Deadlines

• Student/teacher sends essays to Local Lodge: No later than December 15, 2025.
• Local Lodge sends to District Chair:
       No later than January 31, 2026.
• District Chairman sends to State Chair:
       No later than February 28, 2026.
• State Chair sends to GL Contest Administrator:
  ​     No later than March 31, 2026.

2025-26 ENTRY Packet

2025-2026 
Grand Lodge Americanism Essay Contest
Submission Deadline:  ​December 15, 2025

“What Does Service to Your Country Mean to You?”

The 2025-26 theme is “What Does Service to Your Country Mean to You?”
The deadline for submitting entries to the Morgantown Lodge #411 is December 15, 2025.
All essays must go through the judging process through the #411 Lodge first.

There are four seperate divisions:   5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grade students. The winning essays in each division from the Morgantown Lodge will receive a $100 Award and be advanced on to the next level. 
​
Winners from local lodges advance on to the State's District Lodge Activities Chair, then on to the State Chair, who in turn advances them to the Grand Lodge level. 

Grand Lodge awards for National winning essays are $1,000 to the first-place winners in
​each age division, $500 to second place, and $250 to third place.

Winners will be announced at the Grand Lodge Session in Chicago, Illinois in July 2026.

---

Entry Rules

1. At the time of the contest, eligible participants must be Students enrolled (during the normal 2025-26 school year, in one of these four divisions: 
        I—5th grade
        II—6th grade
        III—7th grade
        IV—8th grade
2. Essay length is not to exceed 300 words.
3. Essay must be typed or legibly printed in ink. Also, Essay must be submitted as written (or typed) by the entrant.
4. Essay must be submitted for judging to the Elks Lodge nearest to the home address of the entrant.
5. Participant must be identified on the Essay by name, home address, grade, school attended and sponsoring Lodge.
6. Deadline: must be submitted to Morgantown Lodge #411 by December 15, 2025.
7. Judging Criteria: 
        Originality: avoids the use of clichés and worn-out words and phrases. 30 points.
        Development of theme: stay focused on ideas and thoughts; don’t ramble. 40 points
        Mechanics and neatness: uses proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.​ 30 points