Speaking and essay contests will be sponsored by the Georgia Department of Labor in February as part of its eighth annual celebration of Black History Month.

Contest winners will be honored Thursday, Feb. 24 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

Theme of the essay contest is “Heritage and Horizons — The African-American Legacy and Challenges of the 21st Century.” Competition is open to students in grades six to 12. Essays must be a minimum of three pages, typed and double-spaced. The essays will be judged on content, creativity, clarity and grammar. Winners will be selected from grades six-eight, nine-10 and 11-12. Each winner will receive $50.

The public speaking competition is open to high school students. It is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 258 of the Labor Department at 148 International Boulevard, downtown Atlanta.

Students may speak on one of three subjects: “The Challenges of an African-American in a Multi-Cultural Society,” “Breaking Through Cultural Stereotypes in the New Millennium,” and “The Challenges and Successes of Living in a Culturally Diverse Society.”

Speeches will be three to five minutes each, and will be judged on presentation and content. The first place winner will receive $100, second place $50, and third place $30.

Deadline for speaker registration was Friday, Jan. 28.