Countdown to Essay Judging Day 2026
MAXCourage Essay Judging Day
On this special day of courage and community, volunteers read stories written by the thousands of children who participated in our programming each year, and help select which will be published in our annual essay anthology.
Join us for our 35th Annual Essay Judging Day on Thursday, February 12, 2026!
Northeastern University Alumni Center
716 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02120
Morning Session 9:00am - 12:00pm
Afternoon Session 12:30 - 3:30pm
Registration required.
Light lunch available between sessions.
The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum celebrates the legacy of Max Warburg, son of Stephanie and Jonathan Warburg. In Max’s memory, the Warburg family collaborated with the Boston Public Schools to establish a literacy program where middle schoolers write personal narrative essays about a moment of courage in their lives.
Essay Judging Day is a crucial element of this program. On this special day of courage and community, volunteers come together to read essays written by thousands of students from Boston and beyond, and help MAXCourage select which will be published in its annual anthology of student writing.
Essays are judged blindly, with student names removed, and are pre-screened in advance of the event for any student safety concerns. All volunteers review a Judge’s Guide before the event and sign a confidentiality agreement to protect the privacy of the young writers.
Register by February 1, 2026 through the form below, or email molly@maxcourage.org with questions!
Essay Judge Registration Form
Click here to read the full terms of the Essay Judging Day Confidentiality Agreement.
For additional questions or concerns, please contact Program Director Molly McCafferty.