AFSA National High School Essay Contest

An annual essay contest that asks high schoolers to write as a US Foreign Service Officer addressing a real foreign-policy challenge. The 2025-26 theme is 'The Fragile Front Line: U.S. Diplomacy and the Future of Soft Power,' asking students to argue whether the US can sustain global leadership after cuts to tools like USAID and Voice of America. The winner receives $2,500, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. with a parent, and a fully-funded Semester at Sea voyage; the runner-up receives $1,250 and a scholarship to NSLC's International Diplomacy program. Essays run 1,000-1,500 words with MLA-style sourcing.

Eligibility

Fields of studyPolitical Science · International Relations

DemographicsOpen to students in grades 9-12 attending school in the 50 states, DC, or US territories, or US citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas. Previous first-place winners and immediate relatives of AFSA/NLSC/Semester at Sea leadership are ineligible.

Applying

Winner: $2,500 cash plus an all-expenses-paid trip to DC and a Semester at Sea voyage. Runner-up: $1,250 plus a scholarship to NSLC's International Diplomacy Program (summer session).