Program History

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. offers an annual International High School Essay Contest and awards scholarship assistance in the form of monies awarded to eligible high school seniors who are selected during a competitive process at the chapter, district, and international levels. The Essay Content is presented as a mandated element of the annual International Achievement Week Observance that the Fraternity hosts to commemorate its member, Bro. Dr. Carter G. Woodson (OMEGA Chapter).

In 1927, at the urging of Bro. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Fraternity, made National Negro Achievement Week an annual observance. Today, we recognize that week as Black History Month, which is observed annually in February. Originally designed to promote the study of Negro life and history, the Fraternity's Achievement Week observance occurs annually in November - the month the Fraternity was founded - and it is designed to seek out and give due recognition to individuals at the local, district, and international levels who have made noteworthy contributions toward improving the quality of life for Black Americans.

The 2024 observance period occurred November 10-17, 2024, which, as is customary, spanned the Fraternity's Founders' Day, which occurs annually on November 17. The 2024 observance period has not been announced, but it will occur in November 2024 and is again expected to span November 17.

The Essay Contest is annually open to all college-bound high school seniors who submit an essay application through a Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter. 

Essay Contest Information

Once again, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is pleased to announce its annual National High Essay Contest for 2024. This contest is conducted annually in conjunction with our National Achievement Week Observance.

Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter, in collaboration with the George M. Hampton Foundation (a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit community service organization), will select a winner ONLY from the application submissions of students in the Prince William County, VA, area received by the given deadline date. The winner will have his/her essay forwarded to the Third District committee to compete in our regional contest. A winning Third District essay will then be forwarded to compete at the National contest.

Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter requests that each student submitting an essay ensure that it is postmarked by email no later than midnight, October 31, 2024, and emailed to the following address: scholarships@gmhfoundation.org

Local Awards: Three College Book Scholarships

1st Place Scholarship: $500* | 2nd Place Scholarship: $300 | 3rd Place Scholarship: $200

Third District Scholarship Awards

1st Place Scholarship** | $1,000, 2nd Place Scholarship | $500, 3rd Place Scholarship | $250

International Scholarship Awards

1st Place Scholarship | $5,000, 2nd Place Scholarship | $3,000, 3rd Place Scholarship | $2,000, 4th Place Scholarship | $1,000

*Winner competes for the 3rd District Scholarship Awards.

**Winner competes for the International Scholarship Awards.

***Must provide proof of college enrollment to receive a scholarship award.

Eligibility & Rules:

The Contest is open to all college-bound high school seniors in Prince William, VA, who submit an essay application to the Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter.

The essay must be original and neither previously published nor secured by copyright.

The essay must be between 700 words but should not exceed 750 in length.

The type-written, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced copy essay must be submitted via email in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. 

Two high-quality color pictures of the student submitting the manuscript must be sent for various fraternity publications. Please print the complete application from the above link for all rules that apply and further details about the contest.

Essay Rubric

Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter will assemble a review panel to assess submitted essays based on the following criteria. Essays may earn a maximum rating of 100 points.

Development of Topic/Thesis: (30 possible points) The Topic is well-developed (covers and develops major points, supplying enough information for understanding)

Progression: (20 possible points) Composition progresses from beginning to end in a logical flow of information

Readability: (25 possible points) Concise prose that sticks to the point and does not ramble (holds the reader's attention)

Grammar: (15 possible points) Agreement of subject and verb; proper tense; correct sentence construction; paragraphing, including transitional phrases linking the same

Spelling: (5 possible points)

Punctuation: (5 possible points)

2024 SUBMISSION DUE DATES

The Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter will review all submissions. Submissions will not be accepted after October 31, 2024

Contest Closes: October 31, 2024

Thank you for being so interested, and best of luck!