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The following was submitted by the Black Student Union at Winchester High School:
The Black Student Union (BSU) at Winchester High School (WHS) is proud to announce the launch of the Black History Project, a contest designed to foster education, research, and creative expression surrounding Black history and culture.
The contest invites high school students to explore the experiences and traditions of people of the African Diaspora — from West African ethnic groups like the Akan and Yoruba to African American, Afro-Latinx, and Afro-European communities.
Cash prizes (awarded via Amazon gift cards) will be presented to the top three winners: $250 for first place, $150 for second place, and $100 for third place.
The BSU is grateful to the Winchester Rotary Club for their generous financial support of this first-time contest.
A call for student creators
The BSU is calling on all WHS students to submit original work that highlights specific events, significant figures, or cultural shifts within Black history. To encourage broad participation, the contest accepts a wide array of media, including:
● Visual Arts: 2D and 3D art, posters, and photography.
● Digital & Multimedia: Documentaries, short films, websites, and music.
● Literary Works: Poetry, essays, and research papers.
“The goal is to provide students with an incentive to educate themselves and others,” says BSU President Carson Sarpong. “We want our peers to gain an enriched understanding of Black culture so we all can be active members of society and maintain our civic duty to fight against racial discrimination and ignorance.”
Students are encouraged to submit their work by Feb. 1 at 8:30 a.m. Submissions will be evaluated by a team of volunteer teachers, with winners announced by Feb. 4.
Community Showcase at the Griffin Museum
This BSU initiative will culminate in a celebration of students’ work at a community showcase on Friday, Feb. 6, from 5-7 p.m. at the Griffin Museum of Photography, located at 67 Shore Road, Winchester.
This showcase, held in collaboration with the Network for Social Justice, Winchester ABC, and the Winchester Cultural Council, will feature:
● Student Exhibits: All students who submit projects will have the opportunity to display or present their work to peers, parents and community members.
● Live Performance: A featured appearance by renowned spoken word poet jamele adams, the keynote speaker at Winchester’s 2024 MLK Day celebration.
● Awards Ceremony: Cash prizes (awarded via Amazon gift cards) will be presented to the top three winners.
How to Participate
Students may submit new work or repurpose relevant assignments previously created for class. The submission form is here. Additional information about the contest is here.
For questions, rubric details, or to propose an additional project idea, contact Carson Sarpong at cbksarpong@gmail.com.
