There was one 8th grade student named local champion of the 2025-2026 Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Essay Contest . . . Presented by the IWKnights of Columbus . . . according to the New Media Coordinator & Community Director for the IWKnights of Columbus Council #9981, Bryan Hewing.
Missouri State Essay Contest Topic
The office of the papacy was established by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago when he chose St. Peter to lead His Church on earth. On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first United States Citizen to ever be elected Pope!
The 2025-2026 (MO State) Essay Topic is as follows: "Given the fact that Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in the United States, how do you think that can inspire young men and women in our country to consider the priesthood and religious life?”
The winner is 8th grade student Camryn Maurer of St. Louis, MO. There were no entries submitted from any 6h or 7th grade students, so only the 8th grade winning essay was submitted to the Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Council for the Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Essay Contest.
It should be noted that the entries submitted for the MO Contest do not qualify for Supreme Council Essay Contest because the Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Essay Contest and the Supreme Council Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest have different topics and different age groups.
The IWKnights of Columbus would like to thank Dr. William C. Uhland, Mr. Jamie Hartzell, Ms. Marcy Hartzell, Mr. Jim Reineke, and Ms. Debbie Reineke of IWKnights Council and Ladies Auxiliary for serving as Judges for the 2025-2026 Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Essay Contes and did a superb job as well.
The goal of the Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Essay Contest…..Presented by the IWKnights of Columbus….. was to encourage the youth to become citizens grounded in their Catholic faith through creative writing and is open to all qualifying Catholic students who are in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in any Catholic, Public, or private school.
Please Spread the Word!
Incarnate Word Council #9981 in Chesterfield, MO is one of 16,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally and internationally with financial contributions and hands-on service.
More details about the Missouri Knights of Columbus Missouri State Essay Contest . . . including the complete rules, essay topic, etc. . . . can be found by going to iwknights9981.com/moknightsessay. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Mr. Bryan V. Hewing, SK
New Media Coordinator & Community Dir., Incarnate Word Knights of Columbus Council #9981
iwknightsnewmedia@gmail.com
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