fire free speech essay contest

FIRE FREE SPEECH ESSAY CONTEST

FREE SPEECH ESSAY CONTEST

Sponsoring Institution: FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education)

Type: Essay contest

Eligibility: The Free Speech Essay contest is open to high school juniors and seniors in the U.S., including home schooled students and U.S. citizens studying overseas.

Application Deadline: All entries for this essay contest are due by 11:59 on December 31st. Winners are announced in February. 

Highlight: Free speech is a guaranteed right in the U.S. constitution. That right holds the most power in academic institutions, where students pose their ideas against their fellow peers and learn to develop their opinions. If you’re an American high school junior or senior passionate about free speech, look no further than the Free Speech Essay Contest! To enter this essay contest, gather your thoughts into a 700-900 word essay that responds to the provided prompt; this years prompt is to convince your friends of why free speech is better than censorship. So don’t hold back!  As far as format and style, MLA can work, but it’s entirely up to you! As long as your essay addresses the prompt, you’re in good shape. So, if you thought democracy was rewarding enough, think again! This essay contest awards seven cash prizes, ranging from $500-$10,000! Go ahead and use your freedom of speech to write a spectacular essay ! It’s your right!

It is our anual free funding event for high schoolers from all over the world

Susquehanna Township High School

In This Section

Fire free speech essay contest.

• For all Juniors and Seniors
• Apply at  https://thefire.org/contest
• Award: $10,000
• Deadline: December 31, 2021

• Career Edge™
• Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

CAREER EDGE™

MEMBER BENEFITS

Free Speech Essay Contest

FIRE's mission is to protect individual rights and now they want to help students by giving away one $10,000 to the first-place winner, $5,000 to the second-place winner, three third-place winners will get $1,000 each and 4 fourth-place winners get $500.

Scholarship Amount: $10000

Honor Society Scholarships

• $1,000 Core Values Scholarship  -  Deadline:  August 30, 2024
• $1,000 Community Service Scholarship  - Deadline: August 30, 2024
• $2,000 Undergraduate Achiever Scholarship  - Deadline: August 30, 2024
• $2,000 Graduate Achiever Scholarship  - Deadline: August 25, 2024
• $1,000 Emerging Leaders  -  Deadline: August 25, 2024
• $1,000 Society Involvement Scholarship  -  Deadline: August 25, 2024

• Dues Assistance Program
• Scholarships Directory
• Scholarship Recipients
• All Scholarships
• Job Listings
• Resources Center
• Upload Resume
• Class Rings
• Certificates
• Career Edge™ Guides
• Restaurant Discounts
• Health Plan Discounts
• Honor Society Rewards Mastercard

JUSTICE CENTER

• Phi Theta Kappa Lawsuit Center
• PTK Lawsuit Claim
• PTK News Release
• Honor Society Cares™
• Society Leadership
• Elevate Magazine
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Help Center
• Member Satisfaction Guarantee
• Call / Text Us

Honor Society® Membership Club offers exclusive benefits to foster your professional and personal development. We recognize your potential and support your future success with member-only discounts on products and services, including learning, dining, health, and travel. Access special items like graduation honor cords and essential career resources. As a distinct and pioneering honors organization, we're relentlessly committed to providing the tools and community to help you go further.

Call or Text us 1-866-313-6311 (9AM - 7PM EST Monday-Friday) 1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW • Suite 1000 • Washington, DC 20036 9275 W. Russell Rd • Suite 235 • Las Vegas, NV 89145 Proudly Accredited by the Better Business Bureau © 2024 HonorSociety.org, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy • Terms of Use • Contact Us

• Defending Your Rights
• Free Speech
• Academic Freedom
• Religious Liberty
• Due Process
• Press Freedom
• Freedom of Assembly
• Freedom of Conscience
• Your Rights Abroad

What We Defend

Freedom of speech is a human right and a fundamental American freedom. It’s essential for democracy, scientific progress, artistic expression, social justice, peace, and each individual’s ability to live authentically. 

At FIRE, we believe free speech is a force for good and have been defending free speech since 1999.

We also know free speech is under threat. 

