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Au student essay contest winner: your medical care shouldn’t depend on someone else’s religion.

Aug 20, 2020   AU Student Essay Contest Winner: Your Medical Care Shouldn’t Depend On Someone Else’s Religion

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By Priya Aggarwal

Editor’s Note: Priya Aggarwal, a student from University High School of Science and Engineering in Bristol, Conn., writes about the harm caused when religion is used to discriminate in health care and other areas of life. Priya’s essay placed first in AU’s 2020 Student Essay Contest, winning a $1,500 prize. You can learn more about the contest and the other finalists here.

I knock on the door, asking permission from the patient to enter the room. Her head moves just slightly, nodding for me to come in. As I enter, I begin to feel a pit of uneasiness grow, originating from the government information I am mandated to tell her. I take one look at my patient before I begin to recite the material proposed by HB 1336. “It may be possible to reverse the effects of an abortion-inducing drug….” As I converse with the patient, I watch as she shrinks in her chair, desiring an escape from my words. As I continue to observe her, I hesitantly begin reciting the next set of information provided by the Abortion Control Act, that the procedure “will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being.” I look up as I talk, seeing the patient hold onto her bed, seeking comforting words and not the hostile and political infused opinions I am providing her. I rush to finish the information. She again nods, saying she understands, and we begin the procedure.

The above scenario is one that is beginning to become a reality for many patients and health care providers around the country. As someone who is pursing the medical field, I appreciate a doctor’s ability to provide a safe space for patients. As a kid, I admired how doctors relied on logic and reason to inform and guide parents. As a teenager who sought for guidance based on reason, the doctor’s office was seen as a sanctuary – a place where I can ask for advice that was based on facts compared to information based on personal and emotional bias. It is these experiences that motivated me to pursue a medical career, hoping that one day I will have the opportunity to create a safe place for my own patients.

Yet, some evangelists and politicians have threatened this dream by promoting reproductive health laws that reflect religious values. With recent acts such as the Abortion Control Act which is established in many states to varying degrees, many doctors today are forced to provide religious-based information. Actions such as the prior can significantly hurt the patient-doctor trust relationship and damage the safe-space atmosphere that many health care providers rely on to accurately treat their patients. For this reason, I am greatly invested in the separation of religion and government as I seek to maintain the safe space environment that is threatened by faith-based laws.

Going to a diverse STEM magnet school where students supported a myriad of belief systems including Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism and more, I know that religious freedom was an important value to many of the students. Thus, when Connecticut officials announced in early 2020 that they were working on a new vaccine bill that will remove religious exemptions as a way to excuse a child from a vaccine, our school became a public debate stage.

Some of us argued that a religious exemption from vaccines impacted the Connecticut community, as there has been recent outbreaks of mumps, putting people in significant danger. Others believed that if the religious exemption is removed, it may give the government an opportunity to infringe on other religious rights. To voice our opinions, many students wrote letters to the Connecticut Department of Health where some of us argued to separate religion and medicine, while others argued the opposite.

Another way I have personally been involved in the separation of religion and government is increasing voter turnout with a club called “Democracy Matters.” Many states, especially in the last few years, have passed laws that have a connection to religion. For instance, government funding private schools (often which are religious schools), new abortion laws that increase the bans and prohibitions against reproductive rights and lack of LGBTQ non-discrimination laws in 30 states. Thus, this year, we sought to bring politicians to young students to share political ideas for the future, introduce voting booths in clubs and provide transportation on election day. With these strategies, our community has worked to increase education and involvement in the political atmosphere, protecting the separation of religion and government. 

As for the future, there are many steps society can take to protect separation of religion and government. For one, there needs to be an increase in education on how certain areas of the USA are not as progressive as others. Having the privilege to live in Connecticut, a state that passes many progressive laws, many people are unaware of the lack of religious protection provided in other parts of country.

For instance, many of my colleagues are unaware that in some Pennsylvania counties , many Muslim inmates pay double the cost for religious scripture compared to Christian inmates. Thus, if education discussed disparities between states, students would begin to understand the need of political participation. Moreover, with this type of education, it will benefit students who attend schools out of state, and they may be motivated to participate in prevalent issues.

The next step that can be taken is bringing politics to students. I believe politicians should converse with local students to understand what the future generation desires for change. Moreover, by providing the younger generation a voice, it may motivate students to participate in organizations that impact their political passion. With these steps, America can protect religious freedom and ensure a government that is separated from religious ideas.

As Americans, we have always had a diverse religious population. However, as a result, it has also been the source of discrimination and inequality in our country. For that reason it is crucial that we take steps to protect religious freedom and provide a future where individuals can choose to practice their belief freely and safely. By ensuring initiative today, we provide an equal and just future for tomorrow.

au essay contest

The Shadow Network is 2nd in line for the Presidency - Donate Now

New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson worked at ADF, a Christian Nationalist outfit and leader in the Shadow Network, for more than a decade. Now, he's in one of the most powerful offices in the world. Please donate now to help AU protect religious freedom and church-state separation.

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Bill, Bruce, Alex Filliez, Mikkel Langaard, Dr. Frim celebrate the essay winners.

AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE

STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

 COLLEGE- FGCU

The Greater Naples Chapter of Americans United’s essay contest encourages Florida Gulf Coast University students to reflect on why religious freedom and the separation of religion and government are important to them and their communities

This year’s contest focuses on the First Amendment to the Constitution and the respective “Establishment” and “Free Exercise” clauses.  We invite FGCU students to submit a piece of original writing that responds to the topic and meets the criteria below.    

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. states: “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .”

Does this strengthen or weaken the practice of religion in America?

