(AP) — Nebraska students are being invited to participate in this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest, sponsored by the Nebraska Latino-American Commission.

Middle and high school students of all ethnicities and backgrounds are eligible to enter, and essays are welcome in English and Spanish. Each essay must be original, typed or legibly handwritten in blue or black ink. Typed essays must be double spaced. The word length is 250 to 400 words for middle school students and 500 to 700 words for high school students.

The deadline for entry is Sept. 18.

The top three essays in both middle and high school categories will be recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 4 at the State Capitol in Lincoln.