It is time for the BLS Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Essay and Poetry Contest. This year we have three MLK contests: Art, Essay, and Poetry, focused on the following theme: “Centuries of Boston Latin School history and decades of MLK history have given us a blueprint for standing for justice. However, it is the everyday acts that continue to move the hands of justice and democracy. ”

Prompt: How do Boston Latin School’s THRIVE core values—respect, unity, excellence, and global citizenship—connect to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? In what ways can you, as a BLS student, put these values into your everyday actions?

ART FORMAT: Black and white or color drawing, painting, sketching, charcoal, digital media, or other appropriate media capturing the theme of young people making an impact on the future of our world. Electronic submissions to blsmlkcelebration@gmail.com (take a quality photo of the hard copy if needed). Due Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 2:30 pm. Selected artwork will be featured at the MLK event. Prize: $100 to first place winner ESSAY and POETRY CONTEST FORMAT: Times New Roman, 12 pt, double spaced, (essays: 300-400 words), name and homeroom at top. Essays should respond to the prompt, but there is flexibility to approach this question in myriad ways. Strong writings educate, inspire, and capture your authentic voice. Submit to blsmlkcelebration@gmail.com as a Google Doc by Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 2:30 pm. An excerpt of the winning essay will be shared at the MLK event in January. Prize: $100. The winning poem will be shared at the MLK event as well. Prize: $100.