John Locke Institute Essay Competition

  • The JLI Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

  • Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on that date. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)

  • There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US$2000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute's website.

    The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a US$10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools and/or gap year courses.

  • JLI Essay Competition Application

ChallengeUS

  • ChallengeUS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit scholarship competition hub founded on the belief that youth (as a group) and competition (as a medium) are the engines that drive progress.

  • Any student, residing in any country, currently enrolled in an accredited high school or college/university, is eligible to participate.

  • Writing Specific

    Word Limit: 1250 words

    Writing submissions should be in PDF format with a readable font size (11 or 12 pt.) and a professional font style (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.)

    If research is incorporated, any citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) will be accepted.

    First place awarded $250.

    Speech Specific

    Speech Limit: 10 minutes

    Speech submissions should be in MP4 format

    Participants should speak directly to the camera; high audio and video quality is expected

    Visual aids are permitted but speech quality will be the foremost evaluation criteria.

    First place awarded $250.

  • ChallengeUS Description

Coolidge Scholarship

  • The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study.

  • Open to high school juniors who will be graduating high school in the spring of 2025

  • Annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States.

    Although only a few students are named Coolidge Scholars each year, one hundred of the top Coolidge Scholarships applicants are named “Coolidge Senators.” Coolidge Senators are invited, all-expenses-paid, to participate in the Senators Summit that takes place each summer in Washington, D.C.

  • Coolidge Scholars Application

Cameron Impact Scholarship

  • The Cameron Impact Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition, impact-driven undergraduate scholarship awarded annually to 10-15 exceptional high school students who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, and academics.

  • Open to high school juniors who are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 3.7 GPA equivalent.

  • The Cameron Impact Scholarship covers the full tuition, fees, and books at any accredited U.S. based college or university that the recipient chooses to attend.

  • Cameron Impact Scholarship Page

Coca Cola Scholarship

  • The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to students in their final year of high school.

  • Open to high school seniors who are U.S. citizens.

  • $20,000 ($5,000 per year)

  • Coke Scholarship Application

AFSA Essay Competition

  • Civics essay competition for high school students from across America.

  • High school students in the United States are eligible to submit an essay.

  • Fully funded trip to D.C. and full tuition to Semester at Sea program.

  • Application Form

Jack Kent Cook Foundation Scholarship

  • The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities.

  • High school seniors in the U.S. are eligible.

  • Scholarship up to $55,000 per year to attend four-year university.

  • College Scholarship Program Page

HIR Academic Writing Contest

  • Participants in the contest submit a short-form article on a topic in international affairs. Each submission will be read and graded by the Harvard International Review.

  • High school student in the United States.

  • A number of contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. At the Defense Day, students will have to opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges. Students will also be able to attend other special events related to international affairs.

  • Register For The Contest

US Institute of Peace Essay Competition

  • USIP partners with the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) on the annual National High School Essay Contest. The contest each year engages high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy’s role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security.

  • US high school students can submit an entry.

  • The winner of the contest receives a $2,500 cash prize, an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet U.S. Department of State and USIP leadership, and a full-tuition paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university. The runner-up receives a $1,250 cash prize and a full scholarship to participate in the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

  • Contest Home Page

Federal BAR Civics Essay Competition

  • Each year, the Federal Bar Association invites middle and high school students to address current topics in civics. Scholarships are awarded for first, second, and third place in two divisions for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.

  • Students between 6-12th grade are eligible to apply.

  • Scholarship prizes will be awarded for the following in each division (middle school and high school): First place, $1,500; Second place, $1,000; Third place, $500.

  • Application Form

Youth In Policy Essay Competition

  • The Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Writing Contest is an opportunity for students to use their voice and writing ability in order to think critically about the state of politics in their country and declare the change they hope to see, all while competing for cash prizes and opportunities to get their writing published!

  • Any student, in any country, who is enrolled in an accredited high school or college/university at the time of submitting their essay is eligible to participate.

  • $250 for first place and publishing opportunity in YIP magazine.

  • Application Form

BRI MyImpact Challenge

  • MyImpact Challenge is a civic engagement contest hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute. Our goal is simple: foster a robust understanding of citizenship and get students active in their communities now!

  • US Students aged 13-19

  • Student service projects can win up to $10,000, with $40,000 in total prizes available to students and teachers. Every project that meets the entry guidelines will be rewarded with a digital Civic Achievement badge.

  • Application Form

JFK Profiles In Courage Essay Contest

  • The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation invites U.S. high school students to describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born.

  • U.S. high school students

  • The winner receives a $10,000 cash award. If the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation holds the 2024 Profile in Courage Award event in person, the winner and her/his/their family will be invited to travel to Boston to accept her/his/their award in May 2024. Travel and lodging expenses will be paid for the trip to Boston for the winning student and her/his/their parents.

    Second-place winner receives $3,000.

    Five finalists receive $1,000 each.

    Ten semifinalists receive $100 each.

  • Application Form

Obama Foundation Voyager Scholarship

  • The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb to help shape such leaders.

  • The Voyager Scholarship is open to students entering their junior year of college at an accredited four-year college or university in the US, who have demonstrated a financial need, and who are US citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients.

  • Up to $50,000 in financial aid

    Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in “last dollar” financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service.

    Summer Voyage

    Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field.

    Fall Summit

    Students will be invited each fall to an annual summit to help define and inspire their public service journey.

    Network of leaders

    Throughout the program, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series, giving them access to a network of leaders. This network of leaders will expose them to new areas of service and innovations happening in their fields. After graduation, they will join the Obama Foundation’s global community, providing them with Foundation resources and programming.

  • Apply Here

Questbridge Scholarship

  • Questbridge connects the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with leading colleges and opportunities.

  • High school seniors with financial need in the US.

  • Match Scholarship Recipients are granted admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship worth over $200,000 each.

  • Learn More Here

Reagan Foundation Scholarships

  • The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship offers college scholarships of up to $40,000 for high school seniors nationwide who showcase leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.

  • Be current high school seniors attending high school within the United States, (including any U.S. territories or commonwealths), and graduating in winter 2022 or spring 2023. Homeschools applicants, and applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible.

  • Earn a $10,000 renewable scholarship - up to $40,000 total - for tuition, school fees, books, supplies, and on-campus room and board

    Attend an exclusive, all-expenses-paid Scholars Retreat in California

    Receive support throughout their leadership journeys in college and beyond

  • Learn More