The Catholic Textbook Project has announced their annual History Essay Contest for Catholic students. The writing contest is open to students in grades 5 though 12 attending Catholic schools or home-schooling programs. The submission deadline for the contest, which has six separate divisions, is March 23.

The six winning students (three homeschooled and three from Catholic schools) will each receive a cash prize ranging from $100 to $200. The Catholic schools with winning students will receive a $400 gift certificate for the company’s Catholic textbooks, while the home-schooling programs with winning students will receive a free textbook of their choice.

The writing challenge asks students to choose a Catholic individual of historical significance and describe how this person influenced the times in which he or she lives. Students may write on a particular saint, but may also write about a historical Catholic figure.

The winning essays will be published on the Catholic Textbook Project’s blog and Facebook page.

Michael Van Hecke, president of the Catholic Textbook Project, said he is proud of this year’s contest and 2015’s nearly 2,000 entries and winners. Van Hecke said he believes Catholic students benefit from learning about how their faith has influenced civilization throughout history.

“These students are more likely to grow into leaders who understand the importance of living their faith principles in all that they are called to do in their own lives and in the choices they make as they grow into adulthood,” he says.

For more information about the contest, please visit catholictextbookproject.com/essay-contest.