The Smithfield Times is again sponsoring a Black History Month essay contest for high school students in Isle of Wight and Surry.

Public, private and homeschooled students in grades 9-12 are invited to submit essays that address the question, “What lessons from Black History should be taught more fully in today’s classrooms?”

A $100 cash prize will be awarded for the winning essay, which will be published in The Smithfield Times. Essays of up to 350 words should be submitted by email to editor@smithfieldtimes.com and include the author’s name, school, grade, email address and parents’ names. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25.

Smithfield Times Publisher Emeritus John Edwards will lead a committee of judges who will review the essays and select a winner.

“We are honored to again sponsor an essay contest during Black History Month,” said Times Publisher Steve Stewart. “The voices of young people are too often missing during current discourse about history, race relations and what should and should not be taught in 21st-century classrooms. We are pleased to provide a forum for their views.”