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KY Grandparent Essay Contest
2025-26 Grandparent Essay Contest details and forms for Kentucky Retired Teachers Units
Thank you again for supporting the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and AARP Kentucky Grandparent Essay Contest for the 2025-2026 School Year.
a red logo for the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA)
Please submit your school winner HERE (Online Form - Follow Link) by December 15, 2025.
NEW Option: Submit your county winner HERE (Online Form - Follow Link) by February 2, 2026.
Essay Contest Forms for RTA Presidents and Essay Chairpersons
Download KRTA School Winner Form 2025-2026
Download KRTA County Winner Form 2025-2026
Download KRTA District Winner Form 2025-2026
Download KRTA Essay Contest Guidelines 2025-2026
SUBJECT: “Why my Grandparent should be the AARP Kentucky/KRTA Grandparent of the Year”
ELIGIBILITY: Contest is administered by the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and is for 5th graders in Kentucky public schools.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS (must meet ALL criteria to proceed):
- Must be an original work of the author, 1) handwritten on one side only, on white, lined 8”x11” paper -or- 2) type-written, double-spaced, in a digital file (please check with your District/County unit leaders what option(s) your school should use) 300-500 words in length, written in English (Every word -a, in, the, etc.- counts towards the word count).
- Essay must be written about (only) one grandparent or surrogate grandparent, (e.g. someone the child considers to be “like a grandparent”) who is living at the time the essay is written.
- Include full name of Grandparent or surrogate grandparent on completed essay.
- Include the components of a formal essay (introduction, supporting points, and conclusion).
- Name and school of the author must be included at the end of the essay.
- The winning essay from each school must be submitted with an official entry form. The entry forms can be photocopied.
- Entries may be emailed to Christine Jackson: cjackson@aarp.org
Grandparent of the Year Essay Contest Deadlines 2025-26
- School winner deadline: December 15, 2025
- County winner deadline: February 2, 2026
- District winner deadline: March 2, 2026
State winner to be announced at the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA) Annual Meeting in April 2026. Entries postmarked or received at the AARP Kentucky State Office after the stated deadlines cannot be considered.
Mail to: AARP Kentucky, P.O. Box 910294, Lexington, KY 40591-0294
Email to: cjackson@aarp.org
Judging Criteria & Awards:
- Qualifying characteristics of nominee as a grandparent or surrogate grandparent 50%
- Creativity & Expression 30%
- Grammar, Form & Neatness 20%
School winner: Chosen by 5th grade teachers from the submitting school. There can be only one school winner per school; the school winner will receive a certificate. If only one school in a county participates, then that School's winner is automatically the County winner.
County winner: Chosen by the RTA Local President and/or Unit. Each County winner will receive an embossed certificate. If there is only one county in the District, then the County winner is automatically the District winner. Please indicate or highlight this on your forms for AARP Kentucky staff.
District Winner: Chosen by KRTA District President and/or officers. Each District winner will receive a plaque and a $100 award.
State Winner: Chosen by a panel of state level KRTA and AARP Kentucky officials. The state winner will receive a plaque, a $500 award and an expense paid trip (by AARP Kentucky) to the KRTA Convention. The winning student’s teacher will receive a check for $500 towards school supplies.
Teacher Winner: All Teachers' names of each participating student will be entered into a random drawing at the KRTA Convention. Two winning teachers will each receive a $250 gift card for school supplies.
Please send questions via e-mail to kyaarp@aarp.org
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