High School Senior Essay Contest
OPEN FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
Our Senior Essay Contest was established in 1966 to provide our graduating students an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion on current events. This contest is open to any senior currently enrolled in an Oklahoma Public School. Local 1st through 5th place winners receive a certificate. State winners 1st through 10th place receive a certificate and a cash prize, and the funds are for the winners to spend as they wish!
Each year, a new topic is selected that will truly challenge the seniors to think about the impacts of culture on our everyday lives. By engaging students in this writing exercise, we hope they will demonstrate proficiency in expressing observations, thoughts, and conclusions logically and professionally.
The 2026 - 2027 Essay Topic is:
“How Does Civic Involvement Benefit Individuals and Communities?”
Prompt: Many observers notice that individuals are less involved in civic and community organizations than in the past. What role has civic, or community involvement, played in your life, and what is its importance overall to individuals and the communities in which we live?
Contest Overview:
• Any Oklahoma public school senior is eligible to submit one essay.
• Essays must be the student’s original work. An attestation signed by the teacher and the student that no AI was used must be submitted with the essay.
• Submit essays online as a .PDF via our website.
• Essays must be formatted following MLA Style and no more than 1,250 words.
• Essay file should follow this naming system: Last Name-First Name_School Name.
• The deadline for submission is October 31, 2026.
