National Sojourners Essay Contest

National Sojourners, Inc

This essay contest is for students currently in 9th through 12th grades (including homeschooled students). To enter, applicants must submit an essay of 300 to 500 words in length answering a given question about the Star-Spangled Banner. Prizes are awarded in the form of savings bonds.

Award: $500-$2000

Deadline: Jan. 15, 2015

More info: http://tinyurl.com/q4fpvt4

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

This essay contest is for students registered as full-time undergraduate juniors or seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States during the Fall 2014 semester. To enter, applicants must submit an original, unpublished essay of 3,000 to 4,000 words. Applicants may respond to the following suggested essay topic: "Articulate with clarity an ethical issue that you have encountered and analyze what it has taught you about ethics and yourself." The topic is only a suggestion; applicants may write about any topic they wish, as long as it explores the theme of ethics. International and non-US citizens are eligible as long as they fulfill all the other requirements.

Award: $500 - $5,000

Deadline: Dec. 8, 2014

More info: http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/contest2015.aspx

Ayn Rand "The Fountainhead" Essay Contest

This essay contest is for 11th and 12th graders worldwide. To apply, applicants must submit an essay for the book "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand on one of the topics listed on the website. Essays will be judged on whether they are clearly written, articulate, and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of "The Fountainhead." This contest has no citizenship requirements.

Award: $50-$10,000

Deadline: April 26, 2014

More info: http://essaycontest.aynrandnovels.com/TheFountainhead.aspx?theme=blue

ASHG DNA Day Essay Contest

This essay contest is for students in grades 9 through 12. The contest aims to challenge students to examine, question, and reflect on the important concepts of genetics. To apply, applicants must submit an essay that addresses a question related to the discoveries in genetics that have occurred in the 60 years since Watson and Crick published their model of the DNA double helix. See website for more details about this contest.

Award:  $100 - $1,000

Deadline: March 14, 2014

More info: http://www.ashg.org/education/dnaday.shtml#.Uw_x4c4XeqE

National Peace Essay Contest for High School Students

This essay contest is for high school students in the fifty states, Washington DC, and the US territories, and for American students abroad. Students attending high school in the United States are eligible regardless of citizenship; however, students who are attending high school in a country outside the United States must be US citizens. To apply, applicants must write an essay related to the topic of "Security Sector Reform, Political Transition, and Sustainable Peace." The top prize(s) includes a college scholarship and a trip to Washington, DC, to participate in a prestigious education program.  

Award: $1000-$10,000  

Deadline: Feb. 3, 2014

More info: http://www.usip.org/category/course-type/national-peace-essay-contest

Dream Deferred Essay Contest

This is an essay contest is for individuals 25 years of age or younger who reside in Arab League member states, Iran, Afghanistan, or the United States. Middle Easterners and Americans currently living outside their country of citizenship may also enter the contest. To apply, applicants must submit an essay on one of several given questions on civil rights in the Middle East. Essays must be between 600 and 1500 words.

$2,000 for 1 grand prize winner each in Mideast & U.S.
$1,500 for 1 second place winner in each region
$500 for 3 runners-up in each region
50 book prizes for additional outstanding essays.

Deadline: December 31, 2013

More info: http://www.hamsaweb.org/essay/