place – Elizabeth Eversberg

Alamo Heights Christian School

“Sarah Horton Cockrell: Building the Way for Texas Business Women.”

Teacher: Priscilla Power

2nd Place – Hayden Harrison

St. Luke’s Episcopal School

“I refused to take no for an answer.”

Teacher: Mark McCullough

3rd Place – Claire Whitney

“Of course I got hurt, but was never afraid.”

Honorable Mention – Asher Warden

San Antonio Academy

“Texan Trail Blazers: The Sisters of Charity.”

Teacher: Thomas H. Meyer

Honorable Mention – Leah Latham

Heritage Middle School

“Edna Gladney and Her Trailblazing Efforts for the Rights of Children.”

Teacher: Ms. Faith Moore

GLO Comm. Dawn Buckingham Announces Winners & Finalists of 2024 'Save Texas History' Essay Contest

  • by: Gilbert Rodriguez

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TEXAS INSIDER ON YOUTUBE

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KXAN Austin

Students compete in essay contest to find what Texas history is worth saving

A USTIN (KXAN) –Fourth and seventh-grade students across Texas competed in the annual Save Texas History Essay Contest. The winners and finalists were announced today by the Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D.

The contest is sponsored by the Texas General Land Office’s, or TGLO, Save Texas History program. They oversee the funding for the preservation and promotion of more than 35 million historic maps and documents across Texas, according to a TGLO news release.

Their initiative is to conserve historical documents and educate future generations about the heritage found in these records.

The essay question was, “What history in your community is worth saving?”

“It has been an honor to read about young Texans’ passion for our state’s rich history. These students truly produced many incredible essays for this one-of-a-kind competition,” said Commissioner Buckingham in the release. “Both of our grand prize winners, Katy and Coltier wrote about unique parts of their communities that bring people and families together in tradition and good fun.”

Fourth-grader Katy Bowman is in Yeraldinne John’s class at Doral Academy Texas in Buda. Her award-winning essay, “My Courthouse”, was about the Caldwell County’s courthouse and square. She wrote about the many festivals and events it hosts such as farmers’ markets, Courthouse Nights, Run for the Bulls, Día de los Muertos and the annual Christmas parade, the release said.

“People from the community come and listen to music, talk, dance, and laugh together,” Bowman wrote in the release.

Seventh-grader Coltier Dodd is in Darcey Ham’s class at Northside Independent School District in Vernon. His prize-winning piece, “The Santa Rosa Rodeo Grounds – Keeping Traditions Alive”, highlighted the only wooden rodeo arena that is still being used in Texas. He said he has a personal connection to the local riding club from his grandfather and mother.

He wrote in his essay about the everlasting history to continue, “for many more generations to come.”

The grand prize winners will receive a $500 gift card courtesy of Chris Cantu of Kingsview Partners. The 10 finalists, five from each grade, will each receive a $100 gift card courtesy of the Moses Austin Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and Buck Cole.

All winners and finalists will also receive a letter of appreciation signed by Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., and other prizes from the TGLO and Texas State Historical Association. Teachers of winning students were awarded as well.

You can find more information of the competition here:

https://savetexashistory.org/education/essay-contest/index.html

Fourth grade finalists are listed below:

Thiago Braga, Dearing Elementary School

Essay Topic: Texas Capitol Building

William Miller, Brentwood Christian School

Essay Topic: Walnut Creek

Olen Nnabuihe, Windermere Elementary School

Essay Topic: Lake Pflugerville

Arielle Solomon, Ohr Zahava School/Great Hearts Online Texas

Essay Topic: Honeybees and the local environment

Kinsey Paige Weinheimer, Industrial Elementary West

Essay Topic: Industrial Little League Ballpark

Seventh grade finalists are listed below:

Ganessa Kluger, Ohr Zahava School/Great Hearts Online Texas

Essay Topic: Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

Malayshia Livingston, Odyssey Academy

Essay Topic: 1900 Great Storm Statue

Yukta Sri Mididoddi, Bill Hays Middle School

Essay Topic: The St. Louis San Francisco Railway

Benjamin Rottinghaus, Memorial Middle School

Essay Topic: Texas expressions and language

Pranati S. Tumuluri, Bill Hays Middle School

Essay Topic: Cattle Trails on Preston Road

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.