FIRE’s vision is an America in which people overwhelmingly believe in the right of others to freely express views different from their own, and expect their laws and educational institutions to reflect and teach this belief.

Arguments for freedom: The many reasons why free speech is essential

That’s why, for more than 20 years FIRE has used its unique blend of sincere nonpartisanship and courageous advocacy to educate about and defend this right on America’s college campuses. Universities exist to educate students and advance the frontiers of human knowledge, and do so by acting as a “marketplace of ideas” where ideas compete. The intellectual vitality of a university depends on this competition — something that cannot happen properly when students or faculty members fear punishment for expressing views that are unpopular with the public or disfavored by university administrators.

Today, FIRE’s mission extends beyond campuses, to defending and promoting the value of free speech for all Americans in our courtrooms, on our campuses, and in our culture.

FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.

Read the News

FIRE Statement: X Corp's lawsuit and Texas's investigation into Media Matters for America are deeply misguided

Anonymous speech is as american as apple pie, university of southern california relegates professor to remote teaching for expressing anti-hamas sentiments, hey nikki haley: hands off our anonymous online speech.

I have been harassed, trespassed, handcuffed and arrested countless times for peacefully exercising my First Amendment rights. My intention is to ensure that all Americans from the wealthiest millionaire to the poorest homeless person can exercise these rights without fear of consequence from our government.

Army vet arrested for holding ‘God Bless the Homeless Vets’ sign

Jeff Gray, a U.S. Army veteran and retired truck driver, has been repeatedly stopped, detained, searched, and arrested by the police. His alleged crime? Holding signs — in front of city halls across the United States. 

READ Jeff's Story

Have your free speech rights been violated?

If you face retaliation over protected speech, reach out to FIRE to learn more about how we can protect your rights.

"The county’s actions are an outrageous infringement of Pennsylvanians’ First Amendment rights," said plaintiff Kevin Gaughen, a board member for Pennsylvania’s new Keystone Party. "We are filing this lawsuit to protect the First Amendment rights of everyone in Dauphin County."

Local Government Prohibits Political Activity in Public Park

The Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department prohibited a candidate and a board member of his political party from collecting signatures in a public park. The department’s actions are a clear violation of the duo’s First Amendment right to political expression.

Read Kevin's Story

2024 College Free Speech Rankings

FIRE's 2024 College Free Speech Rankings are based on the voices of more than 55,000 students at 248 colleges and universities, and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school.

See the Rankings

Read the Report

Defending Free Speech

FIRE defends and sustains the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the essential qualities of liberty — and carries out this mission through several core services.

Legal Support

In the courts.

Facing censorship or retaliation for protected speech? FIRE lawyers are here to help you when your free speech rights are violated.

Individual Rights Advocacy

Helping you.

FIRE’s signature, core defense program provides free, non-legal assistance to individuals whose fundamental civil liberties are violated, with a special focus on college students, professors, student media, and campus groups.

College Policy Reform

Changing higher ed.

FIRE’s College Policy Reform team works to proactively and systematically challenge campus policies that violate the free speech rights of students and faculty.

Legislative Policy Reform

Changing laws.

FIRE defends your individual rights at both the state and federal level by advocating on behalf of rights-protective legislation and against proposed laws that would abridge those rights.

FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus

Too many college campuses silence students who dare exercise their right to free expression. For a more thorough analysis of your expressive rights at colleges and universities, consult FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus. 

Read Free Speech Guide

No student should ever face the threat of a degree hold for exercising their free speech rights.

Satire is not a crime

When Stanford University launched an investigation into Nicholas Wallace over a satirical email, FIRE sprang into action so he wouldn’t miss graduation.

Join the Fight to Defend Free Speech

Get involved and help FIRE protect free speech for all Americans.

Faculty Network

The FIRE Faculty Network is a coalition of college faculty interested in promoting and defending free expression and academic freedom at their institutions.

Student Network

The FIRE Student Network is a coalition of college students who recognize the importance of advancing civil liberties on their campuses.

Donate to FIRE

Help us build a movement and promote a strong culture of free speech by supporting FIRE with a donation today.

