Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida invite students statewide to showcase Hispanic heritage through art and essay contests
Tallahassee, Florida – The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida are giving students across the state another opportunity to explore Florida’s Hispanic heritage through art and writing as the 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month contests get underway. The statewide program is open to students from a wide range of school settings, including public, charter, private, virtual and homeschool programs.
Students across Florida are being invited to put their creativity and ideas on display as the Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida launch the 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month art and essay contests.
This year’s contests are centered on the theme “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heritage” and are open to students throughout the state. The program gives younger students the chance to express themselves through artwork, while older students can explore the theme through essays.
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from September 15 through October 15. For Florida officials, the student contests provide a way for young people to learn more about the history and influence of Hispanic Floridians while taking part in a statewide educational activity.
“I encourage every Florida student to enter this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month contests,” said Commissioner of Education Henry Mack. “Hispanic Floridians have helped build this state for generations. These contests let our students honor that record—not as a political talking point, but as part of the Florida story we already live.”
Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo also encouraged students to use the contests as an opportunity to learn about the people and traditions that have helped shape communities across Florida.
“Florida’s Hispanic heritage is an important part of the history, culture and character of our state,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo. “Generations of Hispanic Floridians have made lasting contributions to our communities and helped shape the Florida we know today. These contests provide a meaningful opportunity for students to learn more about and celebrate this rich history and heritage while recognizing the educators who inspire the next generation to learn, serve and make a difference in their communities.”
The competition is divided by grade level. Kindergarten through third-grade students are eligible for the art contest, while students in grades 4 through 12 can submit essays. There is also a separate Excellence in Education Award that allows students, parents, teachers and principals to recognize full-time educators who have made an impact on their students.
For the youngest participants, the 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month art contest is open to all Florida students in kindergarten through third grade. Each student may submit one original, two-dimensional piece of artwork connected to the theme “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heritage.”
Four statewide winners will be selected from the art contest. Each winning student will receive a $200 gift card that can be used for school supplies.
The essay competition is designed for students in grades 4 through 12 and is open to those attending any Florida school. That includes public, charter, private, home and virtual schools.
Six students will be chosen as statewide essay contest winners. Two winners will come from elementary school grades 4 and 5, two will be selected from middle school grades 6 through 8, and two will be chosen from high school grades 9 through 12.
The awards for essay winners are larger than the school-supply gift cards offered in the art competition. Each winning essay student will receive a two-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, along with a $200 gift card for school supplies.
There are several eligibility requirements for students entering the essay contest. Contestants must be Florida residents and must attend school in Florida in grades 4 through 12. Students must also be able to provide a Social Security Number.
Each student can submit only one essay, and the entry must be written in English. Essays cannot be longer than 500 words.
While students are at the center of the contests, educators are also being recognized as part of the 2026 program.
The Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to full-time educators working in Florida elementary, middle or high schools. Unlike the student contests, educators do not submit their own work for consideration. Instead, they can be nominated by a principal, teacher, parent or guardian, or student.
Four educators will be selected to receive the Excellence in Education Award. Each winner will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.
The educator award gives people who work closely with teachers an opportunity to recognize their efforts. A nomination can come from inside the school or from a parent or student who believes an educator deserves statewide recognition.
The contests arrive as Florida prepares to observe Hispanic Heritage Month beginning September 15. The month provides an annual opportunity to recognize Hispanic heritage and its place in the state’s history, culture and communities.
For students, the competitions offer more than a traditional classroom assignment. Young artists can approach the theme visually, while older students have the opportunity to research, think about and write about Florida’s Hispanic heritage in their own words.
The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida have held similar Hispanic Heritage Month contests in previous years, continuing a program that combines student creativity with recognition of educators. The 2026 announcement maintains that structure while offering the current awards and a new set of contest deadlines.
Students and educators interested in participating can obtain contest forms and guidelines online or submit materials through the designated process. Entries and educator nomination forms may be mailed to Volunteer Florida’s Hispanic Heritage Month Committee or submitted online.
The mailing address is Volunteer Florida, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, Florida 32308.
The deadline is approaching quickly. All student entries and educator nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, September 21, 2026.
That deadline applies to the 2026 contests, meaning students who want to participate will need to complete their artwork or essays and make sure their submissions arrive on time.
Additional information about the competitions, including entry forms and guidelines, is available at FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.
With students from kindergarten through high school eligible to take part, the program gives young Floridians at different stages of their education a chance to approach the same subject in different ways. For some, that may mean creating an original piece of art. For others, it may mean putting their thoughts into a carefully prepared 500-word essay.
The program also gives families, educators and school leaders a role beyond the student competitions. Through the Excellence in Education Award, they can recognize teachers and other full-time educators whose work has influenced students and helped them learn, serve and contribute to their communities.
As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, Florida officials are encouraging students and educators to take advantage of the opportunity. The contests will ultimately place the work of students and educators from across the state in the spotlight while highlighting the role Hispanic heritage continues to play in Florida.
