United Nations Association of Gainesville announces annual Art and Essay Competitions

Press release from the United Nations Association of Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The United Nations Association (UNA) of Gainesville proudly announces the opening of its annual Art and Essay Competition for Alachua County students. This year’s competition holds special significance as the world celebrates the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, marking eight decades of dialogue, cooperation, and peacebuilding among nations working toward a more just and sustainable future.

Through these contests, the UNA of Gainesville invites students to reflect on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global blueprint for achieving peace, prosperity, and sustainability for all. The contests are designed to inspire students to think critically and creatively about global issues and their role in shaping a better world.

Competition Details:

• Middle School Essay Competition (Grades 6–8): Students are invited to submit an essay of 100 to 250 words that explores one of the 17 SDGs. Include name, grade, and school in the heading of the essay.
• High School Art Competition (Grades 9–12): Students are challenged to create an original artwork inspired by one of the SDGs. Entries may be created in any medium but must be submitted as a digital file (PDF, JPEG or PNG). Include name, grade, and school in the email body.

Topics may include areas such as climate action, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, quality education, or reduced inequalities, among others.

Entries should be submitted by December 15, 2025, to contests.unagainesville@gmail.com. The email subject line for the Essay Competition must include “UNA-USA Essay Competition 2025: [Name, Grade]” and for the Art Competition, “UNA-USA Art Competition 2025: [Name, Grade]”

.The United Nations Association of Gainesville, a chapter of the UNA-USA, works to educate, inspire, and mobilize the local community to support the principles and work of the United Nations. Through outreach, advocacy, and youth engagement, UNA Gainesville promotes understanding of global issues and the vital role of international cooperation in achieving peace and stability.