7th Circuit invites Hoosier kids, youth to submit creative entries for Bill of Rights contest

Hoosier kids and youth are invited to participate in a multistate art and writing contest hosted by the United States Courts of Appeals in celebration of Bill of Rights Day.

The 7^th and 8^th Circuit Courts of Appeals are hosting the second annual Bill of Rights contest for school children in grades three through 12. Kids in Indiana, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin are invited to submit art and essays on the importance of the Bill of Rights.

Submissions are encouraged to be creative and can include videos, visual arts, poems, songs and written essays.

Categories will be broken down by age group as follows:

• Elementary, third through fifth grades.
• Middle school, sixth through eighth grades.
• High school, ninth through 12th grades.

Group submissions will also be accepted. A designated group leader, who will receive any applicable group prize and share it among group members, is required. Groups must individually determine how to split earned prize money.

A grand prize winner selected from each age group will be awarded a $500 cash prize. Semifinalists from each district court will receive an electronic gift card valued at $50.

Grand prize winners will also be able to take part in a virtual event Dec. 1 with federal judges and other legal experts on the enduring rights afforded to Americans by the Bill of Rights. Additionally, their names and submissions will be shared on the websites of the participating U.S. district courts.

Semifinalists will be notified before Thanksgiving and grand prize winners will be announced at the virtual event. Participants must be present to win the grand prize.

Submissions will be accepted no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 and should be emailed along with a completed entry form to [email protected].

More details on the contest and entry forms can be found online. Registration for the event is required.