  • Essay length should be no more than 1,000 words.
  • Writing should be clear, creative; demonstrate genuine grappling with the topic; and be the student’s original writing.
  • Submissions should make persuasive arguments supported by specific examples and/or properly cited sources where appropriate. (Students may use their preferred citation or footnote style.) Essays can reference personal experiences, current events, legal cases, U.S. history, primary sources, and information from  AU.org .

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

  • The contest is open to students attending Florida Gulf Coast University.
  • First place : $1,500.
  • Second place : $1,000.
  • Third place : $500.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions must be received electronically at [email protected] , no later than 11:59PM ET on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in a WORD or PDF format.  Please include class and email address with submission.

Participants will be notified on April 15, 2022 whether they are selected for a prize.

  Disclaimer: The Greater Naples Chapter reserves the right to withhold prizes if the submissions do not meet the quality standards as determined by the judges.

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AU Student Essay Contest

Sponsored by: Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Apply Online

Applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors in the U.S. Students must submit an essay discussing potential violations of church-state separations as found in the topics listed on the website.

Contact Information

Americans United for Separation of Church and State Americans United for Separation of Church and State Attn.: Essay Contest Submission 1310 L Street NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 United States

Phone: (202) 466 3234 x427 Official website

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Americans United Student Essay Contest—deadline September 19

au essay contest

We are excited to announce the launch of AU’s 2022 Student Essay Contest, with a first-place prize of $1,500!

This year’s contest focuses on recent Supreme Court decisions and their impact on the law and on peoples’ lives. Our essay contest encourages high school students to reflect on why religious freedom and church-state separation are important to them and their communities.

The Topic: How does one or more of the following Supreme Court decisions relate to church-state separation and religious freedom, and how will it affect people and communities in the United States?

  • Kennedy v. Bremerton School District
  • Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
  • Carson v. Makin

The Prizes:

  • First place: $1,500 and essay will be printed on AU’s website and in Church & State magazine
  • Second place: $1,000 and essay will be printed on AU’s website
  • Third Place: $500 and essay will be printed on AU’s website

The Fine Print:

  • Essay length should be between 750 and 1,000 words.
  • Writing should be clear, creative, and proofread; demonstrate genuine grappling with the topic; and be the student’s original writing.
  • Submissions should make persuasive arguments supported by specific examples and/or cited sources where appropriate.
  • The contest is open to members of high school classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 in the United States including the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.

Employees and board members of Americans United, and members of their families, are not eligible to participate.

If you are not an eligible student, please take a moment to share this contest with the students and young people in your life. This is a great way to bring them into our movement for church-state separation.

For more information on this contest, please visit www.au.org/essaycontest . To read last year’s winning essays, click here .

We can’t wait to see what students submit this year!

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Treasury OECD Essay Competition

The Treasury Essay Competition is a national essay contest for Australian university students to commemorate Australia’s 50 years of membership of the OECD.

Entries for the competition closed at 5 pm (AEST) on Friday 13 August 2021.

A judging panel determined a winning entry and two commendable entries.

Members of the judging panel were:

  • Chair: Mark Cully, First Assistant Secretary, Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy Division, Treasury
  • Dr Alexander Robson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the OECD
  • Lisa Elliston, First Assistant Secretary, International Economics and Security Division, Treasury.

The winning entries were:

  • Winner : '50 Years of Australian OECD Membership: Progress, Prosperity and Potential', Anand Bharadwaj, University of Melbourne [ PDF 186KB ]
  • Runner up : 'Australia and the OECD: A fruitful 50-year partnership', Rhea Choudhary, University of Melbourne [ PDF 113KB ]
  • Runner up : '50 years on: Strengths and Opportunities for Australia and the OECD', Patrick Elkington, The University of Queensland [ PDF 493KB ]

Entrants were asked to write an essay of no more than 2,000 words (not including references) that addressed the following topic:

In 2021 Australia will celebrate 50 years as a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  The  OECD Convention , established in 1961, begins with an important statement: that economic strength and prosperity are essential for securing peace, preserving individual liberty and increasing general wellbeing. Over the last 50 years, how has Australia’s membership of the OECD helped to improve our nation’s economic strength and prosperity? You may choose to answer this with respect to a particular policy field where the OECD has been prominent, or with respect to overall measures of strength and prosperity in Australia. What lessons are there for Australia’s ongoing engagement with the OECD?

Entry was open to all students (undergraduate and postgraduate) enrolled at an Australian tertiary education institution as at 30 June 2021.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, the Treasury acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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  • Writing Tips

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

  • 7-minute read
  • 28th December 2022

Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.

In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.

1. Tom Howard/ John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 

au essay contest

Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023

Who may enter:

This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).

Contest description:

●  The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.

●  They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.

●  Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.

●  You may submit published or unpublished work.

Entry fee: USD 22 per entry

●  Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).

●  The top 12 entries will be published online.

Official website

Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.

2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize 

au essay contest

Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm

Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.

●  This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.

●  Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

●  You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.

●  You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.

●  Your essay must be unpublished.

Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members

Prize: AU 7,500

Official website:

For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.

3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition 

au essay contest

Deadline: June 30, 2023

●  Students from any country.

●  Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.

●  Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.

●  The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.

●  Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.

●  There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.

Entry fee: Free to enter

●  The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.

●  There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.

●  All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.

For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.

4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition 

au essay contest

Deadline: April 3, 2023

●  Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

●  Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.

●  Home-schooled students.

●  Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.

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●  You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

●  Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.

●  Your essay should use a variety of sources.

●  The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

●  The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.

5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest 

au essay contest

Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023

Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.

●  The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.

