social studies essay contests

Submit by March 22, 2024

The winners have been announced!

The stossel in the classroom 2023-24 student essay and video contests are here—offering $25,000 in cash prizes for students & teachers the essay and video contests are open to secondary schoolers, and undergrads can participate in the video contest. students can choose from multiple topics, with various divisions for different grade levels. check out the prizes, program updates, and entry details at the links below, then get your students started on their entries.

“The topics are very current, and a great resource for students to develop critical thinking skills as they researchand begin to form an intelligent understanding of the issues our nation faces.”

“I want them [students] to learn to think, and your essay and video contests force them to think individually. They have to actually see all sides of an issue to make a logical argument.”

“Our students are very talented and they have great ideas to share. By entering this contest, they have an opportunity to share their viewpoints and showcase their writing skills.”

We’d love to get a peek into how you’re spending your summer. Fun with the family? Hiking? Relaxing by the pool? An amazing adventure across the globe? Share a pic with us that exemplifies your time away, and if yours is one of our favorites you’ll receive a $50 gift card or a Back-to-School Reading Bundle!

Grades 6-12
School Leaders

Win a $1,000 gift certificate of your choice! ✨

The Best Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024

Help your students take their writing to the next level.

When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are a challenging and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience— a real panel of judges —and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of the best student writing contests, and there’s something for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.

1. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

With a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—The Scholastic Awards are a mainstay of student contests. Each category has its own rules and word counts, so be sure to check out the options before you decide which one is best for your students.

How To Enter

Students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. There are entry fees, but those can be waived for students in need.

2. YoungArts National Arts Competition

This ends soon, but if you have students who are ready to submit, it’s worth it. YoungArts offers a national competition in the categories of creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 as well as the chance to participate in artistic development with leaders in their fields.

YoungArts accepts submissions in each category through October 13. Students submit their work online and pay a $35 fee (there is a fee waiver option).

3. National Youth Foundation Programs

Each year, awards are given for Student Book Scholars, Amazing Women, and the “I Matter” Poetry & Art competition. This is a great chance for kids to express themselves with joy and strength.

The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.

4. American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

If you’re looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, DC.

Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is the first week of April.

5. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

This annual contest invites students to write about a political official’s act of political courage that occurred after Kennedy’s birth in 1917. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes. ADVERTISEMENT

Students may submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay through January 12. The essay must feature more than five sources and a full bibliography.

6. Bennington Young Writers Awards

Bennington College offers competitions in three categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), and nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). First-place winners receive $500. Grab a poster for your classroom here .

The contest runs from September 1 to November 1. The website links to a student registration form.

7. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest

Looking for student writing contests for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition, which is open only to high school juniors, is judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University. Students submit short plays in an effort to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. ( Note: Only open to 11th graders. )

Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline is the end of March. Contest details will be published in early 2024.

8. Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in 11th grade. Prizes range from $100 to $500.

Students in 11th grade can submit their poetry. Contest details will be published this fall.

9. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

This contest is also a wonderful writing challenge, and the New York Times includes lots of resources and models for students to be able to do their best work. They’ve even made a classroom poster !

Submissions need to be made electronically by November 1.

10. Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The deadline for this contest is the end of October. Sponsored by Hollins University, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest awards prizes for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Prizes include cash and scholarships. Winners are chosen by students and faculty members in the creative writing program at Hollins.

Students may submit either one or two poems using the online form.

11. The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors, and the winner receives a full scholarship to a Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop .

Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30.

12. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication by entering an essay on a topic specified by the Jane Austen Society related to a Jane Austen novel.

Details for the 2024 contest will be announced in November. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.

13. Rattle Young Poets Anthology

Open to students from 15 to 18 years old who are interested in publication and exposure over monetary awards.

Teachers may choose five students for whom to submit up to four poems each on their behalf. The deadline is November 15.

14. The Black River Chapbook Competition

This is a chance for new and emerging writers to gain publication in their own professionally published chapbook, as well as $500 and free copies of the book.

There is an $18 entry fee, and submissions are made online.

15. YouthPlays New Voices

For students under 18, the YouthPlays one-act competition is designed for young writers to create new works for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.

Scroll all the way down their web page for information on the contest, which accepts non-musical plays between 10 and 40 minutes long, submitted electronically. Entries open each year in January.

16. The Ocean Awareness Contest

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, Tell Your Climate Story , encourages students to write their own unique climate story. They are asking for creative expressions of students’ personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about climate change. Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.

Students from 11 to 18 years old may submit work in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 13.

17. EngineerGirl Annual Essay Contest

Each year, EngineerGirl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the impact of engineering on the world, and students can win up to $500 in prize money. This contest is a nice bridge between ELA and STEM and great for teachers interested in incorporating an interdisciplinary project into their curriculum. The new contest asks for pieces describing the life cycle of an everyday object. Check out these tips for integrating the content into your classroom .

Students submit their work electronically by February 1. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here .

18. NCTE Student Writing Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th- and 11th-grade students), Promising Young Writers (for 8th-grade students), and an award to recognize Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.

Deadlines range from October 28 to February 15. Check out NCTE.org for more details.

19. See Us, Support Us Art Contest

Children of incarcerated parents can submit artwork, poetry, photos, videos, and more. Submissions are free and the website has a great collection of past winners.

Students can submit their entries via social media or email by October 25.

20. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

The Adroit Journal, an education-minded nonprofit publication, awards annual prizes for poetry and prose to exceptional high school and college students. Adroit charges an entry fee but also provides a form for financial assistance.

21. National PTA Reflections Awards

The National PTA offers a variety of awards, including one for literature, in their annual Reflections Contest. Students of all ages can submit entries on the specified topic to their local PTA Reflections program. From there, winners move to the local area, state, and national levels. National-level awards include an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Convention.

This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

22. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as those in home-study programs. The $500 prize is based on an essay that addresses one of this year’s two prompts.

Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before May 1.

23. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

The National Society of High School Scholars awards three $2,000 scholarships for both poetry and fiction. They accept poetry, short stories, and graphic novel writing.

Apply online by October 31.

Whether you let your students blog, start a podcast or video channel, or enter student writing contests, giving them an authentic audience for their work is always a powerful classroom choice.

If you like this list of student writing contests and want more articles like it, subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted!

Plus, check out our favorite anchor charts for teaching writing..

Are you looking for student writing contests to share in your classroom? This list will give students plenty of opportunities.

Best Student Contests and Competitions for 2023

Best 2024 Competitions for Students in Grades K-12

Competitions in STEM, ELA and the arts, and more! Continue Reading

Visit the new and improved Hamilton Education Program website

AP US History Study Guide
History U: Courses for High School Students
History School: Summer Enrichment
Lesson Plans
Classroom Resources
Spotlights on Primary Sources
Professional Development (Academic Year)
Professional Development (Summer)
Book Breaks
Inside the Vault
Self-Paced Courses
Browse All Resources
Search by Issue
Search by Essay
Become a Member (Free)
Monthly Offer (Free for Members)
Program Information
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Applying and Enrolling
Eligibility (In-Person)
EduHam Online
Hamilton Cast Read Alongs
Official Website
Press Coverage
Veterans Legacy Program
The Declaration at 250
Black Lives in the Founding Era
Celebrating American Historical Holidays
Browse All Programs
Donate Items to the Collection
Search Our Catalog
Research Guides
Rights and Reproductions
See Our Documents on Display
Bring an Exhibition to Your Organization
Interactive Exhibitions Online
About the Transcription Program
Civil War Letters
Founding Era Newspapers
College Fellowships in American History
Scholarly Fellowship Program
Richard Gilder History Prize
David McCullough Essay Prize
Affiliate School Scholarships
Nominate a Teacher
State Winners
National Winners
Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize
Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize
George Washington Prize
Frederick Douglass Book Prize
Our Mission and History
Annual Report
Contact Information
Student Advisory Council
Teacher Advisory Council
Board of Trustees
Remembering Richard Gilder
President's Council
Scholarly Advisory Board
Internships
Our Partners
Press Releases

Programs & Events

Student opportunities, david mccullough essay prizes.

David McCullough in front of a student-painted American flag at Trinity School..

David McCullough at Trinity School in Manhattan, October 15, 2019

The 2024 David McCullough Essay Prize Contest is now closed for submissions.

This contest is named in memory of David McCullough (1933–2022)—a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and Gilder Lehrman Life Trustee—and honors his career telling America’s stories and examining its histories. Learn more about his life and legacy here .

High school students attending schools in our Affiliate School Program are eligible and encouraged to participate. They are invited to submit an original essay, written independently or for a 2023–2024 class, that has been revised, expanded, and adapted to conform with the new McCullough Prize specifications. The two essay categories are as follows:

Research Essay: Students are invited to submit a research essay incorporating primary and secondary sources on a topic in American history from 1491 to 2001.

Interpretive Essay: Students are invited to submit an interpretive essay focusing on close reading and analysis of one primary source from American history, 1491 to 2001, in the Gilder Lehrman Collection of more than 86,000 historical documents.

More requirements for both essay categories can be found in these updated 2024 rubrics .

All participants will receive a certificate of participation suitable for framing. Prize winners in each of our two categories—research essays and a new interpretive essay category—will receive cash awards as follows:

1st Prize: $5,000 (plus a $500 prize awarded to the school)
2nd Prize: $1,500 (plus a $500 prize awarded to the school)
Five 3rd Prizes: $500 each

A panel of Gilder Lehrman master teachers will choose the pool of finalists, from which a jury of eminent historians will choose the winners. Essays will be evaluated for their historical rigor, the clarity and correctness of their style, their use of evidence, and their qualities of empathy and imagination.

Winners will be notified and announced no later than Friday, September 13, 2024.

General Requirements

Font and Page Style: Papers should be submitted in 12-point, Times New Roman font with one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides. Essays should be free of teacher commentary or other notes.

Organization: Top essays have an introduction, body, and conclusion and a clearly stated, well-developed thesis statement with supportive historical evidence.

Essay Topics: Essays can be on any topic related to American history from 1491 to 2001. Essays in the interpretative category must feature a primary source (letter, broadside, art, political cartoon, speech, etc.) from the Gilder Lehrman Collection .

Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.

Learn how the Institute impacts history education through our work guiding teachers, energizing students, and supporting research.

Will you join us in lighting the way for the leaders of tomorrow?

Eligibility and requirements, eligibility.

The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas. Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate. Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and members of their families are not eligible to participate.

Requirements

The contest deadline is January 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST).
Essays can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count.
Essays must be the original work of the student. Essays are checked for AI assistance and are disqualified if AI is detected at any point in the essay or bibliography. See Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism .
Essays must have a minimum of five sources.
Essays should not include identifying information about the author.

