Civil War Essay Contest Deadline is February 25
Posted by Gilder Lehrman Staff on Sunday, 01/07/2018
The Gilder Lehrman Institute presents an annual essay contest for Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School students in grades 5–12
The Civil War Essay contest encourages students to examine the nation’s most divisive conflict using letters, speeches, songs, photographs, newspapers, military orders, and other documents, conducting research in primary as well as secondary sources, to create original written or filmed work of excellent quality.
Prizes
High School
First Place: $1,000 to the student and $500 to the school
Second Place: $750 to the student
Third Place: $500 to the student
Honorable Mention: $100 to seven honorable mentions
In addition, the student with the top entry from each school will receive a Gilder Lehrman Institute publication to recognize their achievement. The school with the most entries and the school with the highest average judges’ score (minimum 10 entries) will each receive a special certificate and pack of materials.
Middle School
First Place: $300 to the student
Second Place: $200 to the student
Third Place: $100 to the student
In addition, the student with the top entry from each school will receive a Gilder Lehrman Institute publication to recognize their achievement. The school with the most entries and the school with the highest average judges’ score (minimum 10 entries) will each receive a special certificate and pack of materials.
Documentary Film Category
Students have the option of submitting a documentary film. We strongly encourage collaboration between language arts and social studies departments to assist students with all aspects of the writing process, and between social studies and arts teachers to assist students with documentary film production and editing.
First Place: $1,000 and an archive of great Civil War documentaries to the student
Second Place: $750 to the student
Third Place: $500 to the student
Submission Requirements for All Categories
All entries are due at the Gilder Lehrman Institute by Monday, February 25, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. ET.