Watch Trailer

FIRE’s Feature Documentary: ‘Mighty Ira’

Amid high-profile controversies surrounding free speech and racial equality, former ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser reflects on his life at the forefront of defending the rights of all Americans.

Watch the Movie

In 2022 alone, FIRE’s Campus Rights Advocacy team won 70 campus rights victories, impacting the rights of thousands of college students and faculty.

Since 1999, FIRE has won 529 defense victories at 315 colleges and universities.

In 2022, FIRE vetted nearly 1,400 case submissions involving individuals and groups who said their rights were threatened.

In 2022, FIRE’s College Policy Reform team won 46 victories at 23 schools affecting 400,000 students.

Free Speech Resources

View more free speech resources

Lessons for College Students

Orientation.

Resources for incoming students about their free speech rights on college campuses.

Free Speech Zones

Be yourself.

Limiting your free speech rights to “free speech zones” is wrong. Here’s why.

History of Free Speech

Explore the history of free speech from the Magna Carta to the Supreme Court using our interactive timeline.

K-12 Free Speech Curriculum

For teachers.

For educators who want to enrich and supplement their existing instruction on First Amendment and freedom of expression issues in middle and high school classrooms.

The Case for Radically Free Speech

In this course, you’ll learn about how the right to freedom of speech has evolved over human history, how it promotes peace in society and uplifts minority voices, and why censorship is never the answer to dissident speech. 

Take This Course

FIRE Statement on Free Speech and Online Payment Processors

Online payment processors like Venmo and PayPal often deny Americans access to these vital services based on their speech or viewpoints. When these companies appoint themselves the arbiters of what speech and views are acceptable, shutting people and organizations out of the online financial ecosystem for wrongthink, they seriously undermine our culture of free expression.

Our Advocacy, Your Rights

Learn more about how FIRE advocates for your rights.

• College Administrators
• College Faculty
• College Students
• K-12 Students
• K-12 Teachers
• Legal Professionals
• Public Employees

Become a Free Speech Insider!

Subscribe to FIRE updates to get the latest free speech news in your inbox as it happens!

Email You’re subscribed to FIRE Update

Subscribe to FIRE News

• Share this selection on Twitter
• Share this selection via email

FIRE’s Free Speech Essay Contest

Scholarship Overview

About the scholarship, eligibility criteria.

These 11 Essay Contests with Generous Prizes Will Change Your Life

Table of Contents

Essay contests are unusual because to win them you have to use your words. If you are a student who aspires to become a journalist, novelist, or poet, then these essay contests are a stepping stone for you to make that dream a reality.

Essay contests often ask participants to answer a question in the most original and obvious way. However, each contest will have its own rules and regulations to fulfill. You may have to write an essay on a specific topic and meet word count limits. To enter an essay contest, you must have the ability to write something fresh.

There are several essay contests that are valid for students of all levels of education regardless of nationality. As long as you meet the specified requirements, you may register for one or more of the following essay contests.

1. FIRE Free Speech Essay Contest

FIRE is an organization that aims to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience—the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity.

In this contest, you will be asked to write an essay or persuasive letter in 700 to 900 words on the theme of current events, historical examples, your personal experiences, and other resources posted on the FIRE website. Registration for this contest closes on December 31 st , 2020 at 11:59 a.m. EST.

Who should apply?

Open to juniors and seniors in U.S. high schools, including home-schooled students, as well as U.S. citizens attending high school overseas.

What are the prizes of this contest?

One $10,000 first-place prize, one $ 5,000 second-place prize, three $1,000 third-place prizes, and four $500 prizes will be awarded.

2. Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests

Have you ever read one of Ayn Rand’s thought-provoking novels? Now’s the time! Enter an Ayn Rand Institute essay contest and you’ll have a chance to win thousands of dollars in scholarship prize money.

ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand’s fiction for more than thirty years, awarding over $2 million in total prize money! To enter this contest, choose one of the three works of Ayn Rand fiction below and decide what theme you will cover in your essay by answering one of the questions posed on the essay contests web page.