●  High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.

●  Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.

●  Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).

●  Your essay must be written in English.

●  First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.

●  Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.

●  Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.

●  Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .

6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl

Deadline: February 1, 2023

●  Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.

●  This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.

●  Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.

●  You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.

●  Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.

●  Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.

Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:

●  First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.

●  Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .

●  Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.

●  Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

●  Your essay should be 1,000 words.

Prizes: USD 500

For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.

Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.

If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !

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United States

  • High School Junior

AU Student Essay Contest

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is an independent, not-for-profit organization that advocates for freedom of religion. The organization created the AU Essay Contest to inspire high school students to think about the separation of religion and state and why it matters to them and to their communities. All high school students are eligible except board members and employees of American United and their families.

Annually, American United for Separation of Church and State awards three high school students. The first prize is worth $1,500; the second prize is $1,000 and the third prize is $500. Applicants must submit a persuasive, well-supported, and creative 750–1,000 word essay. They must clearly show how the Do Not Harm Act affects the lives of people in the United States and the church-state separation. The winning essay must be well-researched and referenced.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State recognizes the importance of giving high school students a platform to speak up. The organization is also committed to helping them pay for their education.

Scholarship Summary

Eligibility requirements.

  • Eligible Grade: High School Junior – High School Senior
  • Maximum Age: Any
  • Required GPA : Any
  • Geographic Eligibility: United States
  • Gender: Any
  • Race/Ethnicity: Any

Key Information of AU Student Essay Contest

Study details, area of study, country of study, specific schools, application requirements.

Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.

AU Student Essay Contest Timeline

January 2023

Application Opening Date

Applications open on January 1.

Submission Deadline

The submission deadline is on April 19.

August 2023

Awards Announcement Date

The winners are announced in August.

How to ace the AU Student Essay Contest

Include examples in your essay

The essay contest requires applicants to make persuasive arguments that are well-supported. Support your arguments using examples from personal experiences or current events.

Cite your sources

Reference your sources. Don't plagiarize. The essay contest allows students to use any citation style they prefer or footnotes.

Refer to U.S. history

Applicants must submit a detailed essay. They are encouraged to use historical events to strengthen their arguments.

Proofread your essay

The organization expects applicants to review their essays. It will not tolerate grammar or spelling mistakes. Get second or third-eye reviews to avoid unforeseen mistakes.

How the AU Student Essay Contest is Judged

The organization evaluates students on the quality of their essays.

Why We Love the AU Student Essay Contest

The essay contest is non-academic

AU Student Essay Contest emphasizes freedom of expression and civil rights protection among high school students through this essay contest. There are no restrictions or academic requirements including GPA or recommendation letter, etc. to qualify.

No discrimination

The program is open to all high school students as long as they meet the contest requirements. AU Student Essay Contest supports equality and has no discrimination against gender, race, ethnicity, religion, etc.

Contest is in support of minority groups

The organization created the essay contest to give a voice to religious minorities, women, LGBTQ communities, and other marginalized groups.

5 Facts About AU Student Essay Contest

All U.S citizens can apply

High School students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S territories are eligible to apply.

The essay contest has three prizes

$1,500, $1,000, and $500 prizes are awarded to the first, second, and third places.

Winners announced on AU website and magazine

The First prize winner is featured in the Church & State magazine and AU website and the second and third prize winners are printed on the website.

The contest receives hundreds of applications annually

The AU Student Essay Contest is highly competitive. Only impressive essays win.

The contest page has a get updates option

Students can sign up with their emails to get updates on important application dates.

Additional Scholarships

Peter agris memorial journalism scholarship.

Annually, the Alpha Omega Council offers the Peter Agris Memorial Journalism Scholarship of $5,000 to Greek-American students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate journalism programs in the U.S.

The Advocates Scholarship

The Advocates Injury Attorneys offer the Advocates Scholarship to two college students in the U.S., one each semester to further their education at accredited post-secondary institutions in the U.S.

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Essay Contest

JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to encourage the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers.

Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: 

High School:  students and home-schooled students enrolled at the high school level during the contest year

College/University:  students enrolled in at least six credit hours of course work at a junior college, college, or university during the contest year

  • Graduate School:  students enrolled during the contest year in at least three credit hours of graduate course work at a college or university leading to an advanced degree 

Membership in JASNA is not required to enter the contest.

2024 Contest Topic

2024 Essay Contest Graphic Home2

Resolved: That Jane Austen’s novels are still relevant and speak to us after 200 years .

In the first part of the essay you should attack this claim; in the second part defend it. You will be expected to back up each position with quotations and examples from Austen’s works. High school students must cite at least one novel; undergraduate and graduate students will be expected to cite at least two. Citing Austen’s unfinished works is also permitted.

Teachers and Mentors Please help us spread the word about the Essay Contest.  Download the 2024 contest flyer  to display in your classroom and distribute to interested students.

Submissions

The deadline for submissions is Thursday,  June 1, 2024 . We will begin accepting entries online in February 2024. In the meantime, it is essential that you  visit the  Submissions  page to learn about the contest rules and eligibility requirements before entering.

Essay Contest Awards

Essay Contest Medal web

  • First Place:    $1,000 scholarship, plus free registration and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s upcoming Annual General Meeting . (Transportation to the conference is not provided.)
  • Second Place:    $500 scholarship
  • Third Place:   $250 scholarship 

Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen's novels. 

Please review the   Essay Contest FAQs . If you still have questions, please contact Meg Levin at   essay-contest@jasna.org . Use “JASNA Essay Contest” in your subject line.

Submission Guidelines ›

Learn about Essay Contest rules and formatting requirements.