Essay Subjects

Essays must describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. The official may have addressed an issue at the local, state, or national level. See Contest Topic and Information and Helpful Tips for Writing Your Essay for more information.
Since originality is one of the criteria for judging , writing about any of these common essay subjects will lower your score.
John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy are not eligible subjects for essays.
Essays about past recipients of the Profile in Courage Award will be disqualified unless they describe an act of political courage other than the act for which the award was given.
Essays about the senators in Profiles in Courage will be disqualified.
Participants are strongly discouraged from profiling the most written about essay subjects . Be sure to check this list of common essay subjects before you select your topic.
Essays about subjects from past winning essays will receive a lower score.

Source Material

Essays with fewer than five listed sources will be disqualified.
All participants must cite sources they used to research their topic throughout their essay. Please use parenthetical citations within the text.
We can not accept citations in footnote form.
Essays must include a bibliography. Accepted formats include APA, MLA, or Turabian. Please refer to Guidelines for Citations and Bibliographies .

Nominating Teachers

All students must list the name of their nominating teacher on the registration form. The role of a nominating teacher is to provide students with support and advice during the writing of their essay. Nominating teachers are also asked to read students' essays to make suggestions for improvement before they are submitted to the essay contest. As part of this review process, the nominating teacher reviews the essay for syntax, grammatical, typographical and spelling errors and ensures the essay meets the contest requirements listed above. The first place winner and his/her nominating teacher, as representatives of their school, will be invited to receive awards at the annual Profile in Courage Award ceremony held each May at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston.
Nominating teachers can be former or current teachers, but must still be teaching at the same high school as the essay participant. Usually students ask their English or History/Social Studies teachers. In very few cases, we will make an exception if a student is unable to ask a teacher from their high school to be their nominating teacher. The parent or legal guardian responsible for the instruction of home schooled students can also serve as a nominating teacher.

We The Future Contest

$2,000 – $5,000 Scholarships Available

Teachers: Receive a $50 Amazon gift card when at least 10 of your students submit a contest entry! The teacher with the most entries will receive $1,000! See teacher category for details

Entries are due May 31, 2025!

We encourage early entries! Please send your entry now!

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ($2,000-$5,000)

We The Future Contest College Category (ages 17-24; 12 hours or more)

Contest Rules Summary – 2025

IMPORTANT : Submissions must be entirely the original work of the students, without any assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Entries will be analyzed by third party software.

College Students may submit: Essay, Song, STEM, Short Film, Social Media Video, or PSA. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

The winner will also be invited to attend the Winner Mentor Trip tentatively scheduled for September 2025 (all costs fully covered).

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025 submitted electronically through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions.

Please choose from the following prompts.

Option 1: Write a 500-700 word essay on the different powers vested in our three branches of government and why the concept of checks and balances, as guaranteed by our Constitution, are vital to the preservation of our government. Are there examples (recent or historical) of violations of these checks and balances?

Option 2: Recognizing our form of government is a Republic, write a 500-700 word essay on how our First Amendment (RAPPS: Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) rights enable the citizens to influence the laws of our country or initiate a constitutional amendment and, in so doing, prevent the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat).” Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age, and grade on every page of the essay. If mailing, the essay and entry form must be included. See Official Rules Section III for details.

Please choose from one of the following prompts below.

The significance and necessity of the U.S. Constitution, highlighting how it has protected our freedom throughout our history and why we need it in the future.
What the Constitution Means to Me.
Religious Freedom.

Pick 1 of the following 4 STEM projects. If your project is a website or app, include 2 paragraphs as to how you would market your project.

Technology

Please create a web interface that effects change using your First Amendment rights.

Engineering

Please create a phone application that can be used by Constituting America to incorporate the various materials on our website (videos, essays, founding documents, white papers, etc.)

Option 1: Please create a graphical representation of our amendment process. It should include the years that all of the amendments have been ratified and how long each amendment took to be ratified from initiation to ratification. Please include brief background material on how the amendments originated.

Option 2: Please create a quantitative analysis of the effects of a certain amendment. Example: How many 18-20 year olds have voted since the 26th amendment, and what is the effect on voting results? Conduct an analysis of female voting patterns since the 19th Amendment, or African American voting patterns since the 15th amendment.

How did the freedoms outlined in the Declaration and the Constitution accelerate science and scientific thinking?

See Official Rules Section III for details about STEM.

• Short Film: Please create a 5-10 minute short film that represents how the Constitution (specifically the first amendment and our election process) prevents the dissolution of the Republic in ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). Incorporate historic examples. Must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length. See Official Rules Section III for details.

Social Media Video (60 second maximum): (1) Please create a 60 second maximum video (Instagram reel, youtube short, etc) that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be no longer than 60 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the Social Media Video. Social Media Video submissions should be uploaded as 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) with the highest resolution possible to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). See Official Rules Section III for details.

The PSA subject is: (1) Please a commercial suitable for airing on radio or TV that is no longer than 25 seconds, choosing one of the following prompts:

(1) Why citizens should know their Constitution?

(2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today?

Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Please include your name, age, and grade on all pages of the entry package.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult official rules for complete instructions.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult “Official Rules” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for College Students

Section I – General Rules for College Students Section II – Qualifications Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards and Prizes Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for College Students From June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” essay, song, STEM, short film, social media video, and PSA contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The Essay topic is:

The song subject is: the Relevancy of the U.S. Constitution. This could include:

STEM subject is:

Option 1: Please create a web interface that effects change using your First Amendment rights

The short film subject is: Please create a 5-10 minute short film that represents how the Constitution (specifically the first amendment and our election process) prevents the dissolution of the Republic in ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). Incorporate historic examples.

The Social Media Video subject is: (1) Please create a 60 second maximum video (Instagram reel, youtube short, etc) that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today?

The PSA subject is: Please a commercial suitable for airing on radio or TV that is no longer than 25 seconds, choosing one of the following prompts.

• Essay: The completed Contest Sign-up form and essay are preferred to be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site. If it is not possible to electronically submit an entry, please mail it to: Constituting America, P.O. Box 1988, Colleyville, Texas 76034. The student’s name, age, and year must appear on each page of the essay.

• Song: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), must include a video recording of the performance or still photo with audio in background. First line of song description in online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. Must submit Entry/Permission form and YouTube or Vimeo link, lyrics and music electronically through the online portal on this site.

• STEM: Applicable links to your STEM project and any PDF files are to be submitted to the website through the contest entry portal.

• Short Film & PSA: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Please include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

• Social Media Video: Submission dimensions should be 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) with the highest resolution possible and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: “Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org” The completed Entry/Permission form must be submitted electronically, with the YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the Social Media Video script.

• Entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. ET, May 31, 2025 but may be submitted at any time from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

As further detailed in Section VII entrants and parent/guardians agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song, essay, PSA and short film on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications The College Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students enrolled in a college or university, carrying 12 hours or more, age 17 to 24 years old at the time of entry.

Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

“We The Future” Contest winners are limited to winning twice, and may not win more than once in the same category. We encourage all former “We The Future” Contest winners to join our Youth Advisory Board! Please email [email protected] for details and to join!

Section III – Essay, Song, STEM, Short Film, Social Media Video, and PSA Instructions All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Essay Topic:

Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age, and grade on every page of the essay. If mailing, the essay and entry form must be included.

2. Song theme:

The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre song composition with lyrics and music written by the student, no longer than 3:20. Song submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled) and must include a video recording of the performance or a still photo with audio in background. It must be sung by the student. The song may be written, performed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. The first line of the song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18); YouTube or Vimeo link; and lyrics and music. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the song submission.

If your STEM project is solely digital (i.e. an online survey) submit it electronically through the online portal on this site. If your STEM project is something built or created physically then you can mail it to: Constituting America, P.O. Box 1988, Colleyville, Texas 76034.

If you have questions, please email us a summary of your project to [email protected], with the subject line, and depending on what you have developed/created, we will work with you on the best way to submit your project.

4. Short Film subject is: Please create a 5-10 minute short film that represents how the Constitution (specifically the first amendment and our election process) prevents the dissolution of the Republic in ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). Incorporate historic examples. Must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length.

Short film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be submitted electronically, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, year, and age must be on each page of the short film script.

5. Social Media Video subject is (60-second): ( 1) Please create a 60 second maximum video (Instagram reel, youtube short, etc) that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be no longer than 60 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the Social Media Video.

Social Media Video dimensions should be 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) with the highest resolution possible and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: “Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org” The completed Entry/Permission form must be submitted electronically, with the YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the Social Media Video script.

6. Public Service Announcement (PSA) subject is: (30-second): Please a commercial suitable for airing on radio or TV that is no longer than 25 seconds, choosing one of the following prompts:

Section IV – Judging Process After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning essay, one (1) winning song, (1) winning STEM, one (1) winning short film, and one (1) winning PSA. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III

2. Essay: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form – MLA Format is suggested.

3. Song: original song appealing to broad base of youth

4. STEM: originality, and usefulness in aiding students to learn about the U.S. Constitution

5. Short film: originality, appeal to college age group

6. Social Media Video: originality, appeal to college age group, shareable, fun, inspirational and/or educational

7. PSA: originality, appeal to college age group, likeliness to be aired by a television station

The odds of winning are proportional to the amount of entries received. Winners will be notified during the fall of 2025.

Section V – Awards and Prizes The five college winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST ESSAY – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Essay, College 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Essay, College 2025 4. $5,000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SONG – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College Song, 2025 2. Television Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Song, College 2025 4. $2,000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, prize is split)

BEST STEM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best STEM, College 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best STEM, College 2025 4. $2,000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College Short Film, 2025 2. Television Appearances(to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, College 2025 4. $2,000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, prize is split)

BEST Social Media Video – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College Social Media Video, 2025 2. Social Media Appearances(to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Social Media Video, College 2025 4. $2,000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, prize is split)

BEST PSA – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America College PSA, 2025 2. Television Appearances(to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best PSA, College 2025 4. $5,000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, prize is split)

All entrants and their parents/guardians are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parent/guardian also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration. Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy Constituting America will not discriminate in any manner, including on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in its administration of the Contest. Each eligible entry submitted will be evaluated upon the merit of its contents and the criteria described in Section IV. This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

HILLSDALE / CONSTITUTING AMERICA SCHOLARSHIP FUND ($5,000)

Any high school or college winner who commits to attend Hillsdale College is automatically considered for an additional, one time $5,000 scholarship award from the Hillsdale/Constituting America Scholarship Fund.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ($1,000)

We The Future Contest High School Students Grades 9 – 12

Parent/Guardian must read “Constituting America’s Privacy Policy Guidelines and Notice to Parents,” approve of student entering, “check” parent statement on online form & sign hard copy contest entry form.

