Kansans of all ages who love history will have the opportunity to celebrate their interest in several upcoming photography
and essay contests.

The annual Kansas Factual Story Contest, sponsored by the Native Sons
and Daughters of Kansas, encourages preserving factual, unpublished
happenings and anecdotes from today and yesterday. The contest is open
to everyone with one entry per person. Stories must be true and
unpublished, take place in Kansas, and limited to 750 words. Entries are
submitted electronically via email by 5 p.m. December 11, 2015, to Terry
Marmet, Kansas Historical Foundation, membership@kshs.org
<mailto:membership@kshs.org>. Submissions should use “Beech Memorial
Contest” in the subject line, and include the author’s name, mailing
address, and phone number, and email.

Olive Ann Beech, of Wichita, provided essay contest winners with cash
awards for more than 30 years. Following her death, her daughter, Mary
Lynn Oliver, Wichita, has continued this support. The Beech Memorial
cash awards are: first place, $175; second place, $125; third place,
$100; and $50 each for two honorable mentions. Entries will be judged on
quality of writing and interesting anecdotal stories of Kansas.

The annual essay contest, /Kansas! Say It Above a Whisper, /sponsored by
the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas, is open to Kansas students in
grades eight through 12. Essays are limited to 250 words and should
celebrate and express pride in the state. Entries are submitted
electronically via email by 5 p.m. December 11, 2015, to Terry Marmet,
Kansas Historical Foundation, membership@kshs.org
<mailto:membership@kshs.org>. Submissions should use “Boyd Essay
Contest” in the subject line, and include the author’s name, school,
grade, mailing address, and phone number.

Early day Kansas newspaperwoman Mamie Boyd coined the phrase used for
the contest title. Her family continues to provide the cash award for
the first place winner. Past essays have described interesting and
strong-hearted Kansans, the state’s vast grain crops and grasslands,
diversities in population, and the emotions and pride called to mind by
the state’s unique beauty. Entries will be judged on quality of writing,
originality, creativity, and sincerity in expressing pride in the state
of Kansas.

Winners of both essay contests will be announced and recognized at the
annual meeting of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas Friday,
January 29, 2016, in Topeka.

The Happy Birthday, Kansas! student photo contest is in its second year
and open to Kansas students from first through 12th grade. The contest
encourages students to capture images that depict everyday life in their
communities. Students can submit up to five entries online, the contest
deadline has been extended to December 11, 2015. Submit entries at
happybirthdayks.org, where further information and contest rules are
available. Winners will be announced as part of the state’s 155th
birthday commemoration at the Kansas State Capitol on January 29, 2016.
The 12 first place winner will receive iPads; the 12 second place
winners will receive Kindles. The inaugural contest in 2014 drew more
than 570 entries from 55 Kansas counties. Contest is sponsored by the
Kansas legislative spouses in conjunction with the Kansas Historical
Society.

The Kansas Historical Society will preserve the essays and photographs
in their collections.