Essay Contest FAQs ›

Get answers to frequently asked questions about the contest.

Winning Essays ›

Read the insightful essays that placed first, second, and third in past Essay Contests.

Support for the Essay Contest is provided by the J. David Grey Fund in honor of JASNA's co-founder.

“It is such a happiness when good people get together — and they always do.”

About jasna.

The Jane Austen Society of North America is dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. JASNA is a nonprofit organization, staffed by volunteers, whose mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius.  We have over 5,000 members of all ages and from diverse walks of life. Although most live in the United States or Canada, we also have members in more than a dozen other countries.

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How to Win Essay Contests: A Step-by-Step Guide

10 Steps to Writing Contest-Winning Essays

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Did you know that you can win prizes with your writing skills? Essay contests are a fun way to turn your creativity and your command of the written word into great prizes. But how do you give your essay the edge that gets it picked from among all of the other entries?

Here's a step-by-step guide to writing essays that impress judges. Follow these steps for your best chances of winning writing contests.

Read the Essay Contest Rules

The first thing that you should do to win essay contests is to read the rules thoroughly. Overlooking one small detail could be the difference between winning the contest and wasting your time.

Pay special attention to:

  • The contest's start and end dates.
  • How often you're allowed to enter.
  • The word or character count .
  • The contest's theme.
  • The criteria that the judges will use to pick the winners.
  • Who the sponsoring company is, and what their branding is like.
  • And any other details the sponsor requires.

It might help you to print out the sweepstakes rules and highlight the most important elements, or to take notes and keep them close at hand as you write.

If you summarize the relevant rules in a checklist, you can easily check the requirements off when you've finished your essay to ensure you haven't overlooked anything.

Brainstorm Your Essay Ideas

Many people want to jump right into writing their essay, but it's a better idea to take some time to brainstorm different ideas before you start. Oftentimes, your first impulse isn't your best.

The Calgary Tutoring Centre lists several reasons why brainstorming improves your writing . According to their article, brainstorming lets you:

"Eliminate weaker ideas or make weaker ideas stronger. Select only the best and most relevant topics of discussion for your essay while eliminating off-topic ideas. Or, generate a new topic that you might have left out that fits with others."

For a great brainstorming session, find a distraction-free area and settle in with a pen and paper, or your favorite method to take notes. A warm beverage and a healthy snack might aid your process. Then, think about your topic and jot down quick words and phrases that are relevant to your theme.

This is not the time to polish your ideas or try to write them coherently. Just capture enough of the idea that you know what you meant when you review your notes.

Consider different ways that you can make the contest theme personal, come at it from a different angle, or stand out from the other contest entries. Can you make a serious theme funny? Can you make your ideas surprising and unexpected?

Write down all your ideas, but don't judge them yet. The more ideas you can come up with, the better.

Select the Essay Concept that Best Fits the Contest's Theme and Sponsor

Once you've finished brainstorming, look over all of your ideas to pick the one you want to develop for your essay contest entry.

While you're deciding, think about what might appeal to the essay contest's sponsor. Do you have a way of working the sponsor's products into your essay? Does your concept fit the sponsor's company image?

An essay that might be perfect for a Budweiser contest might fall completely flat when Disney is the sponsor.

This is also a good time to consider whether any of your rejected ideas would make good secondary themes for your essay.

Use a Good Hook to Grab the Reader's Attention

When it's time to start writing your essay, remember that the first sentence is the most important. You want to ensure that your first paragraph is memorable and grabs the reader's attention.

When you start with a powerful, intriguing, moving, or hilarious first sentence, you hook your readers' interest and stick out in their memory when it is time to pick winners.

Writer's Digest has some excellent tips on how to hook readers at the start of an essay in their article, 10 Ways to Hook Your Reader (and Reel Them in for Good) .

For ideas on how to make your essay unforgettable, see Red Mittens, Strong Hooks, and Other Ways to Make Your Essay Spectacular .

Write the First Draft of Your Essay

Now, it's time to get all of your thoughts down on paper (or on your computer). Remember that this is a first draft, so don't worry about perfect grammar or if you are running over your word count. 

Instead, focus on whether your essay is hitting the right emotional notes, how your story comes across, whether you are using the right voice, and if you are communicating everything you intend to.

First drafts are important because they help you overcome your reluctance to write. You are not trying to be good yet, you are trying to simply tell your story. Polishing that story will come later.

They also organize your writing. You can see where your ideas fit and where you need to restructure to give them more emotional impact.

Finally, a first draft helps you keep your ideas flowing without letting details slow you down. You can even skip over parts that you find challenging, leaving notes for your next revision. For example, you could jot down "add statistics" or "get a funny quote from Mom" and come back to those time-consuming points later.

Revise Your Essay for Flow and Organization

Once you've written the first draft of your essay, look over it to ensure that it flows. Is your point well-made and clear? Do your thoughts flow smoothly from one point to another? Do the transitions make sense? Does it sound good when you read it aloud?

This is also the time to cut out extraneous words and ensure you've come in under the word count limit.

Generally, cutting words will improve your writing. In his book, On Writing , Stephen King writes that he once received a rejection that read: "Formula for success: 2nd Draft = 1st Draft – 10%." In other words, the first draft can always use some trimming to make the best parts shine.

If you'd like some tips on how to improve your first draft, check out these tips on how to self-edit .

Keep an Eye Out for "Red Mittens"

In her fantastic book, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio , Terry Ryan talked about how her mother Evelyn used "red mittens" to help her be more successful with contest entries.

As she put it:

"The purpose of the Red Mitten was almost self-explanatory -- it made an entry stand out from the rest. In a basket of mittens, a red one will be noticed."

