Hillsborough County students can enter statewide art and essay contests for Hispanic Heritage Month, with entries due by 5 p.m. Sept. 21.

The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida announced the 2026 contests on Wednesday. The theme is "Celebrating Florida's Hispanic Heritage." All Florida K-12 students are eligible, including those in public, charter, private, virtual and homeschool programs.

Hillsborough County Schools posted the announcement on Apollo Beach-area school pages on Friday. Ruskin-area school pages carried the same notice.

Contest splits entries by grade level

The contests split by grade level. Students in grades K-3 submit one original, two-dimensional artwork based on the theme. Students in grades 4-12 write an essay of up to 500 words in English.

Essay contestants must be Florida residents attending school in the state and able to provide a Social Security number. Each student may submit one entry.

Art and essay winners receive prizes

Four art winners will each receive a $200 gift card for school supplies.

Six essay winners will be selected: two elementary students in grades 4-5, two middle school students in grades 6-8 and two high school students in grades 9-12. Each essay winner receives a two-year Florida College Plan scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $200 gift card for school supplies.

Submit entries online or by mail

Entries can be submitted online or mailed to Volunteer Florida, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Full guidelines are at FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.

Educators can also earn recognition awards

Students, parents, teachers and principals can also nominate full-time educators for the 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. Four winners will each receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.

Florida Commissioner of Education Henry Mack said in Wednesday's announcement, "I encourage every Florida student to enter this year's Hispanic Heritage Month contests. Hispanic Floridians have helped build this state for generations."

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.