By Gwendolyn B. Parker, Committee Member

To rekindle our youth’s regard for patriotism, the Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee is pleased to offer the Americanism Essay Contest to fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students.

The 2023-24 theme is “What the Bill of Rights Means to Me.” It is aimed at providing our youth with an appreciation of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution and their importance to every citizen.

The deadline for submitting entries to your Local Lodges is December 15, 2023. All essays must go through the judging process through your Local Lodge first, then to your States District Lodge Activities Chairman, then on to your State Chair.

This is the perfect time to communicate with your local schools to place the contest in their curriculum and provide them with pertinent information about the contest. Grand Lodge will award $1,000 to the first-place winners in each age division, $500 to second place, and $250 to third place. Winners will be announced at the Grand Lodge Session in Austin, TX in July 2024.