Student Voices Contest

San Fernando students painting a wall mural

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The Student Voices Contest is now closed.

Thank you to everyone who submitted!

Youth, let’s hear your voices!

Sandy Hook Promise wants to find out about the amazing, creative ways you are Upstanders. This contest is a celebration of the work Sandy Hook Promise has done for 10 years to create safer schools by educating and empowering Upstanders.

Students can work individually or in groups. Then send us your original creations. Use your voice to represent how you boost belonging, create connectedness, reach-out and help others. Show how you are making your school community safer.

Contest Details and Categories of Submission

Individual or groups of students in grades K–12 produce original works of art that exemplify the importance of:

  • Creating safe schools by building empathetic and inclusive communities
  • Creating safe schools by building a community of Upstanders
  • Lifting up the core messages of the Start With Hello and Say Something programs

Types of entries may include:

  • Murals that beautify a space.
  • Spoken Word Videos. The video can be from an individual student or a group video. Please limit video to 3 minutes or less.
  • Visuals including a photo, digital image, or picture.
  • Garden of any kind.

Please include a 50-200 word description of your entry.

Winners

Our judges will select six winners to receive the following prizes:

  • 1st Place: $1,000
  • 2nd Place: $750
  • 3rd Place: $500
  • 4th Place: $250
  • 5th Place: $250
  • 6th Place: $250

Notification of winning submissions: Early May

Contest Criteria Eligibility Guidelines

After review by an educator at their school, students can submit original work. A detailed breakdown of the criteria is available on this rubric.

  • Upload a photo of the creative work or video (2 minutes and 20 seconds max length)
  • Include youth’s first name, last initial, school name, city, state, and contact information
  • After you submit, earn bonus points by sharing your Student Voices work on social! Tag on Twitter:@sandyhook and @SandyHookPromise on Instagram and Facebook. #SandyHookPromise #HonorWithAction
  • Submit during time period: December 8, 2022 – March 31, 2023

Sandy Hook Promise is the organizer of The 2022-23 Student Voices Contest. Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national, nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. Learn more about us.

All submissions become the sole property of Sandy Hook Promise. Sandy Hook Promise reserves the right to use entries in the service of Sandy Hook Promise’s mission. This includes but is but not limited to exhibiting, publishing, sharing on social media, and reprinting permissions in part or in whole. For more information, please email [email protected] or visit sandyhookpromise.org.

Have questions about the Student Voices contest? Contact [email protected].