Secondary School Essay Contest
Funding Amount
$300 (first place), $200 (second place), $100 (third place)
Deadline
Expected ~December
Based on past cycles
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Current deadline
- December 31, 2026
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Deadlines typically fall in: December
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Secondary school students in Boulder Valley Schools
Other requirements
- Students must choose a non-landmarked building (house, commercial, spiritual, or agricultural structure)
- Essay must explain why the chosen building is important and why it should be protected
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: Buildings already landmarked at National, State, or Local level are not eligible
Overview
Geographic Scope: Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) students
Purpose: To showcase the writing, creative and research skills of secondary school students in Boulder Valley Schools using essay themes drawn from Boulder history. Students are encouraged to discover how exploring Boulder's past can deepen understanding of the present and help plan for the future.
Focus Areas: Boulder County history, architecture, and historic preservation
Eligibility:
- Secondary school students in Boulder Valley Schools
- Students must choose a non-landmarked building (house, commercial, spiritual, or agricultural structure)
- Buildings already landmarked at National, State, or Local level are not eligible
- Essay must explain why the chosen building is important and why it should be protected
Awards:
- First Place: $300
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
Contact Information:
- Historic Boulder Inc
- 1200 Pearl St #314, Boulder, CO 80302
- 885 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO 80302
- Email: staff@historicboulder.org
- Phone: 303-444-5192
- Website: historicboulder.org
How to Apply
Application Requirements
Essay Guidelines:
- Select a non-landmarked building in Boulder County (house, commercial, spiritual, or agricultural structure)
- Research and include the following information:
- Address of the building
- Architectural style
- Year built
- Other interesting historical facts
- Write an essay explaining:
- Why the building is important to you personally
- Why it should be protected/preserved
- Attach a photo or drawing of your selected building as part of the submission
Submission Materials:
- Completed essay
- Photo or drawing of the building
- Student name and school
- Teacher name (if applicable)
Theme Examples (past contests):
- 2022: "A Sense of Place" - Boulder County buildings that generate a feeling of place or "home"
- Essays are evaluated on writing quality, research, creativity, and persuasiveness
What Historic Boulder Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2022 — the most recent filing with itemized grants
- Grants in 2022
- 1
- Total given
- $5,736
- Median grant
- $5,736
- By dollars: Colorado 100%. Top recipient cities: Boulder, CO.
Example grants
Play Boulder Foundation · Boulder, CO
Cemetery maintenance
$5,736
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Education
- K-12 schools
- History
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