Participants must be current undergraduate or graduate students in any college of Eastern University at the time of submission.

Only one entry to the contest is allowed per student.

All entries should be emailed to justice@eastern.edu by March 5, 2018 (6pm EST).

Each entry must consist of two separate files (article and cover letter) prepared in a Word document.

The article file of an essay or a research paper must not contain the author's name, identification number, or any other identifying information to allow blind review.

The cover letter should include the author's phone, email address, student ID number, student status (undergraduate or graduate student), and an integrity statement: "Only I/we, [NAME/S], authored and edited this essay/research paper without assistance from others, and this essay/research paper has not been submitted for publication elsewhere or previously published." Essays/research papers without the integrity statement will not be considered for the contest.

Essays refer to writings based on personal reflections on issues or themes addressed in the speech and need not to rely heavily on literature review.

Essays must be authored by single individuals.

Essays should be between 2,000 to 2,500 words, type-written, and in 12-point Times New Roman font.

Research papers refer to both conceptual articles, based on literature-based research, and empirical research reports, based on empirical data collected for original research.

Research papers may be authored by a group of student researchers who actually conducted the study. In case of a group entry, the prize money will be shared among authors.

Research papers should be between 3,500 to 4,000 words, type-written, and in 12-point Times New Roman font.

• In 2026, the annual MLK contest opened submissions to Eastern’s Prison Education Program students. This year’s prompt was the same as last year, but asked to a unique group of students with remarkable insight into injustice. 

• Delivered in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” reflected on the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement, expressed unwavering hope for the future, and called for unity, courage, and action in the face of injustice. Tragically, Dr. King was assassinated the following day. In 2025, with a world still grappling with systemic injustice and political divisions, respondents were asked how to embody Dr. King’s call to action and rise to the challenges of our time with hope and determination. This year, in addition to the essay and research categories, a creative arts category was introduced. 

• 55 years after Dr. King’s prophetic “Beyond Vietnam – A Time to Break the Silence” speech, respondents were asked to apply King’s revolution of values to contemporary post-pandemic issues. During a season of record-setting unemployment, loss, grief, and rising inflation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as political protests and division, climate crises, threatening wars, and trauma, Dr. King’s words seem a challenge to those who love justice, especially those who follow Christ. This contest asked respondents to reflect on what values justice demands and how followers of Christ should advance them.
• Winner: Evon Series
• Quote from Evon Series, winner of the 2022 essay competition: “writing felt like bringing further awareness to, and carrying on, [Martin Luther King Jr.’s] call for justice empowered by a life of faith”

• In this inaugural MLK Essay Contest, respondents were asked to reflect on Dr. King’s famous speech “Where Do We Go From Here?” On its 50th anniversary, respondents reflected on its themes, presented an argument for whether conditions have changed, and proposed solutions. There was an essay submission with personal reflection, as well as a research submission which relied upon empirical data.