Senator Chris Murphy invites students to participate in the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest!
Senator Murphy is inviting elementary, middle, and high school students from across Connecticut to help honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by writing essays that reflect on Dr. King's dream, their own aspirations, and the importance of what Dr. King means to them.
Deadlines:
The deadline for student submissions is Monday February 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Winners will be announced and contacted on Friday, February 27th, 2026.
Please note, we will only accept the copied and pasted text. Links to Google Docs or PDF files will not be accepted.
For other submission types, please see the FAQs section below.
Writing Prompt: You likely know Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington, but many people played an important role on that historic day — persuading hundreds of thousands of their neighbors and community members to join their peaceful cause. Like the organizers of the March on Washington who joined with Dr. King, describe a way you either have or want to make a difference in your own community, working towards a better world right at home.
Essay Guidelines: Please note, this is not a biographical essay. It is encouraged that students write a reflective essay on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream in relation to their own dreams, personal goals and experiences. Students should follow the recommended word count guidelines listed below. Elementary school students may submit essays with drawings, artwork or photos. Please see the FAQs section below for more information.
Word Count Guidelines:
Elementary School (K-5): 100-300 words. Middle School (6-8): 300-400 words. High School (9-12): 500-600 words.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How do I submit an essay?
Student essays can be submitted electronically through the Essay Submission Form, emailed, or mailed directly to our Hartford office. Student essays must be their own. They should not be plagiarized, and they should not be written using AI of any kind. Entries flagged using AI will be disqualified.
Via Email: please send a scanned image or PDF file of the essay with attached Cover Form to: MLK_Essay@murphy.senate.gov.
Via Mail: please print out the attached Cover Form and mail it with your essay to Senator Murphy’s office at:
Office of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy
ATTN: MLK Essay Contest
120 Huyshope Avenue, Suite 401
Hartford, CT 06106
- How do I submit drawings, artwork or photos?
Artwork entries can be mailed or emailed using the methods listed above. Please attach the Cover Form with emailed or mailed artwork.
- Can teachers submit their students' essays?
Yes. Teachers are welcome to submit essays by mail or email. Please see the submission methods above.
- I am having trouble submitting the essay through the online form. What do I do?
Please contact us at MLK_Essay@murphy.senate.gov for alternate submission options.
- Does the heading and title count towards my word count?
No, only the body of the essay does.
- Can I submit an essay written in Spanish?
Yes. We accept essays in English or Spanish.
- What is the difference between a biographical and reflective essay?
Biographical essays describe and recount an individual’s life through events and historical information. Reflective essays incorporate personal beliefs and experiences from a writer to reflect on a topic or event.
For this essay contest, we ask that students reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream in relation to their own dreams, personal goals and experiences.
- When are the winners announced?
Our office will announce winners on Friday, February 27th. Schools and parents will be notified directly if a student has won.
- What do you win?
Winning entries will be hung in Senator Murphy's office. Additionally, Senator Murphy will host a celebratory breakfast or luncheon for students, their families, and school officials to attend.
- Have more questions?
Please contact our office at MLK_Essay@murphy.senate.gov.
You can find last year’s winners below:
Elementary School Students may submit essays with drawings or photos.