High School Students may submit the following: Essay, Song, STEM, Short film, Social Media Video, or PSA. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025, through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions

• STEM: Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Conduct a survey or focus group, create an online quiz or website, or design a smartphone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution. Focus groups or surveys must poll twenty or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least fifteen people and submission must include a report of results; smartphone apps must be downloaded and tested by fifteen people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.

See Official Rules for details.

• Short film: How does the Constitution make America and Americans’ way of life unique as compared to other countries? Must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length. See Official Rules Section III for details.

• Social Media Video (60 second maximum): (1) Please create a 60 second maximum video (Instagram reel, youtube short, etc) that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be no longer than 60 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the Social Media Video. Social Media Video submissions should be uploaded as 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) with the highest resolution possible to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). See Official Rules Section III for details.

It must be 25 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the PSA. PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), “black to black.” See Official Rules Section III for details.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for High School Students (Grades 9-12)

Section I – General Rules for High School Students (Grades 9-12) Section II – Qualifications Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards and Prizes Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for High School Students (Grades 9-12) From June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” essay, song, STEM, Short film, Social Media Video, and PSA contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The essay topic is:

The song subject is:

STEM subject is: Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Conduct a survey or focus group, create an online quiz or website, or design a smartphone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution. Focus groups or surveys must poll twenty or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least fifteen people and submission must include a report of results; smartphone apps must be downloaded and tested by fifteen people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.

The short film subject is: How does the Constitution make America and Americans’ way of life unique as compared to other countries?

To enter, students and/or parent/guardians are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest, including the line on the form giving parental consent. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to the students signing up for the contest in advance.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025, through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions and guidelines.

• Essay: The completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent and essay should be submitted as a PDF through the online portal on this site or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. The student’s name, age, and grade must appear on each page of the essay.

• Song: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), must include a video recording of the performance or still photo with audio in the background. The first line of song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. Must submit electronically the Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; lyrics and music through the online portal on this site.

• STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. Examples: a random survey of students to test constitutional knowledge, design a computer game tied to the Constitution or liberties it represents, construct an app or website showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.

• Short film & PSA: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Please include your name, age, and grade on all pages of the entry package.

Entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. ET, May 31, 2025, but may be submitted at any time from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late, or entries that contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium), and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song, essay, short film, and PSA on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications The High School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in grades 9-12 and are 14 to 19 years old at the time of entry, attending public, private, religious, home school programs, and charter schools.

Section III – Essay, Song, STEM, Short film, Social Media Video, and PSA Instructions All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

The essay must be no shorter than 500 words and no longer than 1,000 words, typed or handwritten. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically but MUST include student’s name, age, and grade on every page of the essay. If mailing, the essay and entry form must be included. If submitted electronically, the essay should be saved as a PDF and submitted electronically through the online portal on this site.

2. Song t heme:

The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre song composition with lyrics and music written by the student, no longer than 3:20. Song submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled) and must include a video recording of the performance or a still photo with audio in the background. It must be sung by the student. The song may be written, performed, and submitted by a team of not more than two people. The first line of the song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18); YouTube or Vimeo link; and lyrics and music. The student’s name, grade, and age must be on each page of the song submission.

3. STEM: Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Conduct a survey or focus group, create an online quiz or website, or design a smartphone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution. Focus groups or surveys must poll fifteen or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least ten people and submission must include a report of results; smartphone apps must be downloaded and tested by ten people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.

Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. It can be as simple as a random survey of students in your school testing their constitutional knowledge, to something a little more complex like designing an interactive computer game tied to some part of the Constitution or liberties it represents. Or you can construct an app or even a website showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours.

4. Short film subject is: How does the Constitution make America and Americans’ way of life unique as compared to other countries? Must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length.

Short film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be submitted electronically, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, grade, and age must be on each page of the short film script.

5. Social Media Video subject is (60-second): (1) Please create a 60 second maximum video (Instagram reel, youtube short, etc) that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be no longer than 60 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the Social Media Video.

6. Public Service Announcement (PSA) subject is: Please a commercial suitable for airing on radio or TV that is no longer than 25 seconds, choosing one of the following prompts:

It must be 25 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the PSA.

PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be submitted electronically, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, grade, and age must be on each page of the PSA script and submission.

Section IV– Judging Process After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning essay, one (1) winning song, one (1) winning STEM, one (1) winning short film and one (1) winning public service announcement. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

2. Essay: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar, and form

3. Song: original song appealing to a broad base of youth

5. Short film: originality, appeal to a high school age group

7. PSA: originality, appeal to high school age group, likeliness to be aired by a television station

Section V – Awards and Prizes The five high school winners will be contacted directly through the contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winner must:

Provide publicity photos and a short bio
Return the signed Winner Agreement, liability release, and publicity release

Winners Recieve:

BEST ESSAY – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Essay, High School 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Essay, High School 2025 4. $1,000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SONG – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School Song, 2025 2. Television Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Song, High School 2025 4. $1,000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, the prize is split)

BEST STEM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best STEM, High School 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best STEM, High School 2025 4. $1,000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School Short Film, 2025 2. Television Appearances(to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, High School 2025 4. $1,000 Scholarship Prize(If team submission, the prize is split)

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School Social Media Video, 2025 2. Social Media Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Social Media Video, High School 2025 4. $1,000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, the prize is split)

BEST PSA – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School PSA, 2025 2. Television Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best PSA, High School 2025 4. $1,000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, the prize is split

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Upon submission of an entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities, and states of residence, pictures, and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parents/guardians also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

Section VII – Disclaimer Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating a student’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no student, parent /guardian, or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration. Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

If for any reason, the Contest is interrupted, delayed, or negatively affected by any causes beyond the control of Constituting America, Constituting America reserves the right to cancel, modify or delay the Contest.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ($200)

We The Future Contest Middle School Students Grades 6 – 8

Middle School Students may submit: Essay, STEM, Song, or PSA. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Submissions due no later than May 31, 2025, through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions.

• STEM project: Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Create an online quiz or website, design a chatbot, a smart-phone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution, or conduct a survey or focus group. Focus groups or surveys must poll twenty or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least fifteen people and submission must include a report of results; smartphone apps must be downloaded and tested by fifteen people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project. See Official Rules for Details.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)

Section I – General Rules for Middle School Students (Grades 6-8) Section II – Qualifications Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards and Prizes Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Middle School Students (Grades 6-8) From June 1, 2024 – to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” essay and STEM contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

STEM subject is: Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Conduct a survey or focus group, create an online quiz or website, or design a smart-phone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution. Focus groups or surveys must poll twenty or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least fifteen people and submission must include a report of results; smart phone apps must be downloaded and tested by fifteen people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project . See Official Rules for details.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025 through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions and guidelines.

• Essay: The completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent and essay should be uploaded as a PDF through the contest entry portal on this site or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. Student’s name, age and grade must appear on each page of the essay.

• STEM: Applicable links to your STEM project and any PDF files are to be uploaded to the website through the contest entry portal.

• Song: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), must include a video recording of the performance or still photo with audio in background. First line of song description in online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. Must submit electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; lyrics and music.

PSA : Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Pls. include your name, age, and grade on all pages of the entry package.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the essay on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications The Middle School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in grades 6-8 and are 11 to 15 years old at the time of entry, attending public, private, religious, home school program and charter schools.

Section III – Essay, STEM, Song & PSA Instructions

All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Essay must be no shorter than 500 words and no longer than 750 words, typed or handwritten. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age and grade on every page of the essay. Essay should be saved as a PDF and submitted electronically with entry form through the online portal on this site. If mailing, the essay and entry form must be included.

2. STEM: Using your creativity, develop some type of applied technology that can be used to promote the U.S. Constitution. It can be as simple as a random survey of students in your school testing their constitutional knowledge, to something a little more complex like designing an interactive computer game tied to some part of the Constitution or liberties it represents. Or you can construct an app or even a web site showcasing a particular aspect of the Constitution’s value in contemporary America, to your peers. The choice is yours. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.

The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre song composition with lyrics and music written by the student, no longer than 3:20. Song submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled) and must include a video recording of the performance or a still photo with audio in the background. It must be sung by the student. The song may be written, performed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. The first line of the song description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18); YouTube or Vimeo link; and lyrics and music. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the song submission.

4. Public Service Announcement (PSA): Choose one of the two topics to create a 25-second public service announcement.

PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent (if under 18), must be submitted electronically, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the PSA script and submission.

2. Essay: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form

3. STEM: originality, and usefulness in aiding students to learn about the U.S. Constitution

4. Song: original song appealing to broad base of youth

5. PSA: originality, appeal to high school age group, likeliness to be aired by a television station

Section V – Awards and Prizes The middle school winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must:

Provide publicity photos and short bio
Return the signed Winner Agreement, liability release and publicity release

Winners will receive:

BEST ESSAY – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Essay, Middle School 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Essay, Middle School 2025 4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST STEM – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best STEM, Middle School 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best STEM, Middle School 2025 4. $200 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST SONG – 1 Entry Chosen

1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America High School Song, 2025 2. Television Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Song, High School 2025 4. $200 Gift Card (If team submission, prize is split)

Constituting America is not responsible for (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized by this contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this contest; or (ii) for lost, late, misdirected or delayed entries or electronic transmission errors or technical malfunctions.

This Contest is governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas without regard to principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of these Official Rules and Regulations is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ($100)

We The Future Contest Elementary School Students Grades K – 5

Parent/Guardian must read “Constituting America’s Privacy Policy Guidelines and Notice to Parents,” approve of student entering, and “check” parent statement on online form & sign hard copy contest entry form.

Elementary students may submit a Poem or Holiday Card.

Poem: Please create a Constitution-themed poem by choosing from one of the following prompts:

A poem with the theme “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength”

A poem that represents how the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both sovereign and free.

Electronic submissions of Poems are due by May 31, 2025 through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for details.

Holiday Card Please create a Constitution-themed artwork appropriate for the front of a holiday card utilizing one of the following prompts:

“The Constitution as America’s greatest strength”
Artwork that represents how the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both sovereign and free.

Create an original drawing, no bigger than a 9×11 image, single-sided, easily scanned (2-dimensional only), in full color in pencil, pen, colors, or paint. All holiday card entries must be mailed to Constituting America and MUST include the student’s name, age, and grade on the back of the drawing along with the signed permission/entry form.