Students compete in essay contest to find what Texas history is worth saving

Shelby County Today

Shelby County Today

texas history essay contest

DRT Announces Winner of 2023 Texas History Essay Contest

  • DRT William Carroll Crawford Chapter

texas history essay contest

The chapter invited Shelby County students in grades 4 and 7 to participate in the DRT Texas History Essay Contest. The fourth grade essay topic was "Colonel Benjamin Rush Milam." The seventh grade topic was "Signers (Delegates) of the Texas Declaration of Independence" and students chose one of the 59 signers to feature in their essay.

Students from Tenaha ISD and Shelbyville ISD participated and were presented certificates recognizing their work. The DRT expresses thanks to the students who participated along with their teachers who encouraged them.

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  • High School Senior

Texas History Essay Contest

The Texas History Essay Contest is a statewide initiative aimed at rallying funding for the preservation of vital historic documents and encouraging young students in Texas to promote the history of their communities. It is sponsored by the Texas General Land Office’s Save Texas History Program.

The sponsor offers up to three awards to students graduating from high school. Winners of the essay contest will receive their prizes from the Sons of the Republic of Texas at the annual San Jacinto Celebration in Houston.

The overall winner will receive a cash prize of $4,000 while the first runner-up and second runner-up will receive $3,000 and $2,000 respectively. These cash prizes will be used as scholarships to the colleges of the recipients’ choices or will be given directly to the recipients.

Scholarship Summary

Eligibility requirements.

  • Eligible Grade: High School Senior
  • Maximum Age: Any
  • Required GPA : Any
  • Geographic Eligibility: Texas
  • Gender: Any
  • Race/Ethnicity: Any

Key Information of Texas History Essay Contest

Study details, area of study, country of study.

United States

Specific Schools

Application requirements.

Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.

Texas History Essay Contest Timeline

Application opening date

Applications open at the beginning of October.

Submission deadline

All applications must be submitted by the end of January the next year.

How to ace the Texas History Essay Contest

Begin your essay on time

One of the best ways of making your essay stand out from other candidates is by starting very early. Schedule when to conduct your findings to gather facts for the essay and the writing of the essay.

Conduct in-depth research before writing your essay

While writing your essay, ensure that you carry out thorough research on your essay topic using books, newspapers, and magazines. Candidates are advised not to depend on the internet alone. If you wish to use the internet, make sure that you use only two internet sources.

Explore historic sites in person

Books, magazines, newspapers, and the internet are not just enough to gather valuable information for your essay. You should try visiting historic sites in person so that you can see vital historical documents for yourself. An on-site visit will also enable you to interview history professionals so as to gain more insight into the topic that you are writing about.

Review your essay and provide references

After writing your essay, proofread it, rewrite it, and use Spell-check to check for grammar, facts, dates, footnotes, and bibliography. Rewriting the essay will also enable you to check for plagiarism. Alternatively, you can have your teacher or advisor look over your essay for corrections before rewriting it. Ensure that you reference your research sources in your notes and bibliography.

How the Texas History Essay Contest is Judged

Participants of the essay contest should be students of appropriate age for the 4th grade or 7th grade. The information that candidates will use to write their essays must come from a reliable published source (magazine/book) that has a recognized author and publisher. Additionally, essays will be judged on the originality of the idea, cohesiveness of thought, and organization.

Why We Love the Texas History Essay Contest

Get to know about your community’s history

By participating in the Texas History Essay Contest, you will get to know more about the history of the Texans. This will help you to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the history of the community that you live in.

Kickstart a career in history

As you research books, magazines, newspapers, the internet, or even tour historic sites to interview history professionals, you may find yourself loving history as a career. After the contest (even if you win or lose), the knowledge gained from the research can help you to pursue a history degree in a college or university in Texas.

Consolation prices for the ten finalists

Prizes to be won in the Texas Essay Contest are not only limited to the top three finalists. Interestingly, all ten finalists of the essay contest will receive a $100 gift card, a Save Texas History backpack, and a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Texas Land Commissioner.

