USIP

Awards

What Do Essay Contest Winners Receive?

The Contest winners from each state earn money for their college or university studies. First-place state winners will receive college scholarships of $1,000. First-place state winners will also compete for national awards of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 for first, second, and third place respectively (national awards include state award amounts). All first-place state winners are invited to attend an all-expenses-paid awards program in Washington, D.C. in June 2009.

Read about last year's Awards Program in Washington. (2008)

2007-2008 winners have been announced.

What Do Students Do In Washington?

First-place state winners in the National Peace Essay Contest are invited to Washington for the awards program. This unique five-day program promotes an understanding of the nature and process of international peacemaking by focusing on a region and/or theme related to the current essay topic.

Over a period of three days, students take part in a simulation exercise in which they assume roles of national and international leaders, examine issues, address crises, and then formulate and propose solutions. In addition to such academically oriented events, program activities have included:

  • Meeting with members of Congress and officials from the White House, State Department, and Department of Defense.
  • Participating in briefings by officials at the embassies of Ireland, Israel, Sri Lanka, Korea, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Colombia, and Sierra Leone.
  • Visiting historical and cultural sites, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Holocaust Museum, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Capitol, Supreme Court, and Smithsonian museums.
  • Attending musicals or plays and sampling international cuisines from some of Washington's most interesting ethnic restaurants.
United States Institute of Peace - 1200 17th Street NW - Washington, DC 20036
+1.202.457.1700 (phone) - +1.202.429.6063 (fax)
www.usip.org