The Maltz Museum in Beachwood opened its 19th annual Stop the Hate competition on Sept. 1, inviting all Northeast Ohio students in grades six through 12 to compete for a share of $100,000 in scholarships and awards through essays that inspire their schools and communities to fight injustice and “stop the hate.”

Open to students of all faiths and backgrounds, Stop the Hate encourages young people to reflect on real-life experiences with hate, exclusion, discrimination or injustice and consider how they can use their voices and actions to make a difference, according to a news release.

“Stories have the power to change how we see one another and the world around us,” Aaron Petersal, executive director of the Maltz Museum, said in the release. “That belief is at the heart of the Maltz Museum and Stop the Hate. When students share their own experiences, they can build understanding, challenge injustice, and discover the power of their voices.”

Last year, 1,273 students submitted entries from across 13 Northeast Ohio counties. This year, the competition has expanded to 15 eligible counties – Cuyahoga, Ashland, Ashtabula, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne.

The essay and poetry prompt will take inspiration from civil rights attorney and “Just Mercy” author Bryan Stevenson, and his call for individuals to have the courage to stand and speak when others remain silent.

Participating students will be invited to submit a personal narrative essay or original poem exploring an experience they witnessed, experienced or learned about and reflecting on how one person’s courage, voice or actions can inspire meaningful change.

Junior and senior participants in the essay category will be eligible for a $30,000 grand prize scholarship, with additional scholarships of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 awarded to other top finalists. Winning schools also receive grants of up to $4,000.

Students in grades six through 10 can earn cash prizes at each grade level, while middle and high school students competing in the poetry category are eligible for additional cash awards. Top high school poetry entries can earn prizes of up to $2,000, with grants also awarded to select schools.

The Maltz Museum also provides free educator resources and support for teachers who wish to incorporate Stop the Hate into their classrooms, including a digital lesson, writing prompts and rubrics, examples of past winning entries and opportunities for classroom workshops.

Essay and poetry writing workshops are available through Lake Erie Ink, and songwriting workshops are available through ROOTS of American Music.

In connection with this year’s Bryan Stevenson-inspired competition, the Maltz Museum, in partnership with The Marshall Project, will host a screening and discussion of “Just Mercy” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16. The film tells the true story of Stevenson’s fight to free Walter McMillian, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.

All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 14, 2027.

To view competition prompts and submit an entry, visit maltzmuseum.org/stop-the-hate.