The Holiday Card Contest is proudly named in memory of Conrad Ainslie Bauman (February 26, 2014 – September 23, 2015). See Official Rules Section III for details.

Mailed entries must be postmarked by May 31, 2025, and include the entry form, with signed parental consent. The student’s name, age, and grade must appear on the entry.

Please mail entries to: Constituting America We The Future Contest PO Box 1988, Colleyville, TX 76034

Entries will not be returned. The winner gives Constituting America the right to reprint and redistribute entries.

The above rules are a summary only. Please consult “Official Rules and Regulations,” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations For Elementary Students

Section I – General Rules for Elementary Students (Grades K‐5) Section II – Qualifications Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards & Prizes Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Elementary Students (Grades K‐ 5) From June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” holiday card and poem contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America (including the District of Columbia), the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The poem topic is: A poem with the theme “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength” OR “A poem that represents how the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both sovereign and free.”

The holiday card topic is: “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength” OR “Artwork that represents how the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both sovereign and free.”

Instructions for the holiday card and poem are outlined in Section III.

To enter the poem, the completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent and poem entry may be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. The student’s name, age, and grade must appear on the poem.

The holiday card entry, along with the completed Contest Sign-up form with signed parental consent, must be submitted by mail in hard copy form, with student’s name, age, and grade on back, to: Constituting America We The Future Contest P.O. Box 1988 Colleyville, TX 76034

Entries must be received electronically by (poem only) by 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025, or postmarked (artwork or poem) no later than May 31, 2025.

Incomplete, late, or entries that contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium), and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, the sale of the holiday cards on the Constituting America website, and use of the holiday card language, artwork or any parts thereof on t-shirts or other items for sale on the website, with proceeds benefiting Constituting America.

Section II – Qualifications The Elementary School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in grades K-5 and are 5 to 12 years old at the time of entry, attending public, private, religious, home school programs and charter schools. Students must attend school in one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, all U.S. Territories, or American Armed Forces Schools abroad.

Section III – Holiday Card and Poem Instructions The subject matter of the poem must be: A poem with the theme “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength” OR “A poem that represents how the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both sovereign and free.” Create an original poem about the checks and balances between our three branches of government outlined by the U.S. Constitution. The poem may be typed or handwritten, and submitted electronically or mailed. If submitted electronically, the poem should be saved as a PDF. Whether submitted electronically or in hard copy form, poem entry MUST include the student’s name, age, and grade on the poem.

The theme for the holiday card is: “The Constitution as America’s greatest strength” OR “Artwork that represents how the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both sovereign and free.” Create an original drawing, no bigger than a 9×11 image, single-sided, easily scanned (2-dimensional only), in full color in pencil, pen, colors, or paint. No Text. All holiday card entries must be mailed to Constituting America and MUST include the student’s name, age, and grade on the back of the drawing along with the signed permission/entry form.

The Conrad Ainslie Bauman Holiday Card Contest is in Memory of Conrad Ainslie Bauman (February 26, 2014 – September 23, 2015). Although briefly on this earth, Conrad touched the hearts of many and his beautiful spirit lives on. He loved art, and we are proud to name Constituting America’s Holiday Card Contest after him. Born on February 26, 2014, Conrad passed away on September 23, 2015, from a very rare form of leukemia, JMML.

All entries must include the signed Entry/Permission Form, available for download on the website. The form should be signed by the parent if the entrant, scanned in and accompany electronic submissions, or 2 copies mailed in with hard copy submissions.

Section IV – Judging Process After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions which comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one (1) winning poem and one (1) winning holiday card. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category and/or make multiple awards per category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 1. Adherence to instructions stated in Section III 2. Poem: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar, and form; Holiday card: artistic quality, originality, ability to reproduce, and neatness.

Section V – Awards and Prizes The two elementary school winners will be contacted directly through the contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winners must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winners will receive:

BEST POEM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Poem, Elementary School 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Poem, Elementary School 4. $100 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

BEST HOLIDAY CARD – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as an official holiday card 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Official Holiday card 4. $100 Gift Card to a retail location (to be announced)

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Upon submission of an entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities, and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants and their parents/guardians also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents are posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant and his or her parent/guardian hereby agree and acknowledge the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy and Notice to Parents.

LAW SCHOOL & GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS

We The Future Contest Graduate and Law School Students

Must be enrolled in a graduate school or law school, carrying 9 hours or more, seeking a graduate or law degree, age 18 and above. The winner will also be invited to attend the Winner Mentor Trip tentatively scheduled for September 2025 (all costs fully covered).

Graduate and Law School Students may submit a Short Film or Speech. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025 through the online portal on this site.

See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions:

• Speech: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms. Speech must be no longer than 20 minutes and no shorter than 15 minutes, video recorded and uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). Your entry will consist of the link to your speech, a written copy of your speech, and your signed entry form submitted through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for full details.

• Short Film: Subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today,” and must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length. Short film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). See Official Rules Section III for full details.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for Graduate and Law School Students

Section I – General Rules: Grad/Law Students Section II – Qualifications Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards and Prizes Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Graduate and Law School Students From June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” speech and short film contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The speech topic is: Explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution and give one example as to how they are working or not working to protect our freedoms.

The short film subject is: Why the United States Constitution is relevant today.

• Speech: Entry should be recorded and posted to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and written copy of your speech. Pls include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

• Short Film: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; script. Please include your name, age and grade on all pages of the entry package.

Entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. ET, May 31, 2025 but may be submitted at any time from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. Early entries are appreciated and encouraged.

Only one entry per student per category is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants and their parent/guardians acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrant and their parent/guardian represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant and their parent/guardian hereby grant Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant or parent/guardian. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Notice to Parents and Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the song, speech, PSA and short film on the Constituting America website, and putting them on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest. Constituting America also reserves the right to produce or sell any “app” submitted, and to incorporate any computer software into our existing website.

Section II – Qualifications The Graduate/Law School Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students enrolled in a graduate school or law school, carrying 9 hours or more, seeking a graduate or law degree, age 18 and above at the time of entry.

Section III – Speech and Short Film Instructions All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

1. Speech Background: The Framers of the Constitution carefully constructed it to protect individual liberty and to restrain the power of the federal government. The Constitution is comprised of seven Articles which define and describe: • the three branches of the federal government, • the relationship between the federal government and the states, • various other aspects of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and its preservation and amendment process.

In recent history, there have been many examples of the Constitution not being followed, as well as many instances of the Constitution being upheld and the separation of powers being enforced as one branch of government acts as a “check” on another branch’s power.

Speech Topic: In your speech, explain each of the seven Articles of the Constitution, and then: • describe one recent example of the Constitution being ignored/an example of a branch of government exceeding its constitutional limits, and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

• describe one recent example of the Constitution being followed/an example of the separation of powers and system of checks and balances working in practice and cite the relevant Article(s) of the Constitution.

Speech must be no longer than 20 minutes, and no shorter than 15 minutes. Speech entry should be recorded and posted to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and written copy of your speech. Pls. include your name, age, and grade on all pages of your entry package.

2. Short Film: Should be an original film written and directed by the student. It must be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes in length. The subject should be: “Why is the United States Constitution Relevant Today?” The short film may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. Film & PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent must be electronically submitted, with YouTube or Vimeo link, and script through the online portal on this site. The student’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the script.

2. Speech: originality, neatness, spelling, grammar and form, level of support generated for your cause

3. Short film: originality, appeal to college age group.

Section V – Awards and Prizes The two graduate/law school winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, winners must:

BEST SPEECH – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as Best Speech, Graduate/Law School, 2025 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Speech, Graduate/Law School, 2025 4. $2,000 Scholarship Prize

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website as official Constituting America Graduate/Law School Short Film, 2025 2. Television Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, Graduate/Law School, 2025 4. $2,000 Scholarship Prize (If team submission, prize is split)

TEACHER CATEGORY

We The Future Contest Teachers K-12 – Teaching the U.S. Constitution Lesson

The winner will receive:

BEST LESSON PLAN – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website 2. Public Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Lesson Plan, Teacher Category, 2025 4. $2,000 Cash Prize

MOST CONTEST ENTRIES – 1 Teacher Chosen 1. Announced as the winner of our Harold Simmons Excellence in Constitutional Teaching Award 2. $1,000 Cash Prize 3. Presentation at your school, with certificate, trophy, and check.

IMPORTANT : Submissions must be entirely the original work of the teacher, without any assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Entries will be analyzed by third party software.

Teachers, kindergarten through 12th grades, are eligible to sign up for this category.

K12 Teachers are invited to enter a U.S. Constitution lesson plan in the We The Future Contest.

One entry per person. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

$50 Amazon Gift Card: Every teacher that submits or helps at least 10 students submit contest entries will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. To claim your gift card please send us an email at [email protected] listing the relevant and completed contest entries you are responsible for and the best email to receive your Amazon gift card.

Should you decide to have students work on their projects during class time you can submit them all together without the Parent Permission Form. If a student is selected as a finalist they will be required to have parents complete the Parental Permission Form.

Most Contest Entries: The teacher who coordinates their class/school/school district sending in the most contest entries for our “We The Future” Contest will win a $1,000 cash prize and a special presentation at your school! Teachers are restricted to winning the Most Contest Entries category one time.

Lesson Plan: Design a lesson plan to teach the United States Constitution. Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. Teachers who instruct on various K12 subjects are encouraged to enter: Examples: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), History, English, Art, Music, Drama. Any teacher is welcome to submit an entry. Examples: public schools, including charter schools; private schools, home educators. Please submit electronically through the online portal on this site.. See Official Rules Section III for instructions and guidelines. The winner will also be invited to attend the Winner Mentor Trip tentatively scheduled for September 2025 (all costs fully covered).

Electronic Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025, through the online portal on this site.

The winner gives Constituting America the right to reprint and redistribute entries.

The above rules are a summary only.

Please consult “Official Rules and Regulations,” for complete instructions and guidelines.

We The Future Contest Sign-Up Form Lesson Plan Contest, Teachers K-12

2. Date of Birth

3. Male / Female

City State Zip

5. Telephone

7. School Name School City

8. Grade Level of Lesson Plan

9. Agree to rules (signature required)

The lesson plan MAY be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site. THIS entry form signed by the entrant must accompany all entries, whether mailed or electronically submitted.

For electronic submissions submissions, please scan in a copy of this signed form.

Please see Contest Rules for more details.

Signing up online does not replace the requirement to submit this form with your entry.

