ASU invites schoolchildren to enter creative contest


Arizona State University invites schoolchildren from all over the state to enter its 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. essay-poster contest. Winners will receive savings bonds and have their entries displayed at ASU.

They also will be honored at ASU's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration breakfast in January, along with their parents, teachers and school principals. Entries must be postmarked by Nov. 4. 

ASU started the contest 25 years ago to encourage children to discuss the ideals of the late civil-rights leader with their parents and teachers. Students are asked to create their entries around the theme, "Beyond the Dream: Building Communities Through Servant Leadership," focusing on a member of their family, school or community who demonstrates leadership through service.

Essays or poems depicting the theme must be 250 words or less. The winning posters will be made into bookmarks, so they must be oblong in shape — as small as 4 1/2 by 11 inches but no larger than 6 3/4 by 17 inches. Prizes are $150, $100 and $75 savings bonds.

Entries in each of the three categories will be judged by grade level: primary (K-2nd grade), intermediate (3rd-5th grade), middle (6th-8th grade) and secondary (9th-12th grade). Winning entries will be chosen on the basis of originality, clarity, creativity and best depiction of the theme.

Entry forms will be posted on the Web site, http://www.asu.edu/mlk/contest.html. For more information or to request entry forms in the mail, call Heidi Maxwell at (602) 543-5306 or e-mail heidi.maxwell@asu.edu.