Texas students are dusting off their history books this winter as multiple organizations have launched essay contests with thousands of dollars in prizes at stake for young scholars of the Lone Star State’s storied past.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham kicked off the 2026 Save Texas History Essay Contest earlier this month, inviting 4th and 7th-grade students across the state to showcase their knowledge of Texas heritage. “As a proud ninth-generation Texan, preserving Texas history is one of my top priorities,” said Commissioner Buckingham in a statement announcing the contest.
Multiple Contests, Multiple Opportunities
Students have until April 1, 2026, to submit their entries to the Land Commissioner’s contest, with winners to be announced after May 7. The competition offers considerable rewards: grand prize winners receive a $500 gift card sponsored by Chris Cantu of Kingsview Partners and a two-night stay at Hampton Inn & Suites University/Capitol. Five finalists in each grade level will take home $100 gift cards provided by the Moses Austin Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, according to a release from the organization.
But that’s not the only game in town for history-minded Texas students. High school seniors can aim even higher with the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) 2025-2026 Texas History Essay Contest, which offers scholarships of $4,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place. The contest focuses on Texas pioneer history with entries due by January 31, 2026. Winners will be announced during San Jacinto Day celebrations on April 21, 2026.
Why the focus on Texas history? “The purpose of this contest is to stimulate interest in early Texas history for the students in our state,” explains the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), which is running a separate competition for 4th and 7th graders in Medina County. That contest features specific topics: 4th graders will write about the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe in the Republic of Texas, while 7th graders will explore the three flags of the Texas Revolution.
Statewide Competitions with Specific Themes
The DRT is also hosting a statewide essay contest with the same grade-specific topics focused on objects, events, or people important to Texas as a Republic. National winners of this contest will receive $500, a certificate, and a commemorative plaque, according to the organization’s website.
For high schoolers eyeing college funds, the stakes are particularly high. The SRT has emphasized that scholarship awards will go to “the three best essays submitted… if the essays warrant,” as noted in their official rules. The organization is listed on major scholarship databases including Scholarships.com and the College Board’s BigFuture platform.
In San Antonio, the tradition continues with the Battle of Flowers Association launching its 31st Texas History Essay Contest specifically for 7th-grade students in the city to explore historical events from the state’s past.
Interested in Texas history but not sure where to start? The Land Commissioner’s contest offers perhaps the broadest canvas, allowing essays on any Texas historical person, event, place, group, or cultural tradition, giving young writers the freedom to explore whatever aspect of the state’s rich history captures their imagination.
For Texas educators and parents, these contests represent more than just potential prizes — they’re a chance to instill in the next generation an appreciation for the complex tapestry of people and events that shaped the modern Lone Star State, ensuring that as Texas races toward the future, its past isn’t left in the dust.
