{"id":242,"date":"2015-02-13T11:29:32","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T17:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/womens-gender-studies\/?page_id=242"},"modified":"2025-11-10T09:51:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:51:50","slug":"community-engagement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/womens-gender-studies\/community-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Community & Engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MPS Essay Contest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wisconsin Women Making History<\/strong><\/em>
Annual MPS Middle and High-School Essay Contest<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay Contest Purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In honor of March as Women’s History month, the 51ÁÔÆæ Women’s & Gender Studies invites middle-school and high-school students from the Milwaukee Public Schools to explore and celebrate the histories of Wisconsin women by participating in our annual essay contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisconsin women have had a diverse and complex history both before and after the territory of Wisconsin became a state in 1848. Many have raised families, educated children, and worked in their communities as volunteers. Others have held paid jobs and pursued careers, combining family and work responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, their contributions to Wisconsin have often remained invisible, because historians have only recently considered activities by women as worthy of attention. Most women’s lives and experiences are still unknown. To reclaim the history of the private lives and public roles of Wisconsin women is to discover how people lived and what they valued. Until we know what women did and thought and experienced, we will only know half the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of the essay contest, Wisconsin Women Making History, is to help tell the other half of the story. You can be a part of the process: Explore and learn about the amazing and courageous contributions women have made, and continue to make, to our communities, cities, and state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisconsin Women Making History<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Students are to choose one Wisconsin woman, of any background and from any historical period (including the present), and write about that woman’s contribution to her community, city, town, or to the state of Wisconsin. We encourage students to use a variety of ways to gather information, including interviews and community or school library resources. Please see our list of 50 Notable Wisconsin Women<\/a> to help get students started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources and Entry Form<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MPS Notable Women List<\/a> (PDF)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 MPS Essay Contest Submission Form <\/a>(doc)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criteria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n