Lincoln Contests Offers Cash Prizes

Submissions for Truman’s annual Lincoln Contests in art, essay and oratory, established by Fred and Ethel Schwengel to pay tribute to Abraham Lincoln, will be accepted until Feb. 28.

Those participating in essay or oratory should submit a 1,000- to 1,500-word, three- to five-page essay in response to the prompt below to Barry Poyner, Barnett Hall 1110, by Feb. 28. A list of works cited should also be provided as appropriate. The cover sheet should include contact information and clearly indicate if the submission is for the essay or oratorical contest or both. Finalists in the oratorical contest will deliver their speeches before the National Communication Association Student Club later in the semester. Essay and oratory prizes for first and second places will be $200 and $100, respectively.

For the art contest, entries should be submitted to Rusty Nelson, Ophelia Parrish 1221, by Feb. 28, and observe the following criteria: artwork of any media is acceptable, traditional or digital output/projection - 2D and 3D. No larger than 18 x 24” for 2D work and 3ft in the round for 3D work. Projected work should be formatted for 16:9 screen ratio. Winning art will be added to the Schwengel Lincoln Collection in Special Collections at Pickler Memorial Library. Art Prizes for first and second places will be $200 and $100, respectively.

Contest Prompt:
Some would argue that what Abraham Lincoln is most remembered for is his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The document may have had a limited direct impact on the lives of many slaves, but it was a watershed moment in stating that previously bound people shall be “forever free” (Emancipation Proclamation, paragraph 2). To emancipate commonly means to free from bondage, oppression or restraint. This year’s prompt asks you to choose one of the following possibilities and develop it into an essay:

1. Choose another emancipatory moment in Lincoln’s life and write about it, incorporating source material.

2. Choose an emancipatory moment in someone’s life and, incorporating source material, write about it.