Rhyme, alliteration, inner rhyme, puns, and coined words were some of the red mittens that Evelyn Ryan used to make her entries pop. Your essay's red mitten might be a clever play on words, a dash of humor, or a heart-tuggingly poignant story that sticks in the judges' minds.

If your first draft is feeling a little bland, consider whether you can add a red mitten to spice up your story.

Put Your Contest Entry Aside

Now that you have a fairly polished draft of your essay contest entry, put it aside and don't look at it for a little while. If you have time before the contest ends, put your essay away for at least a week and let your mind mull over the idea subconsciously for a little while.

Many times, people think of exactly what their essay needs to make it perfect... right after they have hit the submit button.

Letting your entry simmer in your mind for a while gives you the time to come up with these great ideas before it's too late.

Revise Your Essay Contest Entry Again

Now, it's time to put the final polish on your essay. Have you said everything you wanted to? Have you made your point? Does the essay sound good when you read it out loud? Can you tighten up the prose by making additional cuts in the word count?

In this phase, it helps to enlist the help of friends or family members. Read your essay to them and check their reactions. Did they smile at the right parts? Were they confused by anything? Did they connect with the idea behind the story?

This is also a good time to ensure you haven't made any grammar or spelling mistakes. A grammar checker like Grammarly is very helpful for catching those little mistakes your eyes gloss over. But since even computer programs make mistakes sometimes, so it's helpful to have another person — a good friend or family member — read it through before you submit it.

Read the Essay Contest Rules One Last Time

If you've been following these directions, you've already read through the contest rules carefully. But now that you've written your draft and had some time to think things over, read them through one more time to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.

Go through your checklist of the essay requirements point-by-point with your finished essay in front of you to make sure you've hit them all.

And now, you're done! Submit the essay to your contest, and keep your fingers crossed for the results !

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Residents and Fellows Committee Essay Contest

Medical students, residents and fellows are invited to participate in the seventh annual AUA Residents and Fellows Committee essay contest.

Contest Theme: The Evolution of Urologic Training

Urologic training has undergone a significant transformation, driven by advancements in educational and therapeutic technology, work-hour regulations, and the zeitgeist of each successive generation of trainees. Explore the changes that you have seen, or wish to see, in urologic surgical training, particularly shifts in educational methods, interpersonal interactions, and hierarchical structures, and consider how these changes influence the field of Urology and the quality of patient care that we deliver.  

Requirements and Deadline

Essays should be no more than 500 words and will be judged on clarity and impact of the writing, relevance to the theme and applicability to urologists and urology trainees. Submissions should be emailed to  [email protected]  and should also include: 

  • Bio with headshot
  • Email address
  • Mailing address
  • Name and location of your medical school or training program

The deadline to submit is  January 23, 2024.

The winning essay will be:

  • Peer reviewed and submitted for publication in The Journal of Urology®
  • Recognized at the AUA2024 Residents Forum program in San Antonio, Texas
  • Published on the AUA website

Past AUA Residents and Fellows Committee Essay Contest Winners

Nicolas Seranio, MD - 2023 Grand Prize Winner Resident, Stanford University Read Dr. Seranio's winning essay.

Madeleine Ball, BS - 2023 Honorable Mention Medical Student, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Read Madeleine Ball’s essay.

Baine Herrera, MD - 2023 Honorable Mention Resident, Texas ATM/Baylor Scott and White Temple Memorial Read Dr. Herrera's essay.

Hannah Kay, MD – 2023 Honorable Mention Resident, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Read Dr. Kay's essay.

Avi Baskin, MD - 2022 Grand Prize Winner Resident, University of California, San Francisco Read Dr. Baskin's winning essay.

Laurence Hou, MD - 2022 Honorable Mention Resident, Hackensack University Medical Center Read Dr. Hou's essay.

Utsav S. Shah - 2022 Honorable Mention Fellow, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences Read Dr. Shah's essay.

Kiran Sury, MD – 2022 Honorable Mention Resident, University of Pennsylvania Read Dr. Sury's essay.

Courtney Yong, MD - 2021 Grand Prize Winner Resident, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Read Dr. Yong's winning essay.

Kiran Sury, MD - 2021 Honorable Mention Resident, University of Pennsylvania Read Dr. Sury's essay.

Esther Nivasch Turner, MD - 2021 Honorable Mention Resident, University of Pennsylvania Read Dr. Nivasch Turner's essay.

Wesley Yip, MD – 2021 Honorable Mention Resident, University of Southern California Read Dr. Yip's essay.

Meghan A. Cooper, DO, MA - 2020 Grand Prize Winner Resident, University of South Florida Read Dr. Cooper's winning essay .

Paulette C. Dreher, DO - 2020 Honorable Mention Resident, Main Line Health Read Dr. Dreher's essay .

Lauren Poniatowski, MD, MS - 2020 Honorable Mention Resident, University of Washington Read Dr. Poniatowski's essay .

Blair Townsend, MD, MBA - 2020 Honorable Mention Resident, Carolinas Medical Center at Atrium Health Read Dr. Townsend's essay .

Karen Wheeler, MD, PhD - 2019 Grand Prize Winner Fellow, University of Texas Health Center San Antonio Read Dr. Wheeler's winning essay.

George Goucher, MD - 2019 Honorable Mention Resident, McMaster University Read Dr. Goucher's essay.

Blair Townsend, MD, MBA - 2019 Honorable Mention Resident, Carolinas Medical Center at Atrium Health Read Dr. Townsend's essay.

JJ Zhang, MD- 2019 Honorable Mention Resident, Cleveland Clinic Read Dr. Zhang's essay.