The contest promotes the history of Texas

Today, it may be difficult for young students to narrate the history of their community or state but the Texas History Essay Contest offers an opportunity for high school students in Texas to know the history of Texans.

The prize can be used as a scholarship

While the prizes of the essay contest are given to the winners in cash, winners may choose to use theirs as a scholarship in college.

Hone your essay writing skills

Conducting research to gather information, applying spellcheck to check for grammar, referencing your research sources, and checking for plagiarism in your essay will help you to hone your essay writing skills.

Become popular in the state of Texas

Emerging as one of the winners in the essay contest shows that you have a comprehensive knowledge of Texas’ history and receive your prize from the Texas Land Commissioner will increase your popularity in your community and Texas.

Get to dine with the sponsors

The outstanding fourth and seventh-grade students from the Texas History Essay Contest will be invited to dine with the sponsors at a luncheon at DRT Convention.

Additional Scholarships

Inspirasian scholarships.

InspirASIAN National Scholarships and InspirASIAN State Scholarships are annual programs offering $2,000 and $1,000 to selected high school students for college studies.

Don’t mess with Texas Scholarships

The $9,000 Don't Mess With Texas Scholarship is awarded in partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful given to high school seniors that are keeping their schools and communities clean.

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Scholarship Search

Texas History Essay Contest

Sponsored by: Sons of the Republic of Texas

Apply Online

Applicant must submit a 1,500- to 2,000-word essay on Texas history. Selection is based upon depth of research into Texas history, originality of thought and expression, and organization.

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Sons of the Republic of Texas sponsors 2 more scholarships

  • Presidio La Bahia Award
  • Summerfield G. Roberts Award

Contact Information

Janet Hickl Administrative Assistant Sons of the Republic of Texas 0

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‘Where We Are’: A Photo Essay Contest for Exploring Community

Using an immersive Times series as inspiration, we invite teenagers to document the local communities that interest them. Contest dates: Feb. 14 to March 20.

A group of friends sitting on an orange picnic blanket in a sun-dappled park, surrounded by green grass and trees.

By The Learning Network

The Covid-19 pandemic closed schools and canceled dances. It emptied basketball courts, theaters, recreation centers and restaurants. It sent clubs, scout troops and other groups online.

Now, many people have ventured back out into physical spaces to gather with one another once again. What does in-person “community” look like today? And what are the different ways people are creating it?

In this new contest, inspired by “ Where We Are ” — an immersive visual project from The New York Times that explores the various places around the world where young people come together — we’re inviting teenagers to create their own photo essays to document the local, offline communities that interest them.

Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below to see if this is right for your students. We have also posted a student forum and a step-by-step lesson plan . Please ask any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.

Here’s what you need to know:

The challenge, a few rules, resources for teachers and students, frequently asked questions, submission form.

Using The Times’s Where We Are series as a guide, create a photo essay that documents an interesting local, offline community. Whether your grandmother’s Mah Jong club, the preteens who hang out at a nearby basketball court, or the intergenerational volunteers who walk the dogs for your neighborhood animal shelter, this community can feature people of any age, as long as it gathers in person.

We encourage you to choose a community you are not a part of for reasons we explain below, in the F.A.Q.

Whichever community you choose, however, it’ll be your job to interview and photograph them. Then, you’ll pull everything together in a visual essay, which will tell the group’s story via a short introduction and a series of captioned photographs.

Your photo essay MUST include:

Between six and eight images, uploaded in the order in which you’d like us to view them.

A short caption of no more than 50 words for each image that helps explain what it shows and why it is important to the story.

A short introduction of up to 300 words that offers important background or context that complements and adds to the information in the photos and captions. You might consider the introduction the beginning of your essay, which the photos and captions will then continue. Together they will answer questions like who this community is, how it came to be, and why it matters. (Our How-To guide offers more detail about this.)

At least one quote — embedded in either the introduction or one of the captions — from a member of the community about what makes it meaningful.

