By Lindsey Bennett

IV Leader Opinion Editor

The Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest deadline is Friday, Feb. 10. Participants should email Amanda Cook-Fesperman at [email protected] with their name and phone number attached with their entry.

The entries can be anything from poems to personal narratives, essays, stories and even plays. According to Cook-Fesperman, students are welcome to write about personal experiences, about a historical figure, a current issue in civil rights, which includes but is not limited to race, women’s rights and LGBT rights.

“There are a variety of criteria,” Cook-Fesperman states, “But the most important is insight into civil rights. This is less a contest about who is the best writer and more about who can offer a unique and interesting perspective insight on civil rights.”

Cook-Fesperman began the writing contest along with the diversity team over 10 years ago.

“I felt the contest would give students an opportunity to reflect on civil rights and, thus, honor Dr. King.” Cook-Fesperman explains.

Cook-Fesperman does not judge the contest but removes contact information from the essays and distributes them to the members of the Diversity Team for judging.

Winners of the contest can expect to be notified within a week, and a winner’s reception will be held at the end of Black History Month.

First place will win $100, second place wins $75 and third place wins $50. Each winner is given a certificate and can showcase their entry at the winner’s reception.