• The Fountainhead
• Atlas Shrugged

You must sign up as a member of the ARI website to find out the deadlines for the contest.

These essay contests are available for students who are interested in Ayn Rand’s work ranging from grade eight students to postgraduate students. Please note that, however, the eligibility for each contest is different.

Total prizes to be awarded to the winners are $30,000.

3. AFSA National High School Essay Contest

The United States Foreign Service—often referred to as America’s first line of defense—works to prevent conflict from breaking out abroad and threats from coming to our shores. Peacebuilders work on the ground to create the conditions for peace and resolve conflicts where they are most needed.

Successful essays will identify, in no more than 1,250 words, a situation where diplomats worked on a peacebuilding initiative with partners from the country/region in question, nongovernmental organizations, and other parts of the U.S. government, and then go on to analyze what characteristics and approaches made the enterprise a success.

The deadline for essay submission is April 5 th , 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

$2,500 will be awarded to the writer of the winning essay, in addition to an all-expense-paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and his or her parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea. Runner-up receives $1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

4. JASNA Essay Contests

Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) conducts an annual student essay contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen’s works in new generations of readers.

The 2021 Essay Contest topic is tied to the theme of our upcoming Annual General Meeting: “Jane Austen in the Arts.” It encompasses a wide variety of arts, including fine arts, performance arts, decorative arts, and crafts.

The deadline for the essay submissions is June 1 st , 2021.

Students and home-schooled students enrolled at the high school level during the contest year, students enrolled in at least six credit hours of course work at a junior college, college, or university during the contest year, and students enrolled during the contest year in at least three credit hours of graduate course work at a college or university leading to an advanced degree are encouraged to apply.

Membership in JASNA is not required to enter the contest.

JASNA awards scholarships to winners in each of the three divisions:

• First Place: $1,000 scholarship and free registration and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s upcoming Annual General Meeting,
• Second Place: $500 scholarship,
• Third Place: $250 scholarship.

Winners and their mentors each receive a one-year JASNA membership. Besides, each winner receives a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

5. The Immerse Education Essay Competition

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. The essay questions are pre-defined according to your age group and preferred subject. You are encouraged to tailor your essay response to reflect your interest in your chosen subject.

The application for the competition will be closed on January 5 th , 2021.

The essay contests are available to students of all nationalities who will be aged 13-18 during the summer of 2021.

First-place winners will be awarded a 100% scholarship to study their chosen subject with Immerse. There will be 10 first place winners across the Immerse Education Competitions. Runners up will be awarded partial scholarships of up to 70% to study their chosen subject with Immerse.

6. Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest

Showcase your ideas on public policy and the role of markets by entering this essay competition. Construct an essay exploring the importance of Joseph Schumpeter’s concept of creative destruction in understanding entrepreneurialism and economic progress in today’s world. You may choose to analyze a particular industry or business (during any time-period) as a case study to bolster your essay.

The essay submission for the contest will be closed on June 1 st , 2021.

This essay contest is open to high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate students.

$9,000 in cash prizes will be awarded $3,000 of this designated just for high school students. Winning essays may be published in Fraser Institute journals and authors will have the opportunity to experience the peer-review process.

7. Optimist International Essay Contests

This essay contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country, or a more historical perspective.

In addition to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship. The topic for the academic year of 2020-2021 is “Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”. All essay contests are held by early February.

Youth under the age of 19 as of October 1 st , 2020 (and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution) in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean are eligible for entry. There is no minimum age.

Winners have the opportunity to receive scholarships of up to $2,500.

8. 2021 We the Students Essay Contest

We the Students Essay Contest expects the participants to explore the relationship between equality and justice in an essay with 500 to 800 words. Applicants are encouraged to bring emotion, creativity, specific examples, and well-researched facts into what they write. The deadline for entry is April 15 th , 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Armed Forces schools abroad, and students in United States territories are eligible to participate in the contest. In addition to going to school in a contested state, you must be in grades 8-12 and between the ages of 14-19.

A total of $7,500 will be awarded to the first winner. The second winner and honorable mentions will receive $1,500 and $500, respectively.

