The Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest inspires the next generation of courageous writers and leaders

Mr. Guy Johnson and Dr. Maya Angelou

Image courtesy of the estate of Dr. Maya Angelou

“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” -Dr. Maya Angelou

The Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest inspires the next generation of courageous writers and leaders.

Dr. Maya Angelou created The Annie and Willie Foundation in the early 2000s to honor her grandmother and uncle and to highlight the importance of access to higher education for all people.

Now, the organization has evolved into the Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation (DMAF), founded by Dr. Maya Angelou and her estate, to serve as the dynamic personification of her philanthropic legacy and to uplift the next generation of critical thinkers, creative writers, and courageous leaders.

To date, DMAF has awarded more than $500,000 to deserving students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country.

In 2019, the Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest was introduced through Mr. Guy Johnson’s vision and in partnership with the Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, CA. Students with the top essays are awarded cash prizes and the opportunity to be published authors in an anthology. Our goal is to expand the essay contest to public high schools nationwide.

We are thrilled to announce the top three essayists for Forsyth County School District in Winston-Salem, North Carolina:

First Place: Ariel Lippy, Parkland High School, Award Amount: $5,000

Second Place: Mack Dishmon, Reynolds High School, Award Amount: $3,000

Third Place: Andy Hamilton, Atkins High School, Award Amount: $1,800

We look forward to showcasing the top essayists from the Oakland Unified School District in our next blog post.

Each fall, high school seniors and juniors are invited to submit an essay under the continually relevant theme of courage. The annual essay writing prompt is as follows: Write a reflective scholarly personal narrative sharing how you, as a young person, have felt marginalized, disenfranchised, or stereotyped by prejudice, racism, sexism, social media bullying, or injustice in your community. What is the collective victory for our community when young people overcome these challenges and become stronger by refusing to be defined by difficulties?

This competitive essay writing contest intends to honor the resilience of young writers who have overcome challenges. The generous awards for top essayists reflect a sincere desire to support excellence in writing for students in local high schools and beyond. A fundamental part of the writing process is to revise one's work multiple times, together with a supportive editor. Applicants to this contest, therefore, must demonstrate they have worked together with a classroom teacher or other supportive school adult to do multiple revisions of their essay prior to submission.

In February 2022, Mr. Guy Johnson, Dr. Angelou’s only child, passed peacefully in his sleep. Like his iconic mother, Mr. Johnson spent many years supporting written anthologies and literacy projects for underserved students. In his hometown of Oakland, California, Mr. Guy Johnson was a staunch educational advocate for our youth. His message of hope and opportunity for our children was always conveyed with quiet dignity and deflection of personal attention. Those of us who continue his work and honor his vision know that today was a day he wanted to see.

Rooted in Dr. Angelou’s core virtues of courage, creativity, curiosity, and change and driven by Mr. Guy Johnson’s charge to exercise excellence, integrity, and transparency – we are open to exploring and implementing innovative and solution-driven partnerships that will allow us to fulfill the mission and the work of the Foundation for generations to come.

Give now: http://bit.ly/3U2vmXC

To learn more about volunteer opportunities and ways to bring the essay writing contest to your school district, email Thamiah Tutt at ttutt@drmayaangeloufdn.org.

Visit us at www.drmayaangeloufoundation.org