Student Writing Contest
Learn about HNOC’s annual student writing contest and read winning submissions from previous years.
About
Each year, the Historic New Orleans Collection’s Education department challenges student writers from across the country to respond to creative writing prompts inspired by New Orleans and Gulf South history. Explore upcoming opportunities and previous contests below.
2026 Student Writing Contest: “The Trail They Blazed”
Students address important civil rights issues facing America today and in the future, inspired by the HNOC exhibition The Trail They Blazed.
Previous Contest Years
2025 Student Writing Contest: “Making It Home”
Students respond to themes inspired by HNOC’s exhibition Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.
2024 Student Writing Contest: Tell Us Who They Are
Students pick up the pen where our curators left off and imagine details about the unknown portraits featured in HNOC's 2024 exhibition Unknown Sitters.
2023 Student Writing Contest: A Letter to a Suffragette
Students write letters to New Orleans civil rights leader Sylvanie Williams about the state of equality in America today.
2022 Student Writing Contest: “It’s Mardi Gras Morning!”
Students craft imaginative short stories that explore Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans.
2021 Student Writing Contest: Poetic Dialogue
Students submit works of poetry and prose in response to HNOC’s book Afro-Creole Poetry in French from Louisiana’s Radical Civil War-Era Newspapers.
2020 Student Writing Contest: Agents of Change
Student writers reflect on experiences that have inspired them to create change, in response to HNOC’s NOLA Resistance Project.
Students & Families
Explore HNOC’s programs and resources for families and students of all ages through the lens of Gulf South history.
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