The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida encourage students to participate in the Native American Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Honoring Native American Contributions to Florida’s Success.” Native American Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated in the United States during the month of November.

“Florida has a rich history that celebrates Native Americans and provides students with terrific opportunities to learn about the many Native American Floridians who contributed to our state’s success,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “The influence of Native American culture is evident throughout Florida and I look forward to seeing the inspiration our students gain from the many excellent examples of Native American achievement in our state.”

“I am honored to recognize the profound impact Native American cultures have on the success of our beloved state,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo. “Native American Heritage Month is a time to both celebrate and educate future generations about Florida’s Native Americans.”

All Florida students are invited to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Native American Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award.

About the Student Art Contest

The Native American Heritage Month art contest is open to all Kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida State Parks.

About the Student Essay Contest

The Native American Heritage Month essay contest is open to all students attending any Florida school in grades 4-12. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.

Contestants must be Florida residents, attend school in Florida in grades 4-12 (including public, charter, private, home or virtual) and able to provide a Social Security Number. Each student may enter only one essay, written in English, no longer than 500 words.

There are many examples throughout our state’s history of Native Americans and their contributions to Florida’s success. Using your own words, write about a Native American who has had an impactful effect whose story should be shared. The subject of the essay should be a Floridian.

Some examples are:

• Betty Mae Tiger Jumper – First woman elected as Chair of the Seminole Tribe of Florida
• Florida’s Timucuan Pocahontas, Ulele
• Osceola (Billy Powell) – An advocate for Seminole rights in the 1800s
• Noah Billie – An acclaimed Seminole painter
• Billy Bowlegs III – a historian who helped introduce Americans to the Seminole tribe in the 20^th century

About the Excellence in Education Award

Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Native American Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian, or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.

Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines

Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.floridanativeamericanheritage.com.

Mail To:
Volunteer Florida
Native American Heritage Month Committee
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250
Tallahassee, Florida 32308

All entries must be received by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.