Words Open Doors: The POLISHED MLK Essay & Scholarship Challenge
Literacy is leadership. Your words can open doors.
A suit can help a young man enter a room. His words can help him change it. At IMOGUL Mentoring Group and POLISHED Young Gentlemen’s Character Club, we develop character, confidence, communication and academic excellence—not appearance alone.
This year we are challenging every eligible young person in our community to explore the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan’s 2027 essay contest or legacy scholarship. Parents and mentors: please encourage your students to write, revise and submit.
Two opportunities. One important deadline.
DEADLINE: Friday, December 4, 2026. Submit to MLKCommissionScholarship@gmail.com. These contests are organized and administered by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan, not IMOGUL.
For students in grades 6–8 and 9–11: 2027 MLK Essay Contest
Open to eligible Greater Lansing area students in grades 6–8 and 9–11.
Write 250–300 words reflecting on the Commission’s 2027 theme: “Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Type and double-space the essay, or print neatly in black ink. Creative forms, including poetry, are welcome.
Email one copy each of the parental permission slip, cover page and essay to MLKCommissionScholarship@gmail.com by December 4, 2026.
Announced essay awards: first place $500, second place $350 and third place $150.
For graduating seniors: 2027 Legacy Scholarship
The James W. Butler III & Mark S. McDaniel Legacy Scholarship Contest offers $17,500 in total awards: two $5,000 first-place awards and three $2,500 finalist awards.
Be a Class of 2027 graduating senior from a Greater Lansing area school, pursuing higher education, with at least a 2.0 career GPA (verification required).
Prepare a 250–450-word typed, double-spaced essay in 12-point type on the announced theme.
Include a personal statement of no more than one typed page, a résumé and two recommendation letters from non-relatives.
Consult the Commission’s current official application and requirements before sending the complete application to MLKCommissionScholarship@gmail.com by December 4, 2026.
The POLISHED Write-to-Rise Challenge
We challenge our eligible young gentlemen to move from good intentions to a completed submission. Younger students, including fifth graders who are not yet eligible, can practice now and prepare for future opportunities.
THINK: What does justice, character or service mean in your own community?
DRAFT: Put your authentic thoughts on paper. Start with your own voice.
REVISE: Ask a parent, teacher or mentor to review clarity, grammar and organization—not to write it for you.
SUBMIT: Check the official rules and required forms; send the complete entry before the deadline.
M.O.R.E. means Manners, Ownership, Respect and Excellence. Ownership means following through; excellence means putting care into every sentence.
Parents and mentors: your encouragement matters
Ask your student: “What is one thing you would change in the world if people truly listened to your ideas?” Then give them twenty uninterrupted minutes to write their answer. Great writing begins when young people believe their voice matters.
IMPORTANT: The Commission’s webpage lists the 2027 contests and the December 4, 2026 deadline, but some downloadable packets linked from that page still carry older year/deadline language. Confirm that you have the current 2027 forms and requirements directly with the Commission before submitting. For questions, contact MLKCommissionScholarship@gmail.com.
IMOGUL Mentoring Group | POLISHED Young Gentlemen’s Character Club | Be Somebody. Help Somebody! | www.mogulmore.org
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