Wilmington and Clinton County high school students in grades 10 through 12 and students enrolled at Wilmington College, Wilmington College at Blue Ash or Southern State Community College North Campus are eligible to enter the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest sponsored by Wilmington College.

Each student must submit a completed official entry form along with an original 500 to 1,000-word essay based on the 2016 local theme: “Knowing that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of civil rights for all people, how do you think he would respond to, and expand upon, today’s Black Lives Matter movement?”

The detailed essay prompt is included in the entry form/rules brochure available online: <http://libguides.wilmington.edu/king>.

Wilmington College’s Watson Library must receive the high school entries no later than Jan. 8 to be eligible for prizes while the college entries are due by Jan. 13.

First, second, and third prizes of $50, $25, and $10, respectively, will be awarded for the top three essays at each level (high school or college) and some additional students may receive honorable mention recognition from the judges.

Prizewinners will be announced at the College/community program observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m., in WC’s Heiland Theatre.