Unwanaobong Nseyo, MD - 2018 Grand Prize Winner Resident, University of California, San Diego Read Dr. Nseyo's winning essay.

Julia Fiuk, MD - 2018 Honorable Mention Resident, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Read Dr. Fiuk's essay.

Natalie Hartman - 2018 Honorable Mention Medical Student, University of Southern California Read Natalie Hartman's essay.

Ramphis Morales-López, MD - 2018 Honorable Mention Resident, University of Puerto Rico Read Dr. Morales-López's essay.

Nathan Wong, MD - 2018 Honorable Mention Resident, McMaster University Read Dr. Wong's essay.

The Young Africans Writing Contest (YAWC) 2022

YAWC 2022

The 2022 Young Africans Writing Contest

Today, millions of children are on the move, both within and across borders, with or without their parents or guardians. As a consequence, children contribute and are part of large-scale population movements that are currently taking place in many parts of the world. Migration and mobility research, as well as statistics shared by organisations such as Save the Children, have revealed that a variety of factors influence children's movements. When these children are on the move, they are exposed to harsh situations and are at greater risk to experience inadequate care, economic or sexual exploitation, abuse and neglect, whether voluntary or involuntary, within or between countries, and with or without their parents or other primary caregivers.

Against this backdrop, this year's theme is Children and Migration, specifically Children on the Move, and its connection to the AU's Free Movement Protocol (FMP), which was created with the goal of lowering, and eventually eliminating, barriers to Africans crossing regional borders to visit, trade, live, work, and establish businesses in other countries on the continent.

The writing competition will be the first of its kind on the continent for the second edition, allowing young Africans to reflect on the weightiness of children and migration issues on the continent, ultimately defining the role of children and ECOSOCC in promoting free movement of people and contributing to policy implementation. This year, ECOSOCC is looking for innovative ideas and sustainable solutions on how to strengthen and popularise the FMP through the eyes of our future leaders.

Essay Topic

"A Day in the Life of a Migrant Child."

Essay Instructions & Specifications

A downloadable template will be made available for participants to use as a reference.

1. Essays must be typed in Microsoft Word (version 2003 or higher) and submitted on A4 paper in MS Word format.

2. All entries must include a cover page containing the following basic information:

  • Name of the educational institution 
  • Year/grade level

3. Entrants should use a 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman or Arial) and number their pages sequentially.

4. The essay should be no longer than 1000 words. There is no word limit, but essays of less than 500 words are discouraged.

5. Languages: Entries can be submitted in any of the official languages of the African Union (AU), including Swahili, English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.

6. All contestants must submit a completed and signed version of the participation form, which can be downloaded here . Please however fill out the participation form completely with your personal information in English or French.

7. Participants are encouraged to keep a copy of their essays for their own records because they will not be returned. Submissions must not contain obscene, violent, racist, religiously intolerant, or defamatory content.

8. Only original essays will be accepted for the contest. As a result, essays that have previously been published are not permitted. Any form of plagiarism will result in the essay being disqualified immediately and winning essays may be subject to additional verification of their originality.

9. Please note that the jury panel's decisions are final. Incomplete entries or entries that do not meet the formal specifications will be automatically disqualified.

Criteria for Assessment

Essays will be evaluated based on their ability to engage readers, thoughtfulness, and rhetorical effectiveness. The clarity and coherence of the essays will be more important than the quality of the language.

  • Content Originality 50%
  • Relevance in terms of the continent’s development 30%
  • Structure 10%
  • Overall impression 10%

Submission of Entries

All entries must be submitted electronically to the email address [email protected] . The essay and participation form should be attached in MS Word format, and only ONE entry per participant will be accepted.

Participants will receive an acknowledgement email within one week of submitting their application. If no acknowledgement is received, participants are requested to write to the organisers with proof of submission.

Eligibility

The participant must meet all the criteria below:

  • Citizen and resident of an AU Member State;
  • Registered student in a secondary (high school) educational institution in an AU Member State;
  • 12 - 20 years old;
  • Can read, speak, and write in any of the official languages of the African Union (AU) - Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili.

Entry Dates, Deadlines & Announcement of Winners

  • This contest begins on July 16, 2022
  • Contest ends on September 16, 2022 at midnight.
  • The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in November 2022.
  • The Prize Giving Ceremony Modalities will be communicated to the participants in due course.

All participants will receive a digital participation certificate. The best entries in each of the six official AU languages will be rewarded as below:

  • The Winner of the Overall Best Essay (amongst the 18 best entries all languages combined) will be rewarded with the ‘Outstanding YAWC 22 Achiever Plaque’ and a sponsored visit to the ECOSOCC Headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.
  • The Top 3 winners in each linguistic category will be provided short virtual and/or physical training opportunities, possibly at the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or in another AU Member State
  • The Top 18 essays will be published in a special booklet entitled ‘My Africa My Future,’ Volume 2.
  • List of Prizes will be officially communicated on the ECOSOCC website and to all entrants/participants electronically.

Right of Publication

All essay submissions will become the property of ECOSOCC. Winners' names, photographs, and essay content may be published in print and/or electronic media at the sole discretion of ECOSOCC.

An independent panel of judges will evaluate and score essay submissions. The panel will choose the top 3 submissions in each language, as well as the overall best essay.

  • English PDF 1.38 MB
  • French PDF 1.55 MB
  • English DOCX 108.92 KB
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A Milestone in Integration: ECOSOCC concludes its national dialogue series on African Union's Free Movement Initiative

Ecosocc's game-changing initiative: collaborating with africa union peace and security council secretariat to build a cso database for enhanced security, strengthening civil society engagement and building stronger communities: ecosocc continues awareness raising of national chapters in ghana and tanzania, charting a new course: barbados pm joins ecosocc's 2023 global africa forum for historic reconciliation, theme of the year.

