Chicago Public Schools, the American Bottling Company, Roosevelt University, Exelon and Boeing are jointly sponsoring the 2009 African American History Month Essay Competition. All ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders are invited to participate.
The topic for the essay competition is: How has the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced or inspired you or contemporary society?
Students are eligible to win an array of prizes:
- I Have a Dream Award: A $5,000 savings bond will be awarded to the student with the best grand prize essay.
- Grand prizes: Four laptop computers and printers will be awarded to the students with the top four essays.
- Second place prizes: Four digital cameras and photo printers will be awarded to the students with the four second place essays.
- Scholarships: Four $5,000 Roosevelt University scholarships will be offered. Grand prize winning schools will identify potential scholarship recipients by April 1, 2009. Recipients will need to meet university admission criteria, with preference going first to 12th grade essay contest winners, then to other academically qualified seniors.
Rules for the competition and an entry form are available at each high school or can be 
downloaded here. Completed essays should be submitted to the competition coordinator at each school no later than January 26, 2009. Essays will be judged on originality and creativity, cultural knowledge and research, organizational structure and clarity, as well as spelling and grammar.
Winners will attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation Dream Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Crystal Ballroom in Chicago on February 17, 2009. A recognition banquet will also be held where the winners will receive their prizes.
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