9. Student Essay Contest Sponsored by AWM and Math for America

To increase awareness of women’s ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and Math for America co-sponsor an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers.

The essays will be based primarily on an interview with a woman currently working in a mathematical sciences career. Essay submissions are open from December 1 st to February 1 st .

Participation is open to middle school, high school, and undergraduate students.

The winners (including honorable mentions) receive a monetary prize, a membership in the AWM, a certificate, and their name and affiliation published in the Newsletter for the AWM. Also, all of the essays are published online and the essay of the Grand Prize winner is published in the AWM Newsletter.

10. Civics Education Essay Contest

Every year, in honor of Law Day, NCSC hosts a Civics Education Essay Contest. The goal of the contest is to get students engaged and ponder the importance of civics at home and in the classroom. The contest question is based on the American Bar Association’s annual theme. ABA’s 2021 Law Day theme is “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.”  Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 26 th , 2021.

Students from grades three through twelfth are invited to enter these essay contests.

For the 9th-12th grade winners:

• One (1) First Place: $1,000
• One (1) Second Place: $500
• One (1) Third Place: $250

For the 6th-8th grade winners:

• One (1) First Place: $400
• One (1) Second Place: $200
• One (1) Third Place: $100

For the 3rd-5th grade winners:

• One (1) First Place: $300
• One (1) Second Place: $150

11. St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition

Compete in this Global Essay Competition and be one of the top 100 contributors to qualify for all-expenses covered participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for cross-generational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium. Submissions are due by  February 1 st , 2021, 11:59 p.m. last time zone (UTC-12).

However, if you are not a fan of essay contests, then this no-essay scholarship might interest you: Bold No Essay Community Scholarship: Easy Scholarship to Enter in 2020 .

To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate program (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university and born in 1991 or later.

Win prize money of CHF 20,000 split amongst the three winners.

Concordia Presidential Scholarship in Canada for Undergraduate Students

Scholarship application: the right time to apply for a scholarship.

The PEEF Scholarship: How to Check by PEEF Code

Microsoft Disability Scholarship for International Students

National Merit Scholarship Application And Requirements

Sorry, this content is protected by copyright.

You seem to be using an unsupported browser

To get the best user experience please use a supported browser. Here are a few we recommend:

Free Speech Essay Contest

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

Description

Amount details, eligibility requirements, how to apply, scholarship articles and advice from the peterson's blog.

What You Need To Know About the Upcoming FAFSA Changes

Your Guide to Paying for College

Meet Carly, Peterson’s Graduate Scholarship Winner!

Meet Alexia, one of Peterson’s Scholarship Winners!

7 Culinary Arts Scholarships to Savor

10 Scholarships for Students Studying Environmental Science

11 Scholarships Offered for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students

8 Scholarships for Psychology Majors

• Downloadable Courses

Free Speech in America vs. Other Countries

Drawing from the life and journey of NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom, this mini-lesson highlights the unique protections of the First Amendment in the United States in comparison with restrictions abroad.

Course Content

• Private Events
• member directory

Not a Member?

Our members are champions of free speech. Join today!

join join with

Account Login

login login with

Forgot Password?

Forgot Password

submit Cancel

Update Password

Want to know what is on our minds? Find blog posts written here, by the City Club staff, members, and partners. You'll find takes on current events, past forums, and issues surrounding Northeast Ohio. Read on for all things City Club.

« back to blog list

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

The Hope and Stanley Adelstein Free Speech Essay Contest 2024

Ariana Smith, Educational Engagement Manager, The City Club of Cleveland

Since 2013, The Hope and Stanley Adelstein Free Speech Essay Contest has challenged high school students in Northeast Ohio to examine the role of free speech in the 21st century. The essay contest was established by Hope and Stanley as part of the City Club’s Centennial celebration. The Adelstein's were longtime City Club members, philanthropists, and environmental activists. Stanley joined the City Club in 1941 and remained an active member until his death in 2014. Hope’s hallmark was civic involvement, and she was active in the Cleveland community until her death in 2016.

