A Review Of The National Peace Essay Contest
The National Peace Essay Contest provides high school students in the United States a chance to participate in a national-level essay competition. Every year, thousands of students across the country participate in classroom essay exercises leading to selection for submitting essays at the state level. Over 1,100 students get to submit their essays for the state level competition. State winners then send their entries for the final competition. To encourage students participate at the school and state level in all the 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and US territories, 53 state awards of $1,000 each are granted. Students studying abroad can also participate in the contest.
National scholarship essay contest winners get $10,000 (first place), $5,000 (second place), and $2,500 (third place) respectively. Further, state-level first place winners are invited to a 5-day awards program at Washington. Motivation to participate is high, as students get to mingle with top politicians and experts on the topic of national peace and other issues. They visit historic sites, get to understand and participate in debates.
For the 2010-2011 National Peace Essay Contest, the topic chosen is “Governance, Corruption, and Conflict.” Students have to submit their essay online by Feb. 01, 2011. Further directions would be available by Sept. 01, 2010 on the website. The topic is relevant at the present time. It is becoming very obvious that people in power have a massive role to play in framing effective laws dealing with vital issues that can help reduce conflict and promote harmony.
Power often corrupts people. A mechanism needs to be in place to ensure the right people are elected to office and have unshakable belief in themselves to go the full distance without giving into corruption. High school students are the future of the nation. Their views would offer insight into the type of politician one needs to become in the future. The issues debated now may hold the key to resolving problems in the future.
A high school essay contest helps students understand their role in solving important issues concerning society. Exposure to issues concerning governance, corruption, or conflict is limited at the high-school level, but students can voice their opinion on what they would like to see happen in the future. A thousand students selected from among millions across the country would have relevant answers to complex problems. Experts can reach consensus on several issues, which can then be debated at the awards program to arrive at viable solutions. Students would have a fresh approach to solve a problem.
It is not necessary that a student with high IQ would win the contest. An honest opinion or point of view expressed in a good essay contest is enough to impress a panel of experts. Students could have witnessed acts of violence or come across an issue dear to their hearts. Over a period of time, they may come think of a viable solution that can solve the problem if it occurs in future. A brief explanation of how they would do it would interest many other people. The National Peace Essay Contest offers such students the opportunity to make a big difference by voicing their opinion.
