Florida students invited to participate in 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month contests

Press release from Florida Department of Education

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida encourage students to participate in the Hispanic Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme “ Honoring Hispanic Contributions to Florida’s Success .” Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15.

“Florida’s Hispanic Heritage Month contests provide students with the opportunity to learn about the many Hispanic Floridians who contributed to our state’s success,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “The influence of Hispanic culture is evident throughout Florida, and I look forward to seeing the inspiration students gain from the many excellent examples of Hispanic achievement in our state.”

“I am honored to recognize the profound impact Hispanic cultures have on the fabric of our nation,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo. “As a proud Cuban-American, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to both celebrate and educate future generations about the importance of community serving others.”

All Florida students are invited to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award.

About the Student Art Contest

The Hispanic Heritage Month art contest is open to all Kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida State Parks.

About the Student Essay Contest

The Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest is open to all students attending any Florida school in grades 4-12. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.

Contestants must be Florida residents, attend school in Florida in grades 4-12 (including public, charter, private, home or virtual), and be able to provide a Social Security number. Each student may enter only one essay, written in English, no longer than 500 words.

There are many examples throughout our state’s history of Hispanic Americans and their contributions to Florida’s success. Using your own words, write about a Hispanic-American who has had an impactful effect whose story should be shared. The subject of the essay should be a Floridian.

Some examples are:

• Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Florida’s First Hispanic Female Lt. Governor
• Manny Diaz, Jr., Commissioner of Education.
• Juan Ponce De León , first Spanish explorer to reach Florida.
• Madeline Pumariega, first female President of Miami Dade College
• Alex Rizo, Florida State Representative
• Esteban Bovo Jr., Mayor of Hialeah

About the Excellence in Education Award

Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian, or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.

Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines

Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com .

Volunteer Florida

Hispanic Heritage Month Committee
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250
Tallahassee, Florida 32308

All entries must be received by 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday, September 13, 2024.

For more information about the contests, please visit www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com .

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