The Bastrop County Historical Commission invites Bastrop County high school students who are enrolled in an American History class to express their view on which stakeholders have helped to maintain the Declaration of Independence. The essay contest kicks-off the Bastrop Historical Commission observance of the 250th year celebration of the United States of America.
Theme: What individual or group do you believe made the most significant contribution to promoting the principles in the Declaration of Independence?
Please provide reasoning for your choice.
Submission Deadline: April 24, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. CST
Cash Prizes:
- 1st Place – $500
- 2nd Place – $300
- 3rd Place – $200
Prizes will be presented either during the announcement of winners or at a designated event commemorating America’s 250th Birthday.
Eligibility Requirements:
The contest is open to high school students who meet the following criteria:
- Attend a public, private, parochial school, or registered home-study program in Bastrop County, Texas.
- May be enrolled in a United States history class at a county school or studying United States history at home.
- Submit all required paperwork.
Word Count Requirements:
- Your essay must be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. The word count does not include your bibliography and list of sources. Essays that do not meet this requirement will not be considered.
Rules and Guidelines:
Essays must be original and should:
- Entries must be printed on plain white 8.5” X 11” paper; double-spaced, with no extra gaps between paragraphs; 12-point font; 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right); doubled-sided.
- Indent the first line of every paragraph by 0.5 inches.
- Place the page number in the upper right corner of each page.
- Center your title on the first page of your text.
- Capitalize it using standard title case, and avoid applying bold, italics, or underlines.
- Correct formatting and proper citation of sources (in-text citations, cited works, and bibliography) are required. You must cite at least three sources.
- You are encouraged to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook as a reference. The MLA Handbook may serve as an essential guide for organizing your research and properly crediting your sources, helping you build a strong, credible argument in your writing.
General encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia, are not acceptable sources and using them will result in disqualification. It’s important to use more than just websites as sources and ensure that every online reference is cited appropriately. Plagiarism or using AI to compose your essay is not allowed in any case.
How to Submit Your Essay:
- Applications and essays must be submitted electronically.
- Fill out the application form and attach it with your essay. All fields on the form are required.
- Application forms must list the name of your teacher or sponsor. Your teacher/sponsor may review the submitted essay and serve as the key contact between you (participants) and be BCHC. It is to your advantage to have a teacher/sponsor review the essay to make sure it is complete and has the necessary format and is free from typographical and grammatical errors and fully addresses the topics.
- Do not place your last name or your school’s name on any of the pages of the essay.
- Ask your teacher or sponsor if you can submit the essay to her/him for submission to bastrophistoryessay@gmail.com . If that is not appropriate, you may submit on your own.
Judging:
- Essays will be evaluated on the depth of analysis, quality of research, and the clarity of writing, including style and mechanics.
- Essay must fully address every part of the prompt and show a strong understanding of the theme.
- All decisions of the judges are final.
Winner Announcement:
AnnouncementThe BCHC will notify the winner’s school and teacher. The winner’s name and photo (likeness), and entry (essay) will be used for the purpose of promoting the Commission’s goals and for the promotion and observance of the 250th year anniversary celebration of the United States of America. Winners may be asked to attend a special ceremony in observance of America’s 250th Celebration.
Contact Information:
Please contact your history teacher for information about guidelines for your research and drafting your essay.
For additional information, please feel free to contact the BCHC Essay Contest Administrator, Dr. Marilyn Jones, marilynjones00614@gmail.com or Ken Kesselus, ken.kesselus@gmail.com, or https://www.facebook.com/bastropcountyhistoricalcommissiontexas/