Team Partners with Greater Washington Urban League for Contest for High School Students
Washington, D.C. – For the second consecutive year, the Washington Wizards will host an essay contest for high school students. Partnering with the Greater Washington Urban League, the contest will honor Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B) Henderson, a sports historian, educator, administrator, coach, athlete, and civil rights activist known as the 'Grandfather of Black Basketball' in Washington, D.C.
The contest, open to all high school seniors attending eligible schools within a 75-mile radius, will run through February 1, 2023, with the winners being announced at a Wizards home game during Black History Month. To celebrate and honor Dr. E.B. Henderson’s passion for education and his pursuit for equal rights, participants will submit a 350-word essay describing their passion and goals for the future and what one of the biggest challenges they will face in pursuing their dreams.
Essays will be reviewed by a panel of reporters and journalists, including the Washington Post’s Lauren Lumpkin. The top three essay winners will win a monetary scholarship towards their continued education or college of their choice. The grand prize winner will receive $3,000, the second-place winner will receive $2,000 and the third-place finisher will receive $1,000 courtesy of the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. Winners will also be recognized in-game at a selected Wizards home game and on Wizards’ digital platforms. All students who submit an essay that fits the criteria of the contest will receive two complimentary tickets to a select home game during the 2022-23 season.
More information on the Wizards’ essay contest can be found at washingtonwizards.com/essaycontest.
Inspired by Dr. Henderson’s community endeavors, Washington announced a team award in his honor to recognize a Wizards player active in the community. Last April, Anthony Gill was named the inaugural recipient of the Washington Wizards E.B. Henderson Team Award.