CONSTITUTING AMERICA LESSON PLAN ENTRY MAILING ADDRESS Constituting America ATTN: We The Future Contest PO Box 1988 Colleyville, TX 76034

**Entries will not be returned. The winner gives Constituting America the right to reprint and redistribute entries. Please see Contest Rules for more details.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations Effective June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 For Teachers, K-12

Section I – General Rules for Teachers, K-12 Section II – Qualification Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards & Prizes Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Teachers, K-12 From June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” lesson plan contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The lesson plan subject is: Design a lesson plan to teach the United States Constitution. Guidelines for the lesson plan are outlined in Section III.

To enter, teacher entrants are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign-up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to all signing up for the contest in advance.

All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Electronic Submissions due by 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025, through the online portal on this site.

Lesson Plan: Design a lesson plan to teach the United States Constitution. Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. Teachers who instruct on various K12 subjects are encouraged to enter. Examples: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), History, English, Art, Music, Drama. Any teacher is welcome to submit an entry. Examples: public schools, including charter schools; private schools, home educators. Please submit the entry electronically through the online portal on this site

Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET, May 31, 2025. As further detailed in Section VII entrants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per entrant is permitted. Incomplete, late, or entries that contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium), and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant hereby grants Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the lesson plan on the Constituting America website, and putting it on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest.

Section II – Qualifications The Lesson Plan Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers. Any teacher is welcome to submit an entry. Examples: public schools, including charter schools; private schools, home educators.

Section III – Lesson Plan Instructions The Lesson Plan: Should be original, written by the entrant. Length is flexible. The subject of the lesson plan is a lesson that teaches the United States Constitution to students. Focus on one specific age group: Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. Teachers who instruct on various K12 subjects are encouraged to enter. Examples: Teachers of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), History, English, Art, Music, Drama. The completed Entry/Permission form must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site. The entrant’s name must be on each page of the lesson plan.

Section IV – Judging Process After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions that comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one winning lesson plan. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

2. Lesson plan: originality, appeal to students, educational value

Section V – Awards and Prizes The winners will be contacted directly through the contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on constitutingamerica.org. As a condition for receiving any awards, the winner must:

All entrants are solely responsible for understanding and complying with any and all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances that may apply to the entrants and the activities or business in which such entrants may engage. Tax consequences may be associated with the prizes received by a Contest winner, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such income to federal, state, or local authorities. It is the responsibility of each Contest winner to determine the tax consequences of the prizes received and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Upon submission of an entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities, and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy is posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant hereby agrees and acknowledges the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, adults, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website at www.constitutingamerica.org.

Section VII – Disclaimer Constituting America will administer any and all aspects of the Contest, including, without limitation, evaluating an entrant’s qualification or material submission, judge selection, review of entry documents and information, determination of prize winners, all of which is in the sole and absolute discretion of Constituting America. Any and all decisions of Constituting America relating to the administration of the Contest are final in all respects and no entrant or person or organization related thereto, has a right to appeal, contest, and dispute or otherwise challenge such administration.

SHORT FILM CATEGORY

We The Future Contest Adults, Ages 25 & up Click here for the Short Film Category Rules (open to adults ages 25 & up)

Short Film Contest Rules Summary – 2025

Adults, ages 25 and up, are eligible to sign up for this category.

IMPORTANT : Submissions must be entirely the original work of the entrant, without any assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Entries will be analyzed by third party software.

Adults are invited to enter a short film in the We The Future Contest.

One entry per person. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

Short Film: Subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today,” and must be an original film written and directed by the entrant. Up to two entrants may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length.

Film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; and a copy of the script. Entrant’s name and age must appear on the entry and all pages of the entry package. See Official Rules Section III for details.

The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations Effective June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 For Adults, Age 25 & Up

Section I – General Rules for Adults, Age 25 & Up Section II – Qualification Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards & Prizes Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Adults, Age 25 & Up From June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” short film contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The short film subject is: “Why the United States Constitution is Relevant Today.” Guidelines for the short film are outlined in Section III.

To enter, adult entrants are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign‐up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to all signing up for the contest in advance.

Electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025 through the online portal on this site.

Film: Submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The following must be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site: Entry/Permission form; YouTube or Vimeo link; and a copy of the script. Student’s name and age must appear on the entry, and all pages of the entry package.

Entries must be received by 11:59p.m. ET, May 31, 2025. As further detailed in Section VII entrants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per entrant is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant hereby grants Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the short film on the Constituting America website, and putting it on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest.

Section II – Qualifications The Short Film Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are 25 years or older.

Section III – Short Film Instructions Short Film: Should be an original film written and directed by the entrant. It must be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes in length. The short film subject should be: “Why is the United States Constitution Relevant Today?” The short film may be written, directed and submitted by a team of not more than two people. Film submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled). The first line of the video description in the online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2025 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org. The completed Entry/Permission form with signed parental consent, must be submitted electronically, with link, and script through the online portal on this site. The entrant’s name, grade and age must be on each page of the short film script.

Section IV – Judging Process After the expiration of the Contest Period, the judges selected by Constituting America will review all entries and submissions that comply with these Official Rules and Regulations and select one winning short film. Judges reserve the right to not make an award in any category. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

2. Short film: originality, appeal to adults, educational value

Section V – Awards and Prizes The winners will be contacted directly through contact information provided on the Contest Signup Form. Winners will also be announced on www.constitutingamerica.org. As a condition to receiving any awards, the winner must provide publicity photos and may be required to return a liability release and publicity release within 10 days following the date of notification. Winner will receive:

BEST SHORT FILM – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website. 2. Television Appearances (to be determined). 3. Certificate for winning Best Short Film, Adult Category, 2025.

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated on www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy is posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant hereby agrees and acknowledges the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy.

SENIOR ADULT ESSAY CATEGORY

We The Future Contest Senior Adults, Ages 65 & Up Click here for the 2025 NEW Senior Adult Essay Category Rules (open to adults ages 65 & older)

Adults, ages 65 and up are eligible to sign up for this category.

Adults, ages 65 and up, are invited to enter an essay in the We The Future Contest.

All materials must be included in the submission.

Essay topic is: President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.” Ronald Reagan, Encroaching Control (The Peril of Ever-Expanding Government) Speaking at the annual meeting of the Phoenix (Arizona) Chamber, March 30, 1961

Please share your thoughts and personal experiences about this quote.

Essay must be no longer than 850 words, typed or handwritten. If handwritten, must be legible. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include entrant’s name and date of birth on every page of the essay. See Official Rules Section III for details.
Entries are preferred to be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site.
Mailed entries must be postmarked by May 31, 2025. All entry submissions must be accompanied by the entry form. Entrant’s name and age must appear on all pages of the entry package. All submission materials must be included.
Please mail entries to:

Constituting America We The Future Contest PO Box 1988 Colleyville, TX 76034

Entries will not be returned. The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries.

Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2025 or postmarked no later than May 31, 2025.

We The Future Contest Sign-Up Form Essay Contest, Ages 65 & Up

10. Agree to rules (signature required)

The essay MAY be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site. THIS entry form signed by entrant, must accompany all entries, whether mailed or submitted electronically.

For electronic submissions, please scan a copy of this signed form.

CONSTITUTING AMERICA ESSAY ENTRY MAILING ADDRESS Constituting America ATTN: We The Future Contest PO Box 1988, Colleyville, TX 76034

**Entries will not be returned. The winner gives Constituting America the rights to reprint and redistribute entries. Please see Contest Rules for more details.

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations Effective June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 For Senior Adults, Ages 65 &Up

Section I – General Rules for Adults, Age 65 & Up Section II – Qualifications Section III – Instructions Section IV – Judging Process Section V – Awards & Prizes Section VI – Notice & Privacy Policy Section VII – Disclaimer Section VIII – Nondiscrimination Policy

Section I – General Rules for Senior Adults, Ages 65 & Up From June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 (the “Contest Period”) Constituting America will conduct the “We The Future” essay contest (the “Contest”) in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad.

The essay subject is: President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.” Ronald Reagan, Encroaching Control (The Peril of Ever-Expanding Government) Speaking at the annual meeting of the Phoenix (Arizona) Chamber, March 30, 1961

Please share your thoughts, and personal experiences about this quote, in 850 words or less. Guidelines for the essay are outlined in Section III.

To enter, senior adult entrants are encouraged to fill out the online Contest Sign‐up form, indicating their intent to enter the contest. Contest updates and deadline reminders will be sent to all signing up for the contest in advance.

To enter the essay, the completed Contest Sign-up form and essay entry may be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site or mailed in hard copy form to the P.O. Box below. If mailed in hard copy, all materials must be included.

Constituting America We The Future Contest P.O. Box 1988 Colleyville, Texas 76034

As further detailed in Section VII entrants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and the decisions of Constituting America, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.

Only one entry per entrant is permitted. Incomplete, late or entries which contain unrequested information, or otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will not qualify for consideration for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants acknowledge and agree that the entry along with any and all documentation submitted therewith will become the sole property of Constituting America and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants represent and warrant that the entry is an original work and does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party, is unpublished (in any form or medium) and has not won an award. Constituting America may edit any entries for grammar, modify for style only, and entrant hereby grants Constituting America a license to record the song, distribute submitted material to third parties for purposes of publication or production, to publicize the contest, with no additional notification or permission of the entrant. Submitted material will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Constituting America (please see Section VI for a Privacy Policy), including, but not limited to, featuring the essay on the Constituting America website, and putting it on a DVD for promotional distribution for the contest.

Section II – Qualifications The Essay Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are 65 years or older.

Section III – Essay Instructions

President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.” Ronald Reagan, Encroaching Control (The Peril of Ever-Expanding Government) Speaking at the annual meeting of the Phoenix (Arizona) Chamber, March 30, 1961

Please share your thoughts, and personal experiences about this quote.

Essay should be no longer than 850 words, typed or handwritten. If handwritten, must be legible. If submitted electronically, the essay should be saved as a PDF. To enter the essay, the completed Contest Sign-up form and essay entry may be submitted electronically through the online portal on this site or mailed in hard copy form to:

Whether submitted in hard copy form or electronically, the entrant’s name and date of birth must be on each page of the essay. If submitting in hard copy, please include the essay and Sign-up form.

BEST ESSAY – 1 Entry Chosen 1. Worldwide exposure on the Constituting America website, 2025 2. Television Appearances (to be determined) 3. Certificate for winning Best Essay, Senior Adult Category, 2025

Section VI – Notice and Privacy Policy Upon submission of entry, the material entered becomes the property of Constituting America. By entering the Contest, entrants grant Constituting America the right, unless prohibited by law, to use their names, cities and states of residence, pictures and likenesses without compensation, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrant also grant Constituting America permission to use their name and materials submitted to further its mission as stated www.constitutingamerica.org. Privacy Policy is posted on www.constitutingamerica.org. Entrant hereby agrees and acknowledges the provisions set forth in the Privacy Policy.

