Deadline: April 1, 2024
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) announces this year’s National High School Essay Contest, which encourages high school students to consider important international issues and learn about the US Foreign Service. AFSA’s essay contest is also supported by the US Institute of Peace (USIP), Semester at Sea, and the National Student Leadership Conference.
In 2024, the US Foreign Service will celebrate its 100th birthday. This year’s 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. In a 1,000-1,500 word essay, students must identify what they believe will be the biggest challenge to face the Foreign Service in the future and to clearly define how American diplomats can help mitigate it. The winner receives $2,500, a trip to DC to meet US State Department and USIP leaders, and a Semester at Sea educational voyage. The runner-up receives $1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program. The contest is open to students in grades 9-12.
For more information and to a, go to http://www.afsa.org/essaycontest.