The Historical Museum presents our 18th Annual Essay Contest…

Sponsored by the DeVore Family Fund

“Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History”

Two winners, one winner from each of the following grade levels (6-8 & 9-12), will receive a $250 prize!

Contest Rules: 

• All Sedgwick County students in grades 6-12 in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are homeschooled, are eligible.
• The topic must be focused on Wichita and/or Sedgwick County history.
• The entire essay must be the student’s original work.
• Entries must be 300-600 words in length.
• Any essay with information copied directly from sources without the use of quotation marks and cited resources will be disqualified.

Form:

• The essay is to be handwritten in ink, typed, or prepared on a computer word processor, using black type in a non-script font no smaller than 12 point or larger than 14 point.
• Please include a Title Page with the following information:
  • Title of the essay
  • Contestant’s full name and age
  • Contestant’s complete mailing address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address (if available)
  • Name of contestant’s school with grade level indicated
• Essays must have a bibliography listing all references utilized. Internet resources, if used, should be cited in a similar format, along with the web address used to access the document online.

Contest Parameters:

• Two options for submission:
  • Delivered in person/mailed to: 204 S. Main Wichita, Kansas 67202
  • As a PDF emailed to: edu@wichitahistory.org
• Entries must be received by April 15, 2026
• Essays will be judged on historical accuracy, originality, content, adherence to theme, organization of material, spelling, and grammar.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on May 2nd, in the Museum’s DeVore Auditorium. 

Print a flyer for your classroom or handouts for your students, using the links below!

     Printable Flyer         Printable Rules Handout