To receive further information about Constituting America, students, adults, parents or guardians must click “Sign Up for Email Updates” on the front page of the website www.constitutingamerica.org.

REQUIRED: ENTRY FORM / PARENTAL OR GUARDIAN AUTHORIZATION FORM

Click Here For Required Entry Form/Parental or Guarian Authorization Form That Must Accompany All Entries

Essay Contest: The Free Trade Debate

Deadline Date:

January 3, 2017

University Interscholastic League

This is the main content.

Academic Contests

Social Studies
Contest Materials
Current Issues & Events
Essay Contests
Literary Criticism
Ready Writing
Spelling & Vocabulary

Academics Contact Info

Academics Director: Dr. David Stevens

Department Phone: 512-471-5883

State Champions

View State Champions

Elements of the Contest

The Social Studies Contest consists of 45 objective questions and an essay. Students are expected to master primary reading selections, as well as specific documents, and to be familiar with general-knowledge social studies concepts and terms. Each year, the contest focuses on a different topic area and a reading list that is provided by UIL.

Social Studies Overview Video

Additional information.

2024-2025 TOPIC: The Rise of Factionalism, Partisanship, and the “Vices of Democracy” in the early United States (1795-1850)

Primary Reading Selection: A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign by Edward J. Larson

The Reading List and Supplemental Resource list will be updated for 2024-2025 and can be found on the right-hand side of this webpage under Social Studies Topic for you to download.

For A+ Social Studies information, please click here .

State Contest Director

Andrew Bates [email protected]

Contest Rules

Section 956 of UIL Constitution and Contest Rules (C&CR).

CONTEST HANDBOOK

Social studies topic.

Topic and Reading List 2024-2025 7/22/24
Historical List of Topics

Sample Test

(Not based on current reading list).

About the Essay Portion
Download 2018 Sample Test & Key
Download 2019 Sample Test & Key
Rubric for the Social Studies Essay (updated 2024)
Essay Scoring Guide

Integrating Social Studies into Classroom Instruction

Four Lessons/ Two Sponge Activities to Prepare for Social Studies Contest

Commissioner’s Comments
Educator Spotlight
KDE Employee Spotlight
Guest Columns
Gifted and Talented
School Counselors
School Safety
Career & Technical Education
Global Competency/World Languages
Health and Physical Education
Library Media
Mathematics
Social Studies
Visual & Performing Arts
Announcements
Conferences & Workshops
Contests & Other Events
Special Recognition

Social studies essay contest open for high school juniors and seniors

National Council for the Social Studies is holding the 1787 Prize essay contest in observance of Constitution Day.

“The consent of the governed” is a foundational principle upon which our nation’s government is built. Indeed, the “just powers” of our 1787 Constitution were directly legitimized by ratification of the people in pathbreaking citizen conventions. Today, the freedoms we hold dear are embodied in rules and laws we democratically have a voice in crafting.

The 1787 Prize brings those citizen voices back to center stage. It recognizes the best annual student essay on the subject of the U.S. Constitution’s past, present and future relevance by exploring how our written principles align with this vision of citizen engagement.

The 1787 Prize is open to all high school students in grades 11-12. An essay may be submitted with up to three student co-authors. There is a maximum of one submission per high school.

Essay requirements are:

Between 1,000 – 2,500 words;
Includes a footnote and bibliography; and
Incorporates a mix of primary and secondary sources.

One award will be announced in the amount of $2,500. The $2,500 prize amount will be split among any co-authors.

More details can be found on The 1787 Prize webpage . The deadline to apply is March 31.

Share This Story

Sign up for fall educator workshops at Western Kentucky University’s Center for Gifted Studies

Applications open for STEM education grants through Tennessee Valley Authority

Social Studies

Department of State

American Foreign Service Association

Publications
AFSA Scholarships
AFSA High School Essay Contest
AFSA Resources for Students
Education Supplement
Foreign Affairs Internships and Other Foreign Service-Related Opportunities
Educational Resources for Students and Teachers
Foreign Service HS Clubs - Get Involved!
Educational Partners
Awards & Honors

National High School Essay Contest

You are here, in this section.

The 2025 Contest Will Launch on September 30, 2024!

2024 Essay Contest Topic

This year, AFSA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. Over the last century, our diplomats and development professionals have been involved in groundbreaking events in history – decisions on war and peace, supporting human rights and freedom, creating joint prosperity, reacting to natural disasters and pandemics and much more. As AFSA looks back on this century-long history, we invite you to join us in also looking ahead to the future. This year students are asked to explore how diplomats can continue to evolve their craft to meet the needs of an ever-changing world that brings fresh challenges and opportunities to the global community and America’s place in it.

Over the past 100 years the Foreign Service has faced a multitude of challenges such as world war, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, humanitarian disasters, global pandemics, and economic crises. In a 1,000-1,500-word essay please identify what you believe will be the biggest challenge to face the Foreign Service in the future. The essay will describe this challenge and clearly define how American diplomats can help mitigate it.

Successful essays will use past or current diplomatic efforts to support what you believe to be the best course of action to tackle this obstacle.

For more information on Essay Contest Rules and Guidance please visit this page . For additional resources and to view the 2024 Study Guide please visit this page .

AFSA Announces the Winner of the 2023 High School Essay Contest

The American Foreign Service Association’s national high school essay contest completed its twenty-third year with over 400 submissions from 44 states.

Three randomized rounds of judging produced this year’s winner, Justin Ahn, a junior from Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. In his essay, “Mending Bridges: US-Vietnam Reconciliation from 1995 to Today,” Justin focuses on the successful reconciliation efforts by the Foreign Service in transforming US-Vietnam relations from post-war tension to close economic and strategic partnership.

Justin traveled to Washington in AUgust 2023, where he met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He also received a full tuition scholarship to an educational voyage with Semester at Sea.

Niccolo Duina was this year’s runner-up. He is a senior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Niccolo attended the international diplomacy program of the National Student Leadership Conference in summer 2023.

There were eight honorable mentions:

Santiago Castro-Luna – Chevy Chase, Maryland
Dante Chittenden – Grimes, Iowa
Merle Hezel – Denver, Colorado
Adarsh Khullar – Villa Hills, Kentucky
Nicholas Nall – Little Rock, Arkansas
Ashwin Telang – West Windsor, New Jersey
Himani Yarlagadda – Northville, Michigan
Sophia Zhang – San Jose, California

Congratulations! We thank all students and teachers who took the time to research and become globally engaged citizens who care about diplomacy, development, and peacebuilding.

If you are not graduating this year, please consider submitting another essay for next year’s contest. The new prompt will be published in fall 2023.

PRIVACY POLICY:

AFSA collects your information for this contest and for AFSA partners. You may be signed up to receive updates or information from AFSA and our partners. You will receive confirmation from AFSA that your submission has been received and a notification if you are the winner or an honorable mention in June . You may also receive a message from our sponsor regarding their program offerings.

PLEASE NOTE:

Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens attending high school overseas. Students may be attending a public, private, or parochial school. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted. Previous first-place winners and immediate relatives of directors or staff of AFSA, NLSC and Semester at Sea are not eligible to participate. Previous honorable mention recipients are eligible to enter. $2,500 to the writer of the winning essay, in addition to an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and his or her parents, and an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

The winner's school also receives a donation of 10 copies of AFSA's Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work

The Fund for American Diplomacy is AFSA's 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports AFSA’s outreach goals. AFSA National High School Essay contest is AFSA’s main outreach initiative to high school students. We appreciate your willingness to contribute. Rest assured that your contribution will be put to good use. Donations to the FAD are fully tax deductible.

Contest Information

Current & Past Winning Essays
Rules and Guidelines
Writer's Resources
Writer's Checklist
Description of the Foreign Service
What Diplomats Do and Why It Matters
Oral Histories and Country Readers
Semester at Sea
Educational Voyage Details
National Student Leadership Conference

America’s Field Trip

Contest is now closed. Another America’s Field Trip contest for the 2024-2025 school year will begin in/around September 2024. Sign up here to receive updates!

2024 Pilot Contest

America's Field Trip Awardees

America’s Field Trip is a new, nationwide scholastic contest encouraging students to reflect on what America means to them. Thousands of students from across the country submitted inspiring entries, responding to the prompt “What does America mean to you?” for the first-ever America’s Field Trip contest. A panel of current and former educators selected 150 students as awardees, hailing from 44 states and territories.

View 2024 Awardees

The Contest

What Does America Mean to You?

In 2026, the United States will mark our Semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today’s young people are the leaders, innovators, and thinkers who will shape the next 250 years — and it’s important their voices are heard as we commemorate this historic milestone.

America’s Field Trip is a new contest that invites students across the country in grades 3–12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — and earning the opportunity to participate in unforgettable field trip experiences at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students may submit artwork, videos, or essays in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?”

America’s Field Trip contest is now closed. Join our mailing list so you don’t miss the next America’s Field Trip contest for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Field Trips

Extraordinary Visits to Iconic National Landmarks

For the pilot America’s Field Trip contest, 25 first-place awardees from each grade level category will receive free travel and lodging for a 3-day, 2-night trip to a select historical or cultural site where they will experience one of the following:

Tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York
Tour and hike at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana
Weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
Unique tours at the National Archives or the Library of Congress in Washington, DC
Special tours at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, or the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC
Explore America’s iconic financial capital, New York City, with private tours of Federal Reserve Bank of New York Museum and Learning Center and The Bank of New York Mellon , the country’s oldest bank
Experience National Parks of Boston with a special visit to the USS Constitution and a sunset cruise to Spectacle Island
Candlelight tour at Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge
Costumed roleplaying experience at American Village in Alabama

Second-place awardees will receive a $500 cash award. The teacher associated with the top scoring student submissions in each grade level category will receive a $1,000 cash award.

See full list of field trips

Submission Guidelines

Elementary School (3rd to 5th Grade): Students may submit artwork, including physical or digital artwork through a high-res photo or a short essay (up to 100 words).
Middle School (6th to 8th Grade): Students may submit artwork or a video (up to two minutes).
High School (9th to 12th Grade): Students may submit an essay (up to 1,000 words) or a video (up to two minutes).