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National High School Essay Contest

You are here, in this section, applications are now open for the 2024 essay contest.

Apply at https://afsascholarships.communityforce.com

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2024

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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

au 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:

au essay contest

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

au essay contest

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

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'I learned a lot': Black History Month essay, poster contest winners recognized

Feb. 26—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — David L. Simms was the Johnstown Police Department's first Black detective, a member of the military who was deployed to help during the city's 1977 flood, and, in his great-granddaughter Ella Simms' words, a man who helped many people in his hometown and around the world.

So, when Simms was looking for a person to honor in the Ron Fisher African American History Educational Fund's Black History Month poster and essay contest, sponsored by The Tribune-Democrat and Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, she chose him.

Simms, a Greater Johnstown Elementary School fourth-grader, created a poster that included a hand-drawn portrait of her great-grandfather and a brief biography. A panel of judges selected it as the winning entry in the poster contest for students in kindergarten through fourth grade who were asked to depict a Black person who makes a difference in current times.

"I never knew about him and I never got to meet him," Simms said during an awards ceremony at the Bottle Works in Johnstown's Cambria City neighborhood on Saturday. "I just thought it would be cool to do him. ... I learned about him to do this project. I talked to my dad about him."

Students in fifth through eighth grades were asked to make posters based on the question: "What is one of the most important inventions that was created by an African American? Depict why is it important to you or your community." Greater Johnstown Middle School seventh- graders Kaleena Cannady and Joel Brougher won for their tribute to Dr. Charles Richard Drew, a surgeon who organized the United States' first large-scale blood bank.

NaLonai Tisinger, a sophomore at Greater Johnstown, won the award for best essay among students in ninth through 12th grades who were asked: "Consider the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Why is it important to treat people equally and what does that mean to you?"

Tisinger's essay was about how sometimes she wishes she was white because of the discrimination she has faced. She concluded her piece by writing, "We as people still have toxic tendencies and it's time to shine light on the small things and take accountability."

"I wrote about my experiences growing up as a young Black woman, how I felt growing up as a young Black woman, not wanting to be a young Black woman sometimes," Tisinger said during an interview.

This is the fourth year for the local Black History Month essay and poster contest.

"I think it's really important for us to not just engage with the community at large with the themes that we cover for this contest — and it's important material for Black History Month, but to also give the kids who participate a platform, an opportunity to explore some of these topics, to learn, to research and then to express what it means to them, what they feel like about not what just happened over the course of history or what some historical figure might have done, but how they feel that reflected in life today and how they experience life," said Chip Minemyer, publisher of The Tribune-Democrat.

The fund and awards honor Ronald Fisher, a Tribune-Democrat reporter who died in 2019.

"It's just a blessing for me just to see everything that the kids are inspired by as far as Black history," said his mother, Cheryl Fisher.

His sister, Alexis Fisher, spoke about seeing the students' work on display at the Bottle Works, saying, "I am just in awe when I walk into the room and I see all of the posters. It's just a great feeling. I'm happy to be back at it for the fourth year now. ... Honestly, I learned a lot. I didn't recognize more than half of the people in the posters, and that tells a lot. I hope that everyone who's looking at the posters are learning from them, too."

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IMAGES

  1. Biopage Mini-Essay Writing Contest

    au essay contest

  2. Essay Contest, 1997

    au essay contest

  3. Essay Contest Poster Templates to Edit Online

    au essay contest

  4. Student Essay Contest Winners Announced

    au essay contest

  5. Essay Contest

    au essay contest

  6. A Letter To My Younger Self Essay Contest

    au essay contest

COMMENTS

  1. Student Contest

    AU's annual contest encourages students to reflect on why religious freedom and church-state separation are important to them and their communities—and what they can do to ensure religious freedom is a shield that protects the rights of everyone to practice religion according to their own beliefs, or not practice at all, as long as they don't ha...

  2. Raise Your Voice Through AU's Student Essay Contest

    AU's annual essay contest is one way we encourage young people to reflect on religious freedom and take action to speak up for church-state separation. Recent high school graduates from 2022 and students who expect to graduate in 2023 and 2024 are invited to participate by submitting an essay responding to this prompt:

  3. Deadline Approaching: Enter AU's Annual Student Essay Contest Now

    We are accepting submissions to the 2020 Student Essay Contest now through April 19. This year's contest invites high schoolers to reflect on why the separation of religion and government is important to them, what they and others in their community have done to oppose threats to religious freedom, and what more can be done.

  4. Announcing AU's 2021 Student Essay Contest Winners

    The contest winners received prizes of $500-1,500 and will have their essays published on this blog this week. Our top prize winner was also featured in Church & State magazine this month; you can read that article here.

  5. AU Announces Opening Of 2022 Essay Contest For High School Students

    Jul 15, 2022 AU Announces Opening Of 2022 Essay Contest For High School Students Americans United's annual Student Essay Contest for high school students is now open. Submissions will be accepted between July 18, 2022, and September 19, 2022. The contest is open to aspiring high school juniors and seniors and recent graduates.

  6. AU Announces Opening Of Expanded 2023 Contest For Students

    Feb 28, 2023 Submissions will be accepted for Americans United's annual Student Contest through May 8, 2023. The contest is open to high school and college students and accepts essay and video submissions. This year, students are invited to respond to the following prompt: What is your vision for church-state separation?

