Student Contests
Each year, our CCLE student contests receive impressive entries from all over the country. Any student who attends a CCLE-accredited school or whose parent has CCLE household membership is eligible to enter. Contest winners receive a cash prize, a certificate of merit, and public recognition by the CCLE at our summer conference and on our website. The CCLE retains the right to publish winning entries with authorship attribution.
This year, the CCLE will sponsor a Penmanship & Calligraphy Contest, a Composition Contest, and a Recitation Contest. Use the online submission form below.
Here are some updates and reminders for 2026:
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The contest deadlines for this year will be midnight (Central Time) on:
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March 15, 2026 for Penmanship & Calligraphy
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April 15, 2026 for Composition
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May 15, 2026 for Recitation
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All students who submit entries must attend a CCLE-accredited school or the parents must have CCLE household membership.
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Students may participate at a higher age level if desired. Participation for students with special needs is also available.
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Failure to follow submission guidelines will result in disqualification.
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Questions regarding any of the contests should be directed to contests@ccle.org.
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Winners will be announced by CCLE social media and website (first name and last name initial), the conference program (full name), and any other CCLE print publications (full name). Contest entry assumes permission for the above.
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Contest entries must be original, unpublished work. The CCLE reserves the right to publish all submissions with authorship attribution.
Poetry Composition 2025: Dialectic
Grand Prize: Jordan M.
Teacher: Nancy Ingram
Faith Lutheran School, Plano TX
Runner Up: Maddox H.
Teacher: Erik Morrissey
Our Savior Lutheran School, Houston, TX
Poetry Composition 2025: Rhetoric
Grand Prize: Rose M.
Teacher: Marie MacPherson
Family Altar Home School
Runner Up: Price M.
Teacher: Marie MacPherson
Family Altar Home School
English Recitation 2025
Grand Prize: Preschool: Mercy M.
Teacher: Marie MacPherson
Family Altar Homeschool, WY
Grand: Early Grammar: Bella P.
Teacher: Kim Bohot
Memorial Lutheran School Houston, TX
Runner Up: Early Grammar: Quinn M.
Teacher: Sarah Morrissey
Our Savior Lutheran School, Houston, TX
Grand Prize: Grammar: Peter B.
Teacher: Nicole Boyle
Redeemer Classical School, Fort Wayne, IL
Runner Up: Grammar: Samuel B.
Teacher: Nathaniel Pullmann
Redeemer Classical School, Fort Wayne, IN
Grand Prize: Dialectic: Kate P.
Teacher: Kristi Pauling
Logos Homeschool, Lancaster, SC
Runner Up: Dialectic: Theodore B.
Teacher: Nathaniel Pullmann
Redeemer Classical School, Fort Wayne, IN
Grand Prize: Rhetoric: Price M.
Teacher: Marie MacPherson
Family Altar Homeschool, WY
Runner Up: Rhetoric: Zander H.
Teacher: Megan Mullet
Immanuel Academy, Sheridan, WY
Latin Recitation 2025
Grand Prize: Grammar: Genevieve H.
Teacher: Ian Flanders
Immanuel Lutheran School, Alexandria, VA
Runner Up: Grammar: Micah K.
Teacher: Rev. Rene Castillero
St. Paul Lutheran School, Hamel, IL
Grand Prize: Dialectic: James S.
Teacher: Adrienne Salinas
Triple C Homeschool, TX
Grand Prize: Rhetoric: Rose M.
Teacher: Marie MacPherson
Family Altar Homeschool
Runner Up: Rhetoric: Eva Marie A.
Teacher: Jocelyn Benson
Wittenberg Academy, MN
Penmanship: Manuscript/Print 2025
Grand Prize: Early Grammar 4-5: Liza L.
Teacher: Abby Leithart
Immanuel Lutheran School, Alexandria, VA
Runner Up: Early Grammar 4-5: Caroline P.
Teacher: Kim Bohot
Memorial Lutheran School Houston, TX
Grand Prize: Early Grammar 6-8: Alicia C.
Teacher: Karen Gorr
Immanuel Lutheran School, Alexandria
Runner Up: Early Grammar 6-8: Margot S.
Teacher: Tabitha Dubke
Immanuel Lutheran School, Alexandria
Penmanship: Cursive 2025
Grand Prize: Grammar 6-8: Marian D.
Teacher: Rev. Aaron Schultz
Advent Lutheran School, Zionsville, IN
Grand Prize: Grammar 9-12: Joy M.
Teacher: Marie MacPherson
Family Altar Homeschool, WY
Runner Up: Grammar 9-12: Jase H.
Teacher: Kathryn Phillips
St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Cullman, AL
Grand: Dialectic 13-15: Ronan A.
Teacher: Rebekah Curtis
St. Paul Lutheran School, Hamel, IL
Penmanship: Calligraphy 2025
Grand Prize: Black Lettering: Grace C.
Teacher: Jocelyn Benson
Wittenberg Academy, Chatfield, MN
Runner Up: Black Lettering: Noah W.
Teacher: Rev. Andrew Richard
Mount Hope Lutheran School, Casper, WY
Grand Prize: Illuminated: Silas W.
Teacher: Rev. Andrew Richard
Mount Hope Lutheran School, Casper
Runner Up: Illuminated: Gabriel M.
Teacher: Jocelyn Benson
Wittenberg Academy, Chatfield, MN