In addition to the guidelines above, here are a few more details:

You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate , and all students must have parent or guardian permission to enter. Please see the F.A.Q. section for additional eligibility details.

The photographs and writing you submit should be fundamentally your own — they should not be plagiarized, created by someone else or generated by artificial intelligence.

Your photo essay should be original for this contest. That means it should not already have been published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.

Keep in mind that the work you send in should be appropriate for a Times audience — that is, something that could be published in a family newspaper (so, please, no curse words).

You may work alone, in pairs, or in groups of up to four for this challenge , but students should submit only one entry each.

Remember to get permission from those you photograph, and to collect their contact information. Learn more about this in the F.A.Q. below.

You must also submit a short, informal “artist’s statement” as part of your submission, that describes your process. These statements, which will not be used to choose finalists, help us to design and refine our contests. See the F.A.Q. to learn more.

All entries must be submitted by March 20, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time using the electronic form below.

Use these resources to help you create your photo essay:

A related Student Opinion question to help you brainstorm ideas before you begin taking photos.

A step-by-step guide that uses examples from the Where We Are series to walk students through creating their own.

Free links to the “Where We Are” Collection :

1. The Magic of Your First Car 2. At This Mexican Restaurant, Everyone is Family 3. Where the Band Kids Are 4. In This Nigerian Market, Young Women Find a Place of Their Own 5. At Camp Naru, Nobody Is ‘an Outlier’ 6. For Black Debutantes in Detroit, Cotillion Is More Than a Ball 7. At This Wrestling Academy, Indian Girls Are ‘Set Free’ 8. In Seville, Spain, These Young Rappers Come Together to Turn ‘Tears Into Rhymes’ 9. For a Queer Community in Los Angeles, This Public Park Is a Lifeline 10. In Guatemala, A Collective of Young Artists Finds Family Through Film 11. On a Caribbean Island, Young People Find Freedom in ‘Bike Life’ 12. At This Texas Campus Ministry, ‘Inclusive Love’ Is the Mission 13. For Young Arab Americans in Michigan, the Hookah Lounge Feels like Home

An activity sheet for understanding and analyzing the Where We Are series.

Lessons on interviewing and taking photographs . While these two resources were originally created for our 2022 Profile Contest , each contains scores of tips from educators and Times journalists that can help students learn to interview, and to take and select compelling photographs that tell a story.

Our contest rubric . These are the criteria we will use to judge this contest. Keep them handy to make sure your photo essay meets all of the qualifications before entering.

Below are answers to your questions about writing, judging, the rules and teaching with this contest. Please read these thoroughly and, if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, post your query in the comments or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT CREATING YOUR PHOTO ESSAY

What is a photo essay? How does it differ from just a series of photos?

A photo essay tells a story through a series of images. These images work together and build on each other to explore a theme of some kind. The photo essays in the Where We Are series, for instance, focus on the themes of community and coming-of-age, but each through a different lens, as the three images published here illustrate. Together they are beautiful examples of how visual collections can investigate ideas by illuminating both the “big picture” and the tiny, telling details.

How do I choose a good subject for this?

Our Student Opinion forum can help via its many questions that encourage you to brainstorm local, offline communities of all kinds.

Can I be a member of the community I photograph?

You can, but we encourage you not to. Part of the point of this contest is to help you investigate the interesting subcultures in your area, and expand your understanding of “community” by finding out about groups you otherwise may never have known existed.

But we also think it will be easier to do the assignment as an outsider. You will be coming to the community with “fresh eyes” and relative objectivity, and will be able to notice things that insiders may be too close to see.

If you do choose to depict a community you are a part of, we ask that you do not include yourself in the photos.

I’d like to work with others to create this. How do I do that?

You can work alone, with a partner, or with up to three other people. So, for example, in a group of four, two people might act as photographers, while the other two interview community members. When you are ready to edit your material and write up what you have discovered, the interviewers could use their notes to handle the short introduction, while the photographers could edit their shots into a meaningful visual sequence, and help collaborate on the captions.

Please remember, however, that you can only have your name on one submission.

Do I need permission to photograph the people in this community?