Judging Criteria

A diverse panel of judges consisting of current and former teachers will consider the submissions based on the following weighted criteria:

CLARITY OF IDEA [25%]: How well does the Entrant use both their personal and academic experiences to clearly address the Question? Does the Entry effectively convey ideas, emotion, or a story visually or with words by acknowledging the past or celebrating America’s achievements and possibilities for the future? Does the response offer fresh insight and innovative thinking?
STUDENT VOICE [50%]: Is there passion in the Entry or a point-of-view that showcases a unique perspective on the diverse range of different experiences that make America unique in an original/authentic way?
PRESENTATION [25%]: What makes the submission content more compelling, fresh, or interesting than other Entrants’ content in their grade level category?

Want to stand out? Create something that feels special to you and has a personal touch. And remember, you don’t have to focus on our country’s past — you can talk about America’s future too. Finally, be creative and think outside the box!

Resources for Teachers

Teachers and school administrators will play an important role in engaging students and school communities in this contest and commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

Students participating in the America’s Field Trip contest will be challenged to think critically about the nation’s journey to becoming a more perfect union, reflecting on the pivotal events and historical figures that have shaped the country.

Together with worldwide ed tech leader Discovery Education, America250 is sharing tools and resources to assist educators in bringing the America’s Field Trip contest to their classrooms. Access resources here.

In partnership with

Funding provided by The Bank of New York Mellon Foundation. Custom educational programming for students and teachers developed by Discovery Education.

What is America250?

America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country. It is spearheaded by the congressionally-appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its nonprofit supporting organization, America250.org, Inc.

How can I bring America’s Field Trip into my classroom?

America250 partnered with Discovery Education, the worldwide edtech leader, to develop custom educational programming that helps students deepen their understanding of America’s 250th anniversary and encourages participation in the America’s Field Trip contest with ready-to-use resources and activities for teachers.

What should I submit?

Submission requirements differ by age group.

Elementary School ( 3rd to 5th Grade): Students are asked to submit artwork in response to the prompt or a short essay (up to 100 words). Artwork can include physical artwork like sculptures, painting, photography, etc. submitted through a high-res photo or a digital drawing.

Middle School (6th to 8th Grade): Students are asked to submit artwork or a video (up to two minutes).

High School (9th to 12th Grade): Students are asked to submit a written essay (up to 1,000 words) or a video (up to two minutes).

How will field trips be selected, and who will be chaperoning the trips?

Trips will be organized by America250 and chaperoned by the recipient’s parent or legal guardian along with other field trip recipients. First-place awardees will get to express their preference for trips, and final locations will be determined based on age group, availability, and recipient preference.

Can students bring their families on their Field Trips?

Students are required to have one chaperone, which must be a parent or legal guardian.

Will America’s Field Trip programming continue after 2024?

Yes, this year is a pilot program that America250 hopes to grow and expand, including with more field trips and award recipients in 2025 and 2026.

Read the official contest rules here .

Field Trip Hosts

Today's news
Reviews and deals
Climate change
2024 election
Newsletters
Fall allergies
Health news
Mental health
Sexual health
Family health
So mini ways
Unapologetically
Buying guides

Entertainment

How to Watch
My watchlist
Stock market
Biden economy
Personal finance
Stocks: most active
Stocks: gainers
Stocks: losers
Trending tickers
World indices
US Treasury bonds
Top mutual funds
Highest open interest
Highest implied volatility
Currency converter
Basic materials
Communication services
Consumer cyclical
Consumer defensive
Financial services
Industrials
Real estate
Mutual funds
Credit cards
Balance transfer cards
Cash back cards
Rewards cards
Travel cards
Online checking
High-yield savings
Money market
Home equity loan
Personal loans
Student loans
Options pit
Fantasy football
Pro Pick 'Em
College Pick 'Em
Fantasy baseball
Fantasy hockey
Fantasy basketball
Download the app
Daily fantasy
Scores and schedules
GameChannel
World Baseball Classic
Premier League
CONCACAF League
Champions League
Motorsports
Horse racing

New on Yahoo

Privacy Dashboard

Why did women vote for Hitler? Long-forgotten essays hold some answers

The rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party in the 1930s came on the back of votes from millions of ordinary Germans – both men and women.

But aside from a few high-profile figures, such as concentration camp guard Irma Grese and “concentration camp murderess” Ilse Koch , little is known about the everyday women who embraced the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, known more commonly as the Nazi Party. What little data we do have on ordinary Nazi women has been largely underused, forgotten or ignored. It has left us with a half-formed understanding of the rise of the Nazi movement, one that is almost exclusively focused on male party members.

And yet more than 30 essays on the subject “Why I became a Nazi” written by German women in 1934 have been lying fallow in the archives of the Hoover Institution in Palo Alto for decades. These essays were only unearthed three years ago when three Florida State University professors arranged to have them transcribed and translated. They have since been made available digitally , but have not received widespread attention.

Not all Cabaret

As scholars of Holocaust studies , crimes against humanity and political behavior , we believe the accounts of these women give an insight into the role of women in the rise of the Nazi party. They also point to the extent to which women’s attitudes on feminism differed after the Great War – a time when women were making gains in independence, education, economic opportunity and sexual freedom.

The German women’s movement had been among the most powerful and significant in the world for half a century before the Nazis came to power in 1933. Top-quality high schools for girls had existed since the 1870s, and German universities were opened to women at the beginning of the 20th century. Many German women became teachers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and novelists. In 1919, German women got the vote . By 1933, women, of whom there were millions more than men – Berlin had 1,116 women for every 1,000 men – voted in roughly the same percentages as men for Hitler and National Socialist candidates.

‘Everyone was everyone’s enemy’

The essays unearthed at the Hoover Institution give an insight as to why some of them did.

Dissatisfaction with the attitudes of the Weimar era, the period between the end of World War I and Hitler’s rise to power, is clear in the women’s writing. Most of the essay writers express distaste with some aspect of the political system. One calls women’s voting rights “a disadvantage for Germany,” while another describes the political climate as “haywire,” and “everyone was everyone’s enemy.” Margarethe Schrimpff, a 54-year-old woman living just outside of Berlin, describes her experience:

“I attended the meetings of all … parties, from the communists to the nationalists; at one of the democratic meetings in Friedenau [Berlin], where the former Colonial Minister, a Jew by the name of Dernburg, was speaking, I experienced the following: this Jew had the audacity to say, among other things: ‘What are the Germans actually capable of; maybe breeding rabbits.’ "Dear readers, do not think that the heavily represented stronger sex jumped up and told this Jew where to go. Far from it. Not one man made a sound, they stayed dead quiet. However, a miserable, frail little woman from the so-called ‘weaker sex’ raised her hand and forcefully rejected the Jew’s brazen remarks; he had in the meantime allegedly disappeared to attend another meeting.”

These essays were originally collected by an assistant professor at Columbia University, Theodore Abel, who organized an essay contest with generous prizes with the cooperation of the Nazi Propaganda Ministry. Of nearly 650 essays, roughly 30 were written by women, and Abel set them aside, explaining in a footnote that he intended to examine them separately. But he never did. The men’s essays formed the basis for his book, “ Why Hitler Came To Power ,” published in 1938, which remains an important source in the global discourse about the Nazi rise to power.

Summarizing Abel’s findings, historian Ian Kershaw wrote in his book on Hitler’s rise to power that they showed that the “appeal of Hitler and his movement was not based on any distinctive doctrine.” He concluded that almost a third of the men were attracted by the indivisible “national community” – Volksgemeinschaft – ideology of the Nazis, and a similar proportion were swayed by nationalist, super-patriotic and German-romantic notions. In only about an eighth of the cases was anti-Semitism the prime ideological concern, although two-thirds of the essays revealed some form of dislike of Jews. Almost a fifth were motivated by the Hitler cult alone, attracted by the man himself, but the essays reveal differences between men and women in the reason for the enthrallment with the Nazi leader.

The cult of Hitler

For men, the cult of personality appears to center around Hitler as a strong leader charging toward a Germany which defined itself by those it excluded. It’s not surprising that women, on the cusp of exclusion themselves, were less captivated by this component of Nazism. Rather, the women’s essays tend to refer to religious imagery and sentiment conflating piety with the Hitler cult. The women appear to be moved more by Nazism’s proposed solutions to problems such as poverty rather than the supposed grandeur of Nazi ideology in the abstract.

In her essay, Helene Radtke, a 38-year-old wife of a German soldier, describes her “divine duty to forget about all my household chores and to perform my service to my homeland.”

[ Insight, in your inbox each day. You can get it with The Conversation’s email newsletter .]

Agnes Molster-Surm, a housewife and private tutor, calls Hitler her “God-given Führer and savior, Adolf Hitler, for Germany’s honor, Germany’s fortune and Germany’s freedom!”

Another woman replaced the star on her Christmas tree with a photograph of Hitler surrounded by a halo of candles. These men and women shared the message of National Socialism as if it was gospel and refer to new party members as “converts.” One such woman describes early efforts to “convert” her family to Nazism as falling “on stony soil and not even the slightest little green sapling of understanding sprouted.” She was later “converted” through conversations with her mailman.

The essays do not only serve as historical curios, but as a warning as to how ordinary people can be attracted to extremist ideology at a time of social distress. Similar language has been used to describe the current political climate in the United States and other countries. Perhaps, as some do today , these women believed all their society’s ills could be solved by the restoration of their nation to a perceived state of former glory, no matter the cost.

This article is republished from The Conversation , a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Sarah R. Warren , Florida State University ; Daniel Maier-Katkin , Florida State University , and Nathan Stoltzfus , Florida State University

How women wage war – a short history of IS brides, Nazi guards and FARC insurgents

Hitler at home: How the Nazi PR machine remade the Führer’s domestic image and duped the world

Auschwitz: Women used different survival and sabotage strategies than men at Nazi death camp

Sarah R. Warren received funding for a portion of this work from the Florida State University Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement.

Daniel Maier-Katkin receives funding from National Science Fondation, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State

Nathan Stoltzfus does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School
Howard B. Mattlin Middle School
Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School
Old Bethpage Elementary School
Judy Jacobs-Parkway Elementary School
Pasadena Elementary School
Stratford Road Elementary School

Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District

Excellence in Education

VFW Essay Contest Grades 6-12

Social Studies

Page navigation.

Staff Directory
High School Remedial Locations - Social Studies
Seal of Civic Readiness-Student Presentation
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Essay Contest
Social Studies 2024 Summer Assignments
Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society
Questions or Feedback? |
Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated) |

University Interscholastic League

This is the main content.

A+ Academics

A+ social studies.