All high school students in Northeastern Ohio are eligible to apply for scholarship prizes. Each submitted essay should pull from personal experience, current events, history, politics, art, or any other source that can be backed up with evidence. Essays will be judged on their clarity, content, originality, and significance.

2024 Essay Contest Prompt:

In an era of advancing artificial intelligence and digital communication, we have transformed the way we share information. These new technological advancements, especially AI, present complex challenges for freedom of speech.

Discuss the potential impacts of AI and how society can uphold the principles of the First Amendment while navigating this changing technological terrain.

The 2024 Hope and Stanley Adelstein Essay Contest is officially open for submissions!!!

Click here to submit your essay.

Click here to read the eligibility details

Submission Deadline: Friday, February 16th

11/12 Grade -

First Place: $1,000

Second Place: $750

Third Place: $500

Honorable Mention: $250

9/10 Grade-

First Place: $500

Second Place: $250

Third Place: $150

Honorable Mention: $100

For any questions regarding the Essay Contest, please contact Ariana Smith at [email protected]

Please login to post a comment

our community partners view all

meet our sponsors view all

Want to know who is speaking next at the City Club? Sign up here.

Are you a guardian of free speech?

A gift to support our Guardians of Free Speech Campaign will ensure the growth of civil, civic dialogue for generations to come.

Thank you to our donors

See the full list of donors for our Guardians of Free Speech Campaign.

You love free speech. Join the club.

Check out membership benefits and become a member today!

©2024 The City Club of Cleveland

Our New Address

1317 Euclid Avenue, Suite 100 Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Photo Gallery

Research & Learn

Table of contents, essay contest winners.

First Place – $10,000 Scholarship

Sabrina Morera — Doral Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy (Doral, Fla.)

Second Place – $5,000 Scholarship

Jessica Atkins — Mother of Divine Grace School (Ojai, Calif.)

Third Place – (3) $1,000 Scholarships

Zoe Leatherwood — Arlington High School (Arlington, Tenn.)

Benjamin Heim — Lenox Memorial High School (Lenox, Mass.)

Max Abubucker — Towson High School (Towson, Md.)

Runners-Up – (4) $500 Scholarships

Eleanor Israel — Home Life Academy (Jackson, Tenn.)

Nick Odle — Homeschool (Rochester, N.Y.)

Josh Mason — Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, Ga.)

Christopher Danner — Red Lion Area Senior High School (Red Lion, Pa.)

Maxwell Kearney – Westlake High School, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Sami Al-Asady – Ironwood High School, Glendale, Ariz.

Salome Augusto – Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn, Va.

Jenna Smith – Kent Place School, Scotch Plains, N.J.

Margaret Ludwig – Mat-Su Career and Technical High School, Wasilla, Alaska

Olivia Rodgers – Quincy Senior High School, Quincy, Ill.

Deepa Rao – James Madison High School, Vienna, Va.

Lily Cain – Northwestern High School, Poplar, Wis.

Anjana Peddireddi – Centerville High School, Dayton, Ohio

First Place – $10,000 Scholarship Prize

Alyssa Noseworthy – Nathan Hale High School, West Allis, Wis

Second Place – $5,000 Scholarship Prize

Kayla Host – Weatherford High School, Weatherford, Texas

Third Place – (3) $1,000 Scholarship Prizes

Forrest Cooley – Homeschooled, Warrenton, Ore.

Emily Boyett – Du Quoin High School, Du Quoin, Ill.

Simran Bhardwaj – La Cueva High School, Albuquerque, N.M.

Runners-Up – (4) $500 Scholarship Prizes

Beth Wegener – Homeschooled, Cascade, Idaho

Sydney Householder – The Prout School, Saunderstown, R.I.

Katia Sergeeva – Alpharetta High School, Alpharetta, Ga.

Keegan Priest – Buchanan High School, Clovis, Calif.

Jeshelle Hofland – Homeschooled, Lamont, Mich.

Michael Morgan – duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Ky.

Michelle Wei – Desert Vista High School, Phoenix, Ariz.

Evelyn Crowe – Concordia High School, Georgetown, Texas

Elena Olvera – Pioneer High School, Woodland, Calif.

