The 4th Annual Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group
Black History Month Essay and Video Contest: High School Competition
Don’t just read history; live it. Join the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group.
1st Prize $150, 2nd Prize $75, and 3rd Prize $50 (plus an HLLG T-Shirt)
Mission: The Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group (HLLG) exists to protect, preserve, and promote the legacy of Henrietta Lacks and her singular contributions to modern medicine.It also exists to serve as a clearinghouse for activities that extend Lacks’ legacy and the history of Turner Station, Maryland, where Lacks resided at the time of her death. The essay contest supports the organization’s mission.
1. Eligibility: The competition is open to all Baltimore City and Baltimore County students enrolled in high school (grades nine through twelve). It is also opened to home-schooled students in each of these communities.
2. Prompt: Henrietta Lacks was a resident of Turner Station, Maryland, who died in 1951 of cervical cancer; yet, she lives on because her cells were able to grow outside the human body and were used to develop drugs and treatment for diseases, including the polio vaccine. However, her cells (known as HeLa cells) were removed from her body without her or her family's consent.Based upon this information, high school students may either:
a. Compose a multiple paragraph (argumentative) essay that reflects on the singular contributions of Henrietta Lacks to modern medicine and why it is important to remember her legacy today. Entries should be written with an authoritative voice without the use of first person pronouns.
b. Compose a multi-media video clip (of images, interviews, etc.), reflecting on the singular contributions of Henrietta Lacks to modern medicine and why it is so important to remember her legacy today. Use your creativity.
3. Guidelines: All essay entries must be written in English and typed. Entries should also be formatted according to the submission format guide. High school compositions should be approximately 800 to 1000 words in length. Short video clips should be no more than five minutes in length and uploaded to youtube.com. Submit essay entries or the URL link to your video submission to by midnight, December 31, 2016.
Winners will be recognized at the Black History Month Event scheduled for February 26, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., at Friendship Baptist Church, 307 ½ Avondale Road, Turner Station, MD.
For more information, contact us at PO Box 21882, Turner Station, MD 21222.
Visit our website at www.hlacks.com
Contact Ms. Arkia Gowins or Dr. Adele Newson-Horst at