Essay Contest
2026-2027 Theme
The theme for 2026-2027 is: “A Healthy Me Is Drug Free” Download Contest Forms
Submit to Your State DAP Chairperson, Not National
Lodges must submit their essay entries to their State DAP Chairperson, not to the National Contest address below. The State Chairperson runs the District and State-level judging and is the only one who submits the State’s winning essay to National.
Essays mailed directly to the National contest without going through a State Chairperson will not be considered for judging and are not eligible.
Eligibility and Participation Guidelines
Section titled “Eligibility and Participation Guidelines”- Grade Levels: Open to students in 6th through 8th grade.
- Authorship: Essays must be the original work of the participant. However, brainstorming and discussion with teachers, parents, or peers are encouraged to refine ideas.
Submission Format
Section titled “Submission Format”- Length: Essays must not exceed 250 words.
- Paper Size: Standard U.S. letter (8 1/2 x 11 inches).
- Presentation: Submissions may be typed, computer-generated, hand-written, or hand-printed, maintaining legibility and neatness.
Judging Criteria
Section titled “Judging Criteria”Essays will be evaluated based on:
- Adherence to the given theme.
- Overall neatness and presentation.
- Originality and creativity.
- Use of correct grammar and sentence structure.
Required Information
Section titled “Required Information”Please affix the following details on the reverse side of the essay:
- Student’s complete name.
- Name and location of the school, and grade level.
- Affiliated Elks Lodge name.
- A signed Hold Harmless Agreement must accompany the submission.
State Chairpersons: Submit Your State Winner To:
Henry L Farnum
904 Costigan Drive
Newport News VA 23608
Deadlines and Submission Process
Section titled “Deadlines and Submission Process”Local Lodges should submit entries to their State DAP Chairperson well ahead of the State’s internal deadline, so the Chairperson has time to run District and State judging. Participants should reach out to their local Elks Lodge or Elks State Association for the State’s specific submission deadline. The State Chairperson’s deadline to submit the State’s winning essay to the National Contest is April 1.
Winners
Section titled “Winners”Each Elks Lodge selects its top essays using the judging criteria above. Lodges notify their own winners and are responsible for giving their own awards. The winning essays are then forwarded to District and State-Level Competition, run by the State DAP Chairperson — entries are never sent directly to National.
The State Drug Awareness Committee chooses the State First Place Winner. The State DAP Chairperson is the only person who submits their state’s winning entry into the National Contest, where it may be featured on the Elks Kids Zone Website and/or in ENF and DAP publications.
All winning entries become the sole property of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and may not be returned — you may want to keep a copy of your essay.
Not Eligible: Direct Submissions
Essays submitted directly to National by a Lodge, school, or individual—without going through the State DAP Chairperson—will not be judged and are not eligible for national recognition.
We are committed to guiding our youth towards making informed, healthy choices. We look forward to the thoughtful essays that will emerge from this year’s theme. Please ensure all participants and supporters are directed to our resource hub for the most up-to-date information: Elks Drug Awareness Program Resources.