# National WWII Museum Student Writing Contest The National WWII Museum in New Orleans — America's official museum of the Second World War — runs an annual writing contest challenging students to connect WWII history to enduring questions. For the 2026-27 cycle, submissions will be accepted from October 26, 2026, through January 22, 2027, with the topic launching in October. ## What You'll Do - Research the annual topic using at least five different sources (a recent cycle asked students to argue for the importance of freedom of expression in the arts, referencing Hitler's war on modern art) - Write a structured argumentative essay of 500-750 words with citations and bibliography - Submit your typed essay online as a PDF following the museum's formatting rules ## Who Should Apply U.S. students in grades 7-12 at public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under 20 in high school correspondence/GED programs; and U.S. citizens attending school overseas. Entries are judged in Junior (grades 7-9) and Senior (grades 10-12) categories. ## Outcomes First-place winners in each category receive $750, second place $500, third place $250, and honorable mentions $100. Winners earn recognition from one of the nation's leading history institutions — a meaningful distinction for aspiring historians and writers.