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Welcome to the 2027 MLK Essay Competition!
In Partnership with the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs
The Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission invites students in grades 8–12 to explore the Six Principles of Nonviolence through writing and visual art. Use your creativity to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision and share your ideas about how nonviolence can shape our lives, our communities, and our future. 250 submissions are allowed per competition; participation is first come, first served.
Be aware of the following entry guidelines as you prepare your piece for submission.
- Students must be Utah residents, currently in grades 8-12, to enter.
- Student submissions should explore one or more of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Six Principles of Nonviolence.
- Students are eligible to participate in one or all three categories (poetry, essay, visual art) and may incorporate one or more of the Six Principles of Nonviolence.
- Poems may be submitted in English or in Spanish.
- Each submitted writing piece must be 300 words or fewer, double-spaced, standard font, and in Word Document or PDF format. Longer works will be disqualified.
- Submissions must be 100% original work created by the student. AI-generated content and plagiarism are not permitted.
Judging Panel Composition
- Poetry, Essay, & Visual Art Categories are evaluated by a combined panel consisting of professional poets and members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission.
Recognition and prizes
Honoraria will be awarded to top winners in each category:
- 1st Place: $300 Gift Card
- 2nd Place: $200 Gift Card
- 3rd Place: $100 Gift Card
Winners will be recognized, and students selected as honorable mentions may have opportunities to show their art, read their essays, and poems at MLK Day events around the state in January 2027.
Competition Timeline
- Competition Launch: October 23, 2026
- Submission Deadline: November 29, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. MST
- Submission Review: December 1 - December 14, 2026
- Winners will be contacted by December 16, 2026.
- Student Recognition: during MLK Day events in January 2027
The Six Principles of Nonviolence
Put your ideas into verse. Reflect on what it means to choose nonviolence in the face of conflict, injustice, or division. (The King Center’s Definition of Nonviolence) fi010-01.pdf
- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people: It is not a method for cowards; it does resist. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
- Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding: The outcome of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community. The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
- Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people: Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil, not persons victimized by evil.
- Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform people and societies: Nonviolence is a willingness to accept suffering without retaliation; to accept blows without striking back. Nonviolence is a willingness to accept violence if necessary but never inflict it. Nonviolence holds that unearned suffering for a cause is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
- Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate: Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unselfish, and creative.
- Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice: The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.
Questions? Contact mlkcommission@utah.gov
Welcome to the 2027 MLK Visual Art Competition!
In Partnership with the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs
The Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission invites students in grades 8–12 to explore the Six Principles of Nonviolence through writing and visual art. Use your creativity to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision and share your ideas about how nonviolence can shape our lives, our communities, and our future. 250 submissions are allowed per competition; participation is first come, first served.
Be aware of the following entry guidelines as you prepare your piece for submission.
- Students must be Utah residents, currently in grades 8-12, to enter.
- Student submissions should explore one or more of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Six Principles of Nonviolence.
- Students are eligible to participate in one or all three categories (poetry, essay, visual art) and may incorporate one or more of the Six Principles of Nonviolence.
- Poems may be submitted in English or in Spanish.
- Each submitted writing piece must be 300 words or fewer, double-spaced, standard font, and in Word Document or PDF format. Longer works will be disqualified.
- Submissions must be 100% original work created by the student. AI-generated content and plagiarism are not permitted.
Judging Panel Composition
- Poetry, Essay, & Visual Art Categories are evaluated by a combined panel consisting of professional poets and members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission.
Recognition and prizes
Honoraria will be awarded to top winners in each category:
- 1st Place: $300 Gift Card
- 2nd Place: $200 Gift Card
- 3rd Place: $100 Gift Card
Winners will be recognized, and students selected as honorable mentions may have opportunities to show their art, read their essays, and poems at MLK Day events around the state in January 2027.
Competition Timeline
- Competition Launch: October 23, 2026
- Submission Deadline: November 29, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. MST
- Submission Review: December 1 - December 14, 2026
- Winners will be contacted by December 16, 2026.
- Student Recognition: during MLK Day events in January 2027
The Six Principles of Nonviolence
Put your ideas into verse. Reflect on what it means to choose nonviolence in the face of conflict, injustice, or division. (The King Center’s Definition of Nonviolence) fi010-01.pdf
- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people: It is not a method for cowards; it does resist. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
- Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding: The outcome of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community. The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
- Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people: Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil, not persons victimized by evil.
- Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform people and societies: Nonviolence is a willingness to accept suffering without retaliation; to accept blows without striking back. Nonviolence is a willingness to accept violence if necessary but never inflict it. Nonviolence holds that unearned suffering for a cause is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
- Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate: Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unselfish, and creative.
- Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice: The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.
Questions? Contact mlkcommission@utah.gov
Welcome to the 2027 MLK Poetry Competition!
In Partnership with the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs
The Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission invites students in grades 8–12 to explore the Six Principles of Nonviolence through writing and visual art. Use your creativity to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision and share your ideas about how nonviolence can shape our lives, our communities, and our future. 250 submissions are allowed per competition; participation is first come, first served.
Be aware of the following entry guidelines as you prepare your piece for submission.
- Students must be Utah residents, currently in grades 8-12, to enter.
- Student submissions should explore one or more of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Six Principles of Nonviolence.
- Students are eligible to participate in one or all three categories (poetry, essay, visual art) and may incorporate one or more of the Six Principles of Nonviolence.
- Poems may be submitted in English or in Spanish.
- Each submitted writing piece must be 300 words or fewer, double-spaced, standard font, and in Word Document or PDF format. Longer works will be disqualified.
- Submissions must be 100% original work created by the student. AI-generated content and plagiarism are not permitted.
Judging Panel Composition
- Poetry, Essay, & Visual Art Categories are evaluated by a combined panel consisting of professional poets and members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission.
Recognition and prizes
Honoraria will be awarded to top winners in each category:
- 1st Place: $300 Gift Card
- 2nd Place: $200 Gift Card
- 3rd Place: $100 Gift Card
Winners will be recognized, and students selected as honorable mentions may have opportunities to show their art, read their essays, and poems at MLK Day events around the state in January 2027.
Competition Timeline
- Competition Launch: October 23, 2026
- Submission Deadline: November 29, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. MST
- Submission Review: December 1 - December 14, 2026
- Winners will be contacted by December 16, 2026.
- Student Recognition: during MLK Day events in January 2027
The Six Principles of Nonviolence
Put your ideas into verse. Reflect on what it means to choose nonviolence in the face of conflict, injustice, or division. (The King Center’s Definition of Nonviolence) fi010-01.pdf
- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people: It is not a method for cowards; it does resist. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
- Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding: The outcome of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community. The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
- Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people: Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil, not persons victimized by evil.
- Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform people and societies: Nonviolence is a willingness to accept suffering without retaliation; to accept blows without striking back. Nonviolence is a willingness to accept violence if necessary but never inflict it. Nonviolence holds that unearned suffering for a cause is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
- Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate: Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unselfish, and creative.
- Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice: The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.
Questions? Contact mlkcommission@utah.gov