  7. AU Student Essay Contest Winner: Your Medical Care Shouldn't Depend On

    Priya's essay placed first in AU's 2020 Student Essay Contest, winning a $1,500 prize. You can learn more about the contest and the other finalists here. I knock on the door, asking permission from the patient to enter the room. Her head moves just slightly, nodding for me to come in.

  8. AU-Naples

    First place: $1,500. Second place: $1,000. Third place: $500. HOW TO SUBMIT Submissions must be received electronically at [email protected], no later than 11:59PM ET on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in a WORD or PDF format. Please include class and email address with submission.

  9. AU Student Essay Contest

    AU Student Essay Contest Sponsored by: Americans United for Separation of Church and State Favorite Apply Online $1,500 Max $500 Min Details Applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors in the U.S. Students must submit an essay discussing potential violations of church-state separations as found in the topics listed on the website.

  10. Americans United Student Essay Contest—deadline September 19

    We are excited to announce the launch of AU's 2022 Student Essay Contest, with a first-place prize of $1,500! This year's contest focuses on recent Supreme Court decisions and their impact on the law and on peoples' lives. Our essay contest encourages high school students to reflect on why religious freedom and church-state separation are ...

  11. Treasury OECD Essay Competition

    The Treasury Essay Competition is a national essay contest for Australian university students to commemorate Australia's 50 years of membership of the OECD. Entries for the competition closed at 5 pm (AEST) on Friday 13 August 2021. A judging panel determined a winning entry and two commendable entries. Members of the judging panel were:

  12. Winner and finalists of the Youth Essay Contest on industrialization

    February 18, 2023 President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros, Takes Over as the New Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2023; February 18, 2023 36th AU Summit urges Member States to double the spirit of Pan-Africanism, Solidarity and Brotherhood by accelerating the operationalization of the AfCFTA; February 18, 2023 Opening of the 36th Ordinary Session of The Assembly of the ...

  13. 7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

    Contest description: This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review. Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words. You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative. You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one. Your essay must be unpublished.

  14. Au Student Essay Contest

    AU Student Contest Sponsor: Americans United for Separation of Church and State, 1310 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005. ... Applicants can submit an essay or video reflecting on why religious freedom and church-state separation are important to them and their communities.

  15. AU Student Essay Contest

    AU Student Essay Contest Funded by Americans United for Separation of Church and State Closed $500-$1,500 3 Award Winners Visit Website Save Scholarship Scholarship Open Date 1/1/2023 Scholarship Close Date 4/19/2023 Eligible Grades High School Junior - High School Senior Explore Similar Scholarships United States High School Junior

  16. Youth Essay Contest on industrialization and innovation in Africa

    All essays must be sent to [email protected] by the 30th of September 2022 at 23:59 pm EAT. The winner of the Essay contest will have the opportunity to address Heads of State and Government on proposals, strategies and pathways for youth inclusion and engagement on industrialization and economic diversification, that will support the ...

  17. Essay Contest » JASNA

    Essay Contest Awards. JASNA awards scholarships to winners in each of the three divisions: First Place: $1,000 scholarship, plus free registration and two nights' lodging for JASNA's upcoming Annual General Meeting. (Transportation to the conference is not provided.) Second Place: $500 scholarship.

  18. Winning Essay Contests: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Sandra Grauschopf Updated on 08/30/22 Did you know that you can win prizes with your writing skills? Essay contests are a fun way to turn your creativity and your command of the written word into great prizes. But how do you give your essay the edge that gets it picked from among all of the other entries?

  19. Residents and Fellows Committee Essay Contest

    Past AUA Residents and Fellows Committee Essay Contest Winners 2023. Nicolas Seranio, MD - 2023 Grand Prize Winner Resident, Stanford University Read Dr. Seranio's winning essay. Madeleine Ball, BS - 2023 Honorable Mention Medical Student, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Read Madeleine Ball's essay. Baine Herrera, MD - 2023 Honorable ...

  20. Winner and finalists of the Youth Essay Contest on industrialization

    24 years old Kingsley Job Obasi (Nigerian), is the winner of the African Union Youth Essay Contest on "Industrialization and Innovation in Africa". His essay, titled "Manufacturing: The Key to Economic Prosperity and Sustainable Development in Africa," articulates how manufacturing can unlock the economic prosperity of the African continent to create a sustainable future for its people.

  21. The Young Africans Writing Contest (YAWC) 2022

    Only original essays will be accepted for the contest. As a result, essays that have previously been published are not permitted. Any form of plagiarism will result in the essay being disqualified immediately and winning essays may be subject to additional verification of their originality. ... Ethiopia or in another AU Member State; The Top 18 ...

  22. 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.

  23. 10th Annual Essay/Oratory Contest

    Dates to Remember Wednesday, February 21, 2024 10 pm CT Essays must be submitted on eCourses Monday, February 26, 2024 5 pm CT Essay finalists will notified and sent information for the oratory clinic Thursday, February 29, 2024 6:30 pm CT | Don Clark Building Auditorium The

  24. 'I learned a lot': Black History Month essay, poster contest winners

    Feb. 26—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — David L. Simms was the Johnstown Police Department's first Black detective, a member of the military who was deployed to help during the city's 1977 flood, and, in his great-granddaughter Ella Simms' words, a man who helped many people in his hometown and around the world. So, when Simms was looking for a person to honor in the Ron Fisher African American History ...

  25. Japanese men have an identity crisis

    F ukushima Michihito wanted to marry his girlfriend. But a decade ago he fell ill, had to stop working, and consequently broke up with her. "I thought: if I can't support my family, I shouldn ...