October 22 , 2007

Area High School Students Face Dec. 3 Deadline

in Annual Essay Competition; Students and Teachers

Will Share More Than $60,000 in Prize Money

“With all of the issues that seemingly divide us these days, it’s good to remind ourselves of the core values and …common experiences that unite us.”

Victoria Hughes, President, Bill of Rights Institute, Arlington, VA

Arlington, VA – Area high-school students interested in the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship have an opportunity to add up to $5,000 to their savings accounts. But the deadline for entering the annual “Being an American” essay contest is rapidly approaching, officials of the Arlington, VA-based Bill of Rights Institute reminded them.

Nationally, cash prizes totaling more than $60,000 will be awarded to students and sponsoring teachers. The teachers can submit essays online at www.BeingAnAmerican.org. Entries must be submitted by December 3.

The essay contest, sponsored by the nonprofit Bill of Rights Institute and supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, is open to high-school students in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Winning essays will be announced next spring and will earn winning students and teachers in each of three regions cash prizes of up to $5,000 each.

“This contest provides a tremendous opportunity for students to reflect upon American citizenship,” said Bill of Rights Institute President Victoria Hughes. “It provides an equally tremendous opportunity, we believe, for social studies, government, history, civics and other teachers to incorporate this material into their coursework.

“With all of the issues that seemingly divide us these days, it’s good to remind ourselves of the core values and the common experiences that unite us,” she added.

The contest asks participating students to answer the following question: “What civic value(s) do you believe are most essential to being an American, and how can you personally put those values into practice?” To encourage teachers to integrate the contest into their classroom work, the Bill of Rights Institute has created a lesson plan and supplemental materials on the contest topic, constructed a web site so teachers can submit student essays for consideration, and included equal cash prizes for teachers as well as students.

More details on the “Being an American” essay contest, including contest rules, submission details, lesson plans and background information on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Founding Fathers and other Americans who have contributed to America’s shared civic values are available at www.BeingAnAmerican.org.

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