You do. It is good journalistic practice to tell the people you are photographing why you are taking pictures of them, and to ask their permission. They should also know that, if you are a winner, their image and name may appear online.

Though you do not have to have a signed permission sheet from every participant, if you are a winner and we publish your work, we will need to be able to reach those depicted, so please get their contact information before you take their pictures. (If you are photographing young children, this is especially important. Secure a parent or guardian’s permission first.)

An important exception to this: If you are taking photos of crowds in public places, such as at a sporting event, a community meeting or a local fair, you don’t need to worry about permissions, as it would be impossible to get them from all attendees.

I don’t know where to begin! What advice do you have?

Once you’ve chosen a community to photograph, begin by introducing yourself to ensure the participants are open to your project. Then, devote a bit of time to just observing, noticing how and where the members of this group spend time, what they do together, and how they relate to each other.

When you’re ready to start documenting what you find, our step-by-step guide will help you take it from there.

QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDGING

How will my photo essay be judged?

Your work will be read by New York Times journalists as well as by Learning Network staff members and educators from around the United States. We will use this rubric to judge entries.

What’s the prize?

Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to be chosen to have your work published in the print editions of The New York Times.

When will the winners be announced?

About two months after the contest has closed.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES

Who is eligible to participate in this contest?

This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry. However, high school students (including high school postgraduate students) who are taking one or more college classes can participate. Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate. In addition, students age 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate.

The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.

Why are you asking for an Artist’s Statement about our process? What will you do with it?

All of us who work on The Learning Network are former teachers. One of the many things we miss, now that we work in a newsroom rather than a classroom, is being able to see how students are reacting to our “assignments” in real time — and to offer help, or tweaks, to make those assignments better. We’re asking you to reflect on what you did and why, and what was hard or easy about it, in large part so that we can improve our contests and the curriculum we create to support them. This is especially important for new contests, like this one.

Another reason? We have heard from many teachers that writing these statements is immensely helpful to students. Stepping back from a piece and trying to put into words what you wanted to express, and why and how you made artistic choices to do that, can help you see your piece anew and figure out how to make it stronger. For our staff, they offer important context that help us understand individual students and submissions, and learn more about the conditions under which students around the world create.

Whom can I contact if I have questions about this contest or am having issues submitting my entry?

Leave a comment on this post or write to us at [email protected].

QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH THIS CONTEST

Do my students need a New York Times subscription to access these resources?

No. Students can get free access to the entire Where We Are series through The Learning Network . (All 13 photo essays are listed above, in our Resources section.) In addition, our related student forum , activity sheet and “how to” guide are also free, as are everything they link to.

However, if you are interested in learning more about school subscriptions, visit this page .

I’m not an art teacher. Can this work for my students too?

Yes! Though this is a new contest for us, we chose it in part because the theme of “community” is such an important one in subjects across the curriculum. In fact, we hope it might inspire teachers in different curriculum areas to collaborate.

For example, students in social studies could investigate the role of community locally, learning about the history of different influential groups. An English teacher might support students as they interview and craft their introductions and photo captions, while an art teacher could offer tips for photo composition. And, of course, a journalism teacher could guide the full project, or work with other teachers to publish the most successful results in the school paper.

How do my students prove to me that they entered this contest?

After they press “Submit” on the form below, they will see a “Thank you for your submission.” line appear. They can take a screenshot of this message. Please note: Our system does not currently send confirmation emails.

Please read the following carefully before you submit:

Students who are 13 and older in the United States or the United Kingdom, or 16 and older elsewhere in the world, can submit their own entries. Those who are 13 to 15 and live outside the United States or the United Kingdom must have an adult submit on their behalf.

All students who are under 18 must provide a parent or guardian’s permission to enter.

You will not receive email confirmation of your submission. After you submit, you will see the message “Thank you for your submission.” That means we received your entry. If you need proof of entry for your teacher, please screenshot that message.

Here is an example of how you might submit a photo with a caption and a photographer credit (Ashley Markle is the photographer):

If you have questions about your submission, please write to us at [email protected] and provide the email address you used for submission.

