High school seniors in Dallas are invited to participate in the 2026 MLK Essay Contest. The contest awards scholarships to help offset tuition, books, room, and board. Students must attend a city of Dallas high school and reside in Dallas.
A top prize of $10,000 will be presented to outstanding essay submissions. Winners will be formally recognized at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship & Awards Gala. The gala will take place Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Applicants must submit original essays of at least 1,000 words. Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and include a cover sheet with name, school, and contact information. AI-generated essays are not accepted.
Each student may submit only one essay. Submissions will be evaluated on organization, content, creativity, and grammatical structure. Judges will review all entries carefully to select the most compelling essays.
Winners will be required to submit a short video accepting their scholarship. This video will be featured during the gala, celebrating their achievement with the community.
The submission deadline is Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Interested students can apply online at bit.ly/2026MLKScholarship. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy.
