5th Grade Essay Contest


The Fifth Grade essay contest answers an important question for fifth grade students: “What My Mother Means to Me.”

Utah 5th grade students (or home schooled equivalent) throughout the state are encouraged to participate in this contest by answering the question in an essay of 150-word or less.  All essays will be judged against other entries from within the state. Awards and prizes are given to the first, second and third place winners of the state competition. All three of these essays will be posted on the Utah Mothers website.

The first place winner and their mother will be guests of Utah Mothers at the annual “Utah Mother of the Year Awards” event in February, where the winner will read his/her essay.  The mother will also be introduced.

Finally, the first place winner’s essay will be forwarded to compete in the national American Mothers, Inc. contest. Awards and prizes will be given to the first, second and third place winners of the national contest.  The national winner will be invited to read their essay at the American Mothers, Inc. National Convention at the end of April.

The essay contest submission period opens on August 15 and closes on November 15. All essays must be sent to the Utah Mothers Association by the deadline date to be considered in the judging process.

Essays will be judged using the following criteria:

  • Was the essay handwritten and does it use 150 words or less (not including the title)?
  • Does the essay tell the reader about the writer’s mother?
  • How well is the essay organized and does the writer obey the rules of writing, grammar, and punctuation?
  • How creatively does the writer use words to say what is intended?

We are pleased to announce the 2021 5th Grade Essay Contest winner: Hadlie Anderson.

Hadlie was able to read her essay during the virtual meeting on January 22, 2022. Watch it here!

Here are the 2020 5th Grade Essay winners:

2020 First Place Essay Winner – Jaeda Coon, Paradise, Utah

2020 Second Place Essay Winner – Cooper Jensen, Richmond, UT

3rd Place Essay Winner – Oliver Huber, Hyde Park, Utah