Victoria Ferguson – Fort Davis High School, Fort Davis, Texas

Emma Sawyer – Homeschooled, Yulee, Fla.

Eric Chang – Harnett Central High School, Lillington, N.C.

Ian Olson – The Bush School, Seattle, Wash.

Shelby Tone – Tone Academy (homeschool) – Stoughton, Wis.

Robyn Anzulis – South Carroll High School – Woodbine, Md.

Luke Sorensen – Marana High School – Tucson, Ariz.

Bhargavi Garimella – Leland High School – San Jose, Calif.

Daniel Garcia – Aliso Niguel High School – Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Alison Rubin – Davis Senior High School – Davis, Calif.

Sarah Duncan – McKinney High School – McKinney, Texas

William Zhuang – Blue Valley Northwest High School – Overland Park, Kan.

Kaitlyn Hardwick – Russell County High School – Russell Springs, Ky.

First Place : " America is The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.But…Are its Universities? " by Arianna Samet

Second Place : " Untitled " (PDF) by Anna Mitchell

Third Place : " Untitled " by Emily Snell

Third Place : " Student Censorship and Academic Growth: A Paradox in Higher Education " by Hadi Kateb

Third Place : " Free Speech: An Inextricable Part of Higher Education " by Mahishan Gnanaseharan

First Place:  " **** **** ***** ***** " by Kanitta Kulprathipanja

Second Place:  " The Necessity of Debate " by Isabella Penola

Third Place:  " Free Speech: The Cornerstone of Civic Empowerment " by Justin Hunsaker

Third Place:  "Untitled" by James D.E. Ellwanger

Third Place:  " College and University Censorship of Student Speech Undermines America's Future " by Emily Cox

First Place:   "The Audacity of Independent Thought"  by Mark Gimelstein

Second Place:   "What Can I Say?: Free Speech on College Campuses"  by Nora Faris

Third Place:   "Free Speech's Importance on Campus"  by Alexandra Crum

Third Place:   "Censorship is Not Education"  by Hannah Dent

Third Place:   "Education as Conversation"  by Asheshananda Rambachan

Drawing Winners: Clayton Hammonds, Jr; Minhi Kang; Hannah Rasmussen; and Brian Shouse.

First Place: "Civil Liberties in Academia" by Vincent Kelley

Second Place: "That We May Think What We Like—Or Not At All" by Rachel Anderson

Runner Up: "The Right to a Free Mind" by Matthew Abel

Runner Up: "Freedom of Speech: The Basis for Higher Education" by Katherine Gerton

Runner Up: "Free Speech is Integral to Higher Education" by Blaire Landon

Runner Up: "Freedom of Speech on College Campuses" by Michael Munther

Runner Up: "Keeping the Marketplace of Ideas Open in Schools" by Zachary Trama

First Place: " Freedoms and Education ," by Kristen Kelly Lemaster

Second Place: " Freedom of Expression in Higher Education ," by Mollyanne Gibson

Runner Up: " A Uniform Graduating Class ," by Abigail Averil

Runner Up: " Tolerating Intellectual Free Will ," by Zach Beims

Runner Up: " Oppression of Innovation ," by Miriam Leigh Creach

Runner Up: " Tyranny vs. Progress ," by Adam Spangler

Runner Up: " Wanted: Free Speech on American Campuses ," by Jackson Wilson

First Place: " Educational Institutions or Re-education Camps? " by Nathaniel Cornelius

Second Place (Tie): " In Clear and Present Danger: The State of Personal Liberty in America's Universities ," by Andrew David King

Second Place (Tie): " Losing the Marketplace of Ideas ," by Eric Podolsky

Runner Up: " Higher Education-or Total Indoctrination? " by Rachel Helmstetter

Runner Up: " The Lighting of a Fire, " by Erin Kahn

Runner Up: " Say What We Say...Think What We Think ," by Rachel Ochoa

Runner Up: " The Freedom of All Freedoms, " by Morgan Turner

Runner Up: " On the Consequences of Oppressing Free Speech, " by Danielle Wogulis

• Share this selection on Twitter
• Share this selection via email