Maryland Judiciary Launches 20th Annual Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Art Contest

The Maryland Judiciary is inviting all Maryland students from kindergarten through eighth grade to participate in its 20th anniversary Annual Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Art Contest. The initiative, organized by the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO), aims to promote peacemaking skills among young people and celebrates national Conflict Resolution Month in October and International Conflict Resolution Day on October 16, 2025. The deadline for artwork submissions is October 16, 2025.

Since its inception in 2005, the contest has encouraged students and educators to engage with curricula focused on peaceful conflict resolution. Participants are tasked with creating bookmarks that visually represent themes related to resolving or preventing conflicts. These themes can include peer mediation, apologizing, respecting differences, effective communication, problem-solving, active listening, tolerance, diversity, inclusion, peace-building, and alternatives to violence. The contest has seen significant growth, expanding from fewer than 100 submissions in its inaugural year to nearly 4,000 entries annually in recent years. This program provides a valuable opportunity for teachers, parents, and students to discuss and reinforce peaceful methods for handling disagreements.

Artwork will be evaluated based on both artistic quality and the clarity of its conflict resolution or prevention message, with originality being a key factor. Prizes will be awarded in three age categories: grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. First place winners in each category will receive $100, second place winners $75, and third place winners $50. Winners are scheduled to be notified between November 18-19, 2025. Students whose designs are selected for printing will receive copies of their own bookmark, and a selection of winning entries will be printed and distributed across schools and communities throughout Maryland to further promote conflict resolution principles. Additionally, honorable mention recipients will be presented with certificates and invited to an awards ceremony.

The awards ceremony for the contest winners and their families is scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Administrative Office of the Courts, Maryland Judicial Center, located in Annapolis, Maryland. During the ceremony, a display of hundreds of contest entries will be accessible for staff and visitors to view. Further information, including bookmark templates, submission guidelines, and delivery instructions, as well as a video detailing how educators can utilize the contest as a teaching resource, is available on the Maryland Judiciary website at https://www.mdcourts.gov/macro/eventsconflictresolutionday2025.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Judiciary

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