THOMASTON — The Henry Knox Museum is launching its new Knox Scholars Initiative with an essay contest for Knox County students in grades 7, 8, and 11. Information has been sent to all area schools, public and private, and students are encouraged to compete.

Henry Knox was many things in his short 56 years of life—a patriot, a military man, a farmer, an entrepreneur—but most of all he was a leader. Leadership is something one becomes, not something one is born with, and it is a growing process.

This essay contest asks students to look at some of the leadership qualities of General Henry Knox whose home and burial site are in Thomaston and to choose one that they think has possibilities in their lives. The essay requires some research about Henry Knox, exploring how he worked on and used that quality at some point in his life-- whether it was in his childhood, during the Revolution, during his time in Washington’s Cabinet, or when he moved to Thomaston, Maine and built Montpelier. Then students are asked to write an essay that explores both the Henry Knox leadership quality they chose and how they hope to nurture that leadership quality in the next few years. Why did they choose that quality and how can they “grow” that quality? How can they use that quality to help their school or community?

Contestants must live in Knox County to participate. There will be one winner from each grade in the contest — 7th , 8th, and 11th  — and one runner-up. The essays will be published in the local media and winners will have an opportunity to read their essays during one of the museum’s member meetings. In addition, the winner of the 11th grade contest will receive $250, a free family membership to the Knox Museum, and an opportunity to intern during the summer of 2022 at Montpelier in their internship program. The 7th and 8th grade winners will receive $250, a free family membership to the Knox Museum, and an opportunity to be a Junior Docent at the museum during the summer of 2022.

Runners-up will receive $100 plus the same membership and intern/docent opportunities as the winners.

For a list of suggested leadership qualities and the requirements on length, format, and submission, interested students should check with their schools or contact the Knox Museum (207.354.8062).

All essays must be received by March 15, 2022. Double spaced, 12 point font, 1“margins, and emailed as a PDF document to executivedirector@knoxmuseum.org. Middle school essays should be approximately 500 words (2 typed pages). High school essays should be approximately 750 words (3 typed pages).

Winners will be announced by May 1, 2022.