Essay Contest

Earn up to $3,000 for college

High school seniors have the opportunity to gain insight into local government and explore career paths that serve the residents of Houston.

How to Enter

Choose a City Career
- Select a municipal job from the City of Houston Job List.
- Click on the job code for a detailed job description.
Conduct Research
- Read news articles, press releases, and official city social media updates.
- Interview a city employee in the selected field (optional but encouraged).
Write a 500-Word Essay
- Explain how you would contribute to strengthening Houston as a city employee.
- Provide specific strategies for addressing issues, improving services, or creating innovative programs.
- Essays must focus on careers within the City of Houston. Submissions covering external careers or entities will not be considered.
Submit Your Essay – Submission will be open January 2027
- Complete the online entry form and attach your essay.
- Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and 500 words or less.
- The final submission date is midnight, March 31, 2027. Submissions received after this date will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on the following:
✔ Clarity & Organization – Well-structured and logical flow of ideas
✔ Creativity & Innovation – Original and thoughtful solutions
✔ Grammar & Mechanics – Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation
✔ Research & Relevance – Demonstrated understanding of city issues and careers

NOTE: All entries will be checked to determine if they are AI-generated content. Submitting such work will lead to automatic disqualification.

Scholarship Awards (Sponsored by Cigna)

First Place: $3,000
Second Place: $2,000
Third Place: $1,200
Fourth Place: $800
Fifth Place: $500

Recognition Ceremony

Winners will be honored at the Essay Contest Ceremony in May 2027. Further details to follow.

For more information, contact Pete Mayes at 832-393-6132 or Peter.Mayes@houstontx.gov.