About The 7th Grade Essay Contest
The mission of The Battle of Flowers Association is to teach the history of our state and to keep alive the patriotic traditions of Texas and San Antonio. This annual contest creates awareness and fosters an appreciation of our Texas heritage while providing 7th grade San Antonio students a unique opportunity to study and write an essay on Texas History.
Contest Details
From frontier chaos to modern Texas, the state has been defined by its contrasts—heroes and outlaws, reformers and rebels, lawmakers and lawbreakers. In the 1800s, Texas struggled to establish law and order, initially under Spanish and Mexican rule. As the Republic of Texas formed (1836-1845), Sam Houston played a key role in creating the state’s legal framework. However, vigilantism often replaced formal justice. Criminals like Bonnie and Clyde embodied the state’s lawless image, and Prohibition fueled organized crime, sometimes blurring the lines between lawmaker and lawbreaker.
The Texas History Essay Contest is held in conjunction with the Battle of Flowers Annual Oratorical Contest in which Texas college students research, write and deliver original speeches on a similar topic. Essay contest students compete for the honor of representing their middle school by writing an original 350-700 word essay that adheres to the theme.
The Texas History Essay Contest is open to all 7th grade students in the San Antonio area. Two divisions – public school and private school – we awarded the top three (3) student finalists with the following awards:
Public & Private School Divisions:
- 1st Place: MacBook
- 2nd Place: $500
- 3rd Place: $250
In addition, the school of each of the top three winning students will receive monetary awards.
- 1st Place: $2,000
- 2nd Place: $1,000
- 3rd Place: $750
Thank you to our generous sponsors of the 7th Grade Essay Contest – Whataburger, Mays Family Foundation and The Smothers Bruni Foundation.
2026 Contest Winners
Public School Division
1st Place: James Joe
Great Hearts Forest Heights
Essay title: Architects of Justice & Agents of Chaos: Pershing’s Chinese
Teacher: Raymond Kite
Headmaster: Paul Gustowski
2nd Place: Virginia Mendez
Rogers College Prep Middle School, SAISD
Essay title: Lawmakers and Lawbreakers: Barbara Jordan
Teacher: Gabriel Jauregui
Principal: Dr. Moises Ortiz
3rd Place: Evan Majorka
Great Hearts Forest Heights
Essay title: Frank Hamer, a Ranger who brought law to Texas
Teacher: Raymond Kite
Headmaster: Paul Gustowsk
Private School Division
1st Place: Devi Hernandez
St. Matthew Catholic School
Essay Title: The Truth Behind the Bars
Teacher: John Drye
Principal: April Hallfrisch
2nd Place: Calissa Perales
Mount Sacred Heart Catholic School
Essay title: Lawmaker of Texas: Sam Houston
Teacher: Sorayda Alejandro
Principal: Angie Garcia
3rd Place: Sarah Bryand
The Christian School at Castle Hills
Essay title: The “Good” Bad Guys
Teacher: Natasha Mankin
Principal: Justin Russell
For questions and more information, email our chairman, Lindsey DeBerry.
