“BLACK CONTRIBUTIONS in AMERICAN LIFE and HISTORY”
Sponsored by The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum
For more information about The Lyceum: https://www.marshall.edu/woodsonlyceum/
Additional details of Woodson’s life can be found here: https://www.biography.com/scholar/carter-g-woodson
Prizes Awarded
- $100 Prize for Poster Design by an Elementary School Student
- $100 Prize for Poster Design by a Middle School Student
- $100 Prize for Poster Design by a High School Student
Due November 18th, 2022
Theme
“BLACK CONTRIBUTIONS in AMERICAN LIFE and HISTORY” is the 2023 poster theme, which is also this year’s National Black History Theme as established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Eligibility
This competition is dedicated to public, private, and home-schooled K-12 students. The competition is open to students in any academic discipline. Teachers are welcomed to incorporate the competition into course learning objectives. Any student may enter independently. One entry per student. It is free to enter.
Poster Design
Students are encouraged to be creative and to explore ideas and concepts. You may create your poster using digital tools and/or traditional media such as markers, paint, pens, collage, etc.
Posters should be either 8 ½ x 11 or 11 x 14 inches.
Your entry will be judged based on these criteria.
- the extent to which your design effectively expresses the 2022 Black History Theme;
- the potential of your design to improve race relations and/or preserve/observe Black history;
- poster design quality; and
- completion of a “What I Learned” statement of at least 75 words describing what you learned during your research and considered in designing your poster.
Resources
- Here is a helpful tutorial for taking and editing photographs of artwork with a phone camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKgWIzvm3Hs
- If you have any questions regarding this poster competition or your entry, contact Professor Burnis Morris at morrisb@marshall.edu.
Entry Guidelines and Checklist
- My entry is either a JPG file or PDF no larger than 4 MB. Posters created in traditional materials may be either digitally photographed or scanned for entry.
- I understand that entering this competition constitutes agreement with the terms of the competition and provides Marshall University the right to use winning entries for promotion of the sponsor’s programs.
- I have written a “What I Learned” statement to submit with my poster.
Timeline
October 1 – November 18, 2022:
Develop your Black History poster entry and accompanying statement.
- Submit your entry online. The deadline is November 18th, 2022, 11:59 pm.
- Teachers and parents are encouraged to assist students in completing the online submission process. Remember, use only JPG or PDF formats and try to keep files under 4 MB. Winning entries are selected based on response to the theme (BLACK CONTRIBUTIONS in AMERICAN LIFE and HISTORY), concept, design, and completion of a statement.
December 2022:
The review committee will meet prior to the end of the calendar year. Marshall University faculty, staff, and alumni and community leaders serve on the review committee. Entries are judged anonymously; however, the student’s name and the name of their school will be added to the winning posters along with logos of Marshall University and The Lyceum. These logos are shown on this competition announcement. Winners may be asked to respond to feedback from the review committee prior to distribution.
January 2023:
The winning entries will be unveiled at an Awards Ceremony that typically takes place at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia on or before the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in January. Winners will be invited guests at the Awards Ceremony and will have the option to attend virtually. Winners will be invited to provide a portrait photo for press releases. The winning posters will be professionally produced and displayed on the Marshall University campus in Huntington, West Virginia and featured on The Woodson Lyceum’s website. To collect a winner’s prize, parents or guardians must grant permission to The Lyceum and school district to publish and display the student’s winning poster. Winners will need to complete one or more forms in order to receive the monetary prize. Printed copies of the posters are available upon request.