American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

Ages:High School

Type:Submission

Categories:Global Affairs, Language Arts, US Government Affairs

Scope:National

Contact

Theo Horn
horn@afsa.org

This essay contest is sponsored by the American Foreign Service Association in partnership with the U.S. Institute for Peace, Semester at Sea, and the National Student Leadership Conference. The contest challenges students to imagine themselves as a member of the Foreign Service tasked to resolve a crisis. Each year has a different topic for the essay.

Write an essay responding to a crisis topic as though they were members of the foreign service attempting to resolve the crisis.

Your essay should be at least 1,000 words but should not exceed 1,250 words (word count does not apply to the list of sources). The word count must be included on the document you submit. Submissions will be judged on the quality of analysis, quality of research, and form, style and mechanics. Successful entries will answer all aspects of the prompt and demonstrate an understanding of the Foreign Service. The top five essays from each region will advance to the final round of judging that will determine the winner, runner-up, and honorable mentions. All decisions of the judges are final. All qualifying essays will be judged blind through several rounds of judging. All decisions of the judges are final.
American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest - Participation

Team Award. $0.

For all students who successfully completed submission requirements to this essay contest.

This award counts toward these ICS Academic Badges. Click on a badge for further info.

American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest - Winner

Team Award. $2500.

The winner receives $2,500, a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet the Secretary of State, and full tuition for a Semester at Sea educational voyage.

This award counts toward these ICS Academic Badges. Click on a badge for further info.

American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest - Runner Up

Team Award. $1250.

$1,250 and full tuition for the NSLC's International Diplomacy summer program.

This award counts toward these ICS Academic Badges. Click on a badge for further info.

Website: http://www.afsa.org/essay-contest

Managing Organization: American Foreign Service Association

Contact:
Theo Horn
horn@afsa.org

Eligibility:
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/lawful permanent residents 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 the AFSA, the U.S. Institute of Peace, Semester at Sea and National Student Leadership Conference are not eligible to participate. Previous honorable mention designees are eligible to enter.

Overview

This essay contest is sponsored by the American Foreign Service Association in partnership with the U.S. Institute for Peace, Semester at Sea, and the National Student Leadership Conference. The contest challenges students to imagine themselves as a member of the Foreign Service tasked to resolve a crisis. Each year has a different topic for the essay.

Process

Write an essay responding to a crisis topic as though they were members of the foreign service attempting to resolve the crisis.

Criteria

Your essay should be at least 1,000 words but should not exceed 1,250 words (word count does not apply to the list of sources). The word count must be included on the document you submit. Submissions will be judged on the quality of analysis, quality of research, and form, style and mechanics. Successful entries will answer all aspects of the prompt and demonstrate an understanding of the Foreign Service. The top five essays from each region will advance to the final round of judging that will determine the winner, runner-up, and honorable mentions. All decisions of the judges are final. All qualifying essays will be judged blind through several rounds of judging. All decisions of the judges are final.

Awards

American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest - Participation

Team Award. $0.

For all students who successfully completed submission requirements to this essay contest.

This award counts toward these ICS Academic Badges. Click on a badge for further info.

American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest - Winner

Team Award. $2500.

The winner receives $2,500, a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet the Secretary of State, and full tuition for a Semester at Sea educational voyage.

This award counts toward these ICS Academic Badges. Click on a badge for further info.

American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest - Runner Up

Team Award. $1250.

$1,250 and full tuition for the NSLC's International Diplomacy summer program.

This award counts toward these ICS Academic Badges. Click on a badge for further info.

Participate

Website: http://www.afsa.org/essay-contest

Managing Organization: American Foreign Service Association

Contact:
Theo Horn
horn@afsa.org

Eligibility:
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/lawful permanent residents 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 the AFSA, the U.S. Institute of Peace, Semester at Sea and National Student Leadership Conference are not eligible to participate. Previous honorable mention designees are eligible to enter.