2025 Maryknoll Student Essay Contest
ASSIGNMENT:
Pope Leo XIV is a “Pope of the Americas” — a citizen of both the United States and Peru whose life was shaped by different cultures. In his first words as pope, he spoke of building “bridges with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people, always at peace.” Share a personal story of how you, or someone close to you, was changed by an encounter that bridged cultures and revealed God’s love.
Highschool
1st Place Prize:
$1,000 per division
2nd Place Prize:
$700 per division
3rd Place Prize:
$250 per division
Middle School
1st Place Prize:
$500 per division
2nd Place Prize:
$300 per division
3rd Place Prize:
$150 per division
ASSIGNMENT
Pope Leo XIV is a “Pope of the Americas” — a citizen of both the United States and Peru whose life was shaped by different cultures. In his first words as pope, he spoke of building “bridges with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people, always at peace.” Share a personal story of how you, or someone close to you, was changed by an encounter that bridged cultures and revealed God’s love.
ENTRY
Entries should be 500–750 words. Essays should include your name and division typed on each page.
Note: Spelling and grammar count.
Students may
1) submit essays online OR
2) mail essays to the address below. Mailed essays should be typed and stapled, each attached to an ENTRY COVER SHEET
Essays will not be accepted without an entry form.
ELIGIBILITY
Students in grades 6–8 (Division I) and grades 9–12 (Division II) who are currently enrolled in a Catholic school, religious education program, or youth ministry program are eligible.
DEADLINE
Entries must be submitted online or postmarked by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025. First-place essays will appear in the Summer 2026 Maryknoll Magazine. All winning entries will be published online at MaryknollSociety.org/Winners by May 1, 2026.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call 1-914-570-4118 or email Walter Hidalgo at whidalgo@maryknoll.org for more information.
For more educational and catechetical resources, please visit: discoveryourneighbor.org
MAIL TO
2025 Student Essay Contest, Division, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302
Call: 1-914-570-4118, ext. 2487
2025 Maryknoll Student Essay Entry
Contestant / Entrant (or parent or guardian if under the age of 18) must go online to read the Official Rules at https://maryknollsociety.org/official-rules/ and then either sign the Consent Agreement online or if entering by mail must sign and return the Consent Agreement below. Unsigned Forms will not be considered.
