AFSA National High School Essay Contest

The AFSA National High School Essay Contest is an esteemed competition organized by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). It offers high school students an opportunity to delve into U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy, with the chance to win significant prizes and gain recognition in the field.

🎯 Eligibility Criteria

The contest is open to all high school students in grades 9–12 who meet the following conditions:

Residency: Must be attending school in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, or be a U.S. citizen/lawful permanent resident attending high school overseas.
School Type: Open to students in public, private, parochial schools, or those who are home-schooled.
Exclusions: Immediate family members of AFSA, Semester at Sea, and National Student Leadership Conference directors or staff are not eligible.
Previous Winners: Past first-place winners are not eligible to participate again, but previous honorable mention recipients may enter.

📝 2025 Essay Prompt

In 2025, we mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a conflict that left a profound impact on the United States and the world. As we reflect on this milestone, it is crucial to revisit the role of the U.S. Foreign Service during that era, which was instrumental in shaping the course of events and continues to influence U.S. diplomacy today.

Essay Topic: Critically assess what you believe to be the most significant effects of the Foreign Service's work during the Vietnam War on contemporary U.S. diplomacy.

Your essay should address:

Historical Context: The role of the Foreign Service before, during, and after the Vietnam War.
Long-Term Impacts: Influences on U.S. diplomatic strategies, conflict resolution, and handling of humanitarian crises.
Contemporary Relevance: Connections between lessons learned and current U.S. diplomatic practices.

📅 Submission Details

Deadline: March 1, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. EDT. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Word Count: Essays must be between 1,000 and 1,500 words (excluding the bibliography).
Format: Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides.
Citations: Follow MLA format, including a bibliography with at least three primary sources.
Video Submission: Include a 30–60 second video answering specific questions about your essay and interest in the topic.

🏆 Prizes

Winner:
- $2,500 cash award.
- All-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner, a parent, and a teacher to meet with diplomatic officials.
- Fully funded educational voyage with Semester at Sea.
- The winner's school receives 10 copies of Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work.
Runner-Up:
- $1,250 cash award.
- Full scholarship to attend the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

📚 Resources

To assist with your essay preparation, AFSA provides several resources:

Study Guide: A comprehensive guide to help understand the essay topic and structure.
Past Winners' Essays: Examples of successful essays for reference.
Writer’s Checklist: A checklist to ensure all requirements are met.

These resources are available on the AFSA website.

🔗 How to Submit

Registration: Complete the online registration form on the AFSA website.
Essay Submission: Upload your essay in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
Video Submission: Provide a link to your video (hosted on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive).
Teacher/Sponsor: Include the name of a teacher or sponsor who can verify your participation.

Ensure all components are submitted by the deadline.

For more information and to apply, visit the AFSA Essay Contest Page.