University of Texas at Austin

University Interscholastic League

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Latino History Essay Competition

Academic contests.

  • Contest Materials
  • Computer Applications
  • Current Issues & Events
  • Essay Contests
  • Literary Criticism
  • Ready Writing
  • Social Studies
  • Spelling & Vocabulary

Essay Contests Contact Info

Essay Contests Assistant Director: Lisa Parker

Department Phone: 512-471-5883

Founded in 2011 as an event sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin, the Latino History Essay Competition has found a new home with UIL Academics beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. In its initial year the competition was open to students in South Texas; beginning with 2012-2013 the competition was opened to students statewide.

Competition Theme

Historical and cultural legacies of latinos in texas history.

Essays should focus on a prominent or relatively unknown Latino individual, organization or movement in Texas history. How has the subject of the essay positively and significantly influenced today's Latino communities?

Entry Deadline

February 14, 2024 .

Entries will be submitted electronically. All essays received on or before February 14, 2024, that meet the basic requirements of the competition will be entered for judging.

General Guidelines

• Essay with a word count between 1,500 and 2,500 words.

• Research paper format - MLA format or APA format recommended

• Source citations and bibliography required

• Essays should display original research; use of primary sources and interviews strongly encouraged

Competition Structure and Awards

• Any student in grades 9-12 who attends a UIL member high school is eligible to enter

• Open division structure - all entries that meet basic requirements will be included in essay judging

• Judges will evaluate each entry and provide comments that will be returned to contestants

• Judges will nominate essays to be considered as state finalists

• A selection committee will determine state finalists from among the nominees

• All state finalists will be invited to attend Academic State Meet in May, where state awards will be presented

• All state finalists will become eligible to apply for Texas Interscholastic League Foundation scholarships

Essay Competition Main Page

Forms and documents.

  • LHEC Entry Instructions
  • LHEC 2024 Entry Form    
  • Essay Evaluation Form
  • Download a promotional flyer

Additional Information

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Packet of 1st Place Essays

2022 LHEC Results 

IMAGES

  1. Local History is Texas History

    texas history essay contest

  2. The 29th Texas History Essay Contest

    texas history essay contest

  3. Local History is Texas History

    texas history essay contest

  4. DRT Announces Winner of 2023 Texas History Essay Contest

    texas history essay contest

  5. Of Pride and Place

    texas history essay contest

  6. Local History is Texas History

    texas history essay contest

COMMENTS

  1. Essay Contest

    2023 Save Texas History Essay Contest Results. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the 2023 Save Texas History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History Program.

  2. PDF Texas History Essay Contest

    The purpose of the Texas History Essay Contest program is: (First) To encourage students to explore the pioneer spirit of Texas on the early-day frontier, their methods of accomplishing their goals under very difficult circumstances, and the results of their efforts that we can see today.

  3. Texas History Essays

    The Historic Education Committee of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, chaired by the Historian General, conducts an annual Texas History Essay Contest for Fourth (4th) Grade Students and a Texas History Essay Contest for Seventh (7th) Grade Students. Texas History Essay Topics for 2024

  4. Commissioner Buckingham Announces the 2023 Save Texas History Essay

    (512) 936-9582 [email protected] PDF Version PRESS RELEASE — Aug 18, 2023 Austin — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is proud to announce the kickoff of the 2023 Save Texas History Essay Contest for 4 th and 7 th grade students.

  5. Texas History Essay Contest

    Opens: 11/1/2023 Closes: 1/31/2024 Texas History Essay Contest recognizes and rewards, with college scholarships, high school seniors who write outstanding essays on the history of Texas. Apply Now Win up to $ 4,000 Essay Required: Yes Need-Based: No Merit-Based: No Website Requirements

  6. The Sons of the Republic of Texas

    The purpose of this Texas History Essay Contest is to encourage students to explore the pioneer spirit of Texans on the early-day frontier, their methods of accomplishing their goals under very difficult circumstances, and the results of their efforts that we can see today.

  7. Commissioner George P. Bush Announces 2020 Save Texas History Essay Contest

    AUSTIN — Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is proud to announce the kick-off of the 2020 Save Texas History Essay Contest for fourth and seventh-grade students. The Save Texas History Essay Contest encourages students to answer an important question: "What history in your community is worth saving?"