A+ Academics Home
A+ Calculator Applications
A+ Chess Puzzle
A+ Creative Writing
A+ Dictionary Skills
A+ Editorial Writing
A+ Impromptu Speaking
A+ Listening
A+ Maps, Graphs & Charts
A+ Mathematics
A+ Modern Oratory
A+ Music Memory
A+ Number Sense
A+ One-Act Play
A+ Oral Reading
A+ Ready Writing
A+ Spelling
A+ Storytelling
Guides for Meet Directors

A+ Academics Contact Info

A+ Academics Director: Lisa Parker

Department Phone: 512-471-5883

Grades 5-8; Outlines are new each school year and are downloaded from this page.

A+ Social Studies is for Grades 5-8; Outlines are new each school year and are downloaded from this page.

uil a+ social studies practice materials

Grades 5/6 Study Outline (this outline is updated for each school year) Grades 7/8 Study Outline (this outline is updated for each school year) Previous years' Social Studies tests

Sample Test & Key

A+ Social Studies Sample

Materials are created for two divisions: grades 5/6 and 7/8.

General contest description.

40 questions
Test topics defined by a study outline, to be updated yearly (see links below)
Correlate with the TEKS for social studies
Test content taken from state adopted text books and identified primary sources
+3 for correct answers
-2 for incorrect answers
No points are added or deducted for questions not answered

IMAGES

Social Studies Standards Essay Example
How to Write a Social Science Essay .pdf
165 Amazing Social Studies Topics for Academic Writing
Social Studies Essay Writing BUNDLE by A Social Studies Life
High School Social Studies Essay Outline by JLR Creations
Social Studies Essay Writing

COMMENTS

The 1787 Prize
The 1787 Prize. Applications are currently closed and will open in September 2024. National Council for the Social Studies is pleased to announce The 1787 Prize, an annual essay contest for high school students in grades 11-12 introduced on the observance of the 2022 Constitution Day. Submit an Essay for The 1787 Prize Apply for The 1787 Prize ...
Social Studies
The Social Studies Contest consists of 45 objective questions and an essay. Students are expected to master primary reading selections, as well as specific documents, and to be familiar with general-knowledge social studies concepts and terms. Each year, the contest focuses on a different topic area and a reading list that is provided by UIL.
Student Contests
The Stossel in the Classroom 2023-24 student essay and video contests are here—offering $25,000 in cash prizes for students & teachers! The essay and video contests are open to secondary schoolers, and undergrads can participate in the video contest. ... Social Studies Teacher "I want them [students] to learn to think, and your essay and ...
The Big List of Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024
4. American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest. If you're looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, DC.
David McCullough Essay Prizes
David McCullough at Trinity School in Manhattan, October 15, 2019. The 2024 David McCullough Essay Prize Contest is now closed for submissions. This contest is named in memory of David McCullough (1933-2022)—a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Gilder Lehrman Life Trustee—and honors his career telling America's stories and examining ...
Current Issues and Events
Elements of the Contest. The Current Issues and Events Contest focuses on a basic knowledge of current state, national and world events/issues and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and one essay. The essay is intended to assess the competitor's ability to synthesize and evaluate information and present it in an informed manner.
PDF The Essay 2024
for the Social Studies Essay Judges may award all or no points. This is a working document for as many as three judges. Final points are a compromise among judges, NOT A RUNNING POINT TOTAL or pure point averaging. Return this form to the student with the objective portion of the contest. Points AWARDED: A 16-20 ESSAY opens with a declarative
PDF Social Studies
The Social Studies Contest challenges students to read widely and deeply in the areas of social studies in order to: expand and apply their understanding of the nature ... answer sheet and essay. 9. ESSAY REQUIRED. The contest will consist of questions that will be posed in such a way
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) on Twitter
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) @NCSSNetwork. We are pleased to announce The 1787 Prize, an annual essay contest for high school students in grades 11-12 introduced for the observance of #ConstitutionDay. The 1787 Prize is open to students in grades 11-12.
Eligibility and Requirements
Requirements. The contest deadline is January 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST). Essays can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count. Essays must be the original work of the student. Essays are checked for AI assistance and are disqualified if AI is detected at any ...
We The Future Contest
From June 1, 2024 - to May 31, 2025 (the "Contest Period") Constituting America will conduct the "We The Future" essay and STEM contest (the "Contest") in the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and the American Armed Forces Schools Abroad. The essay topic is:
Essay Contest: The Free Trade Debate
All essays must be submitted by Sunday, January 3, 2017. Deadline Date: January 3, 2017. The National Center for Policy Analysis and its partner, Debate Central, have announced the 2016-2017 Young Patriots Essay Contest, sponsored by Copart. Entrants have the opportunity to showcase their writing skills and compete for $9,000 in scholarship money.
Contests & Other Events
National Council for the Social Studies is holding the 1787 Prize essay contest in observance of Constitution Day. ... (NCSC) annual Civics Education Essay contest is now open. All elementary, middle and high school students in grades 3-12 are encouraged to enter the contest. By Staff | 2024-03-13T11:03:42-04:00 March 13, 2024 |
Social Studies
The Social Studies Contest consists of 45 objective questions and an essay. Students are expected to master primary reading selections, as well as specific documents, and to be familiar with general-knowledge social studies concepts and terms. Each year, the contest focuses on a different topic area and a reading list that is provided by UIL.
Social studies essay contest open for high school juniors and seniors
National Council for the Social Studies is holding the 1787 Prize essay contest in observance of Constitution Day. "The consent of the governed" is a foundational principle upon which our nation's government is built. Indeed, the "just powers" of our 1787 Constitution were directly legitimized by ratification of the people in pathbreaking citizen conventions.
Essay Contests 2023- 24
Essay Contests 2023- 24. Academic Honesty Policy. Regents Review. AP APPEAL FORMS. SGI and Office Hours Schedule. You are encouraged to enter any of the contests and competitions that are listed on this page. In addition, feel free to discuss these with your social studies teacher or see Mr. Colchamiro for more information. Good Luck!
National High School Essay Contest
2024 Essay Contest Topic. This year, AFSA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. Over the last century, our diplomats and development professionals have been involved in groundbreaking events in history - decisions on war and peace, supporting human rights and freedom, creating joint prosperity, reacting to natural disasters and pandemics and much more.
Contests/Competitions
Contests/Competitions - The Nebraska State Council for the Social Studies. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!!
America's Field Trip
America's Field Trip is a new contest that invites students across the country in grades 3-12 to be part of America's 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — and earning the opportunity to participate in unforgettable field trip experiences at some of the nation's most iconic historic and ...
High School Academic Contests
The UIL academic program includes activities in multiple subject areas: Business Skills contests include Accounting. Essay contests include the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition and Latino History Essay Competition. Journalism contests include Copy Editing, Editorial Writing, Headline Writing, Feature Writing and News Writing.
VFW Essay Contests
Carlisle Area School District » Academics » Subject Specific » Social Studies » VFW Essay Contests. VFW Essay Contests. Loading... Carlisle Area School District. 623 W Penn St, Carlisle, PA 17013 | Fax . Facebook Page (717) 240-6800. Mailing Address. 540 W. North Street. Carlisle, PA 17013 ...
Why did women vote for Hitler? Long-forgotten essays hold some ...
In her essay, Helene Radtke, a 38-year-old wife of a German soldier, describes her "divine duty to forget about all my household chores and to perform my service to my homeland." [ Insight, in ...
Social Studies / VFW Essay Contest Grades 6-12
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Essay Contest; Social Studies 2024 Summer Assignments; Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society; This page is currently unavailable. Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. Address: 106 Washington Avenue Plainview, NY 11803. Phone: (516) 434-3000 Fax: (516) 937-6303.
A+ Social Studies
General Contest Description. 40 questions. 30 minutes. Test topics defined by a study outline, to be updated yearly (see links below) Correlate with the TEKS for social studies. Test content taken from state adopted text books and identified primary sources.

Submit by March 22, 2024

The winners have been announced!

The Best Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024

1. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

How To Enter

2. YoungArts National Arts Competition

3. National Youth Foundation Programs

4. American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

5. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

6. Bennington Young Writers Awards

7. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest

8. Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students

9. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

10. Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

11. The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

12. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

13. Rattle Young Poets Anthology

14. The Black River Chapbook Competition

15. YouthPlays New Voices

16. The Ocean Awareness Contest

17. EngineerGirl Annual Essay Contest

18. NCTE Student Writing Awards

19. See Us, Support Us Art Contest

20. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

21. National PTA Reflections Awards

22. World Historian Student Essay Competition

23. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

If you like this list of student writing contests and want more articles like it, subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted!

You Might Also Like

Best 2024 Competitions for Students in Grades K-12

Programs & Events

General Requirements

Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.

Will you join us in lighting the way for the leaders of tomorrow?

Requirements

Essay Subjects

Source Material

Nominating Teachers

We The Future Contest

Entries are due May 31, 2025!

We The Future Contest College Category (ages 17-24; 12 hours or more)

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for College Students

We The Future Contest High School Students Grades 9 – 12

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for High School Students (Grades 9-­12)

We The Future Contest Middle School Students Grades 6 – 8

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)

We The Future Contest Elementary School Students Grades K – 5

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations For Elementary Students

We The Future Contest Graduate and Law School Students

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for Graduate and Law School Students

We The Future Contest Teachers K-12 – Teaching the U.S. Constitution Lesson

We The Future Contest Sign-Up Form Lesson Plan Contest, Teachers K-12

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations Effective June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 For Teachers, K-12

We The Future Contest Adults, Ages 25 & up Click here for the Short Film Category Rules (open to adults ages 25 & up)

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations Effective June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 For Adults, Age 25 & Up

We The Future Contest Senior Adults, Ages 65 & Up Click here for the 2025 NEW Senior Adult Essay Category Rules (open to adults ages 65 & older)

We The Future Contest Sign-Up Form Essay Contest, Ages 65 & Up

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations Effective June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 For Senior Adults, Ages 65 &Up

Essay Contest: The Free Trade Debate

Academic Contests

Academics Contact Info

State Champions

Elements of the Contest

Social Studies Overview Video

State Contest Director

Contest Rules

CONTEST HANDBOOK

Sample Test

Integrating Social Studies into Classroom Instruction

Social studies essay contest open for high school juniors and seniors

Share This Story

Sign up for fall educator workshops at Western Kentucky University’s Center for Gifted Studies

Applications open for STEM education grants through Tennessee Valley Authority

Social Studies

American Foreign Service Association

National High School Essay Contest

2024 Essay Contest Topic

AFSA Announces the Winner of the 2023 High School Essay Contest

PRIVACY POLICY:

PLEASE NOTE:

We The Future Contest Official Rules and Regulations for High School Students (Grades 9-12)