This contest encourages today’s youth to be more connected to their community and their faith. The goal of this program is to involve young Catholics in grades 8 to 12 (public, private, parochial or home schools during the current school year) in civic discourse and instill in them religious and life-affirming values. The essay should be 500-750 words on a specific topic, changing every other year. Entrants will be judged on grammar, style, and how clearly they present the theme in a way that showcases creativity, imagination and overall development of the topic. For information plese contact Essay Contest Chairman Robert Griffin at
essayposter@kofcnc.org. For 2026-27 the essay theme is:
“The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.”
In 500-750 words, explain what this quote from former U.S. President and Knights of Columbus member John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Inaugural address means and its importance for the flourishing of a nation.
Essays are judged as follows:
- 35 Points: Content — How thoroughly is the topic examined?
- 30 Points: Grammar — How well is the essay written with respect to sentence and paragraph construction?
- 35 Points: Style — Does the essay show creativity, imagination and development of the topic in a logical and compelling style?