  8. Commissioner George P. Bush Announces Winners of The 2021 Save Texas

    AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the winners of the 2021 Save Texas History essay contest. The two winners, fourth grade student Dominique "Nicky" McAnespy and seventh grade student Avi Ignacio Singleterry, were selected from among their peers with essays that highlighted each of their hometowns.

  9. Commissioner George P. Bush Announces 2022 Save Texas History Essay Contest

    AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is proud to announce the kickoff of the 2022 Save Texas History Essay Contest for 4th and 7th grade students. The Save Texas History Essay Contest encourages students to answer an important question: "What history in your community is worth saving?"

  10. PDF Texas History Essay Contest Guidelines

    TEXAS HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST GUIDELINES ... A History of Texas and Texans, New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968. James, Marquis: The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston. Atlanta: Mockingbird Books, Inc., 1929 Vigness, David M. "The Coming of the Anglo-Americans." The Texas Heritage, Ed., by Ben Procter and Archie P. McDonald, St.

  11. The 29th Texas History Essay Contest

    The Texas History Essay Contest is open to all 7th grade students in the San Antonio area. The 2024 Essay Contest topic is "Chiseled in Stone: Iconic San Antonio Architecture". Two divisions will award top three (3) student finalists in public or private school division: Public Schools Division First Prize: Laptop Computer Second Prize: $500

  12. GLO Comm. Dawn Buckingham Announces Winners & Finalists of 2024 'Save

    Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas - Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the 2024 Save Texas History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History Program.

  13. Commissioner Buckingham Announces the Winners and Finalists of the 2024

    AUSTIN—Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the 2024 Save Texas History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History Program. Fourth and seventh-grade students from across the state ...

  14. Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition

    Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition. Founded in 1995 as an event sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin, the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition moved to its new home with UIL Academics in 2011-2012. The competition provides students an opportunity to explore the contributions of African Americans to Texas history, as ...

  15. Students compete in essay contest to find what Texas history is ...

    Fourth and seventh-grade students across Texas competed in the annual Save Texas History Essay Contest. The winners and finalists were announced today by the Texas Land Commissioner Dawn ...

  16. DRT Announces Winner of 2023 Texas History Essay Contest

    DRT William Carroll Crawford Chapter. February 9, 2023 - The William Carroll Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) are honored to announce Gabriella Mendoza, a 4th grader at Tenaha ISD, was the Chapter Winner in the 2023 DRT Texas History Essay Contest. Mendoza's essay advances to the District contest.

  17. Texas History Essay Contest

    The Texas History Essay Contest is a statewide initiative aimed at rallying funding for the preservation of vital historic documents and encouraging young students in Texas to promote the history of their communities. It is sponsored by the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History Program.

  18. Texas History Essay Contest

    Texas History Essay Contest Sponsored by: Sons of the Republic of Texas Favorite Apply Online $3,000 Max $1,000 Min Details Applicant must submit a 1,500- to 2,000-word essay on Texas history. Selection is based upon depth of research into Texas history, originality of thought and expression, and organization. FAQ

  19. St. Paul's students win Texas history essay contest

    The Save Texas History contest is an annual essay competition open to fourth- and seventh-grade students across the state and promotes the preservation of local history.

  20. Texas History Essay Contest

    texas history essay contest Awarded By: Sons of the Republic of Texas Number of Awards & Eligibility: Three awards offered annually. In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria: Sign Up To View Description: This award is for U.S. high school seniors.

  21. 'Where We Are': A Photo Essay Contest for Exploring Community

    Coming soon! A step-by-step guide that uses examples from the Where We Are series to walk students through creating their own. Free links to the "Where We Are" Collection: 1. The Magic of Your ...

  22. Latino History Essay Competition

    Latino History Essay Competition. Founded in 2011 as an event sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin, the Latino History Essay Competition has found a new home with UIL Academics beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. In its initial year the competition was open to students in South Texas; beginning with 2012-2013 the competition was ...