The United States Institute of Peace provides a number of scholarships at the state and national level in its annual essay contest. Fifty state winners receive $1,000 scholarships and a paid five-day trip to Washington, D.C., for the award ceremony. National winners receive $10,000 for first prize, $5,000 for second prize and $2,500 for third prize (awards for winning the state award are included in these totals).
United States Institute of Peace
1200 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 457-1700
usip.org/ed/npec/index.html
The Holland and Knight Charitable Foundation offers more than just an opportunity to earn money for college under the auspices of the Holocaust Remembrance Project. The winning essay also receives a free trip to Washington, D.C. There, the student will see the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and places of historic importance. First-prize essayists are awarded $5,000 for college, and second- and third-place essays win cash prizes of $500 and $250, respectively.
Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation Inc.
P.O. Box 2877
Tampa, FL 33601-2877
(813) 227-8500
holocaust.hklaw.com
Any high school student whose parents are not currently working in foreign service are eligible for the American Foreign Service Association's annual high school essay contest. There is only one winner in this contest. The prize is a $2,500 college scholarship, a $500 endowment for the winner's school and a free trip for the winner and her parents to Washington, D.C.
American Foreign Service Association
2101 E St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
mirror.afsa.org/essaycontest/
Vegetarian high school seniors who have supported vegetarianism in their community are eligible for the Vegetarian Resource Group's $5,000 annual scholarship. Winners are selected on the basis of an essay that details the ways in which they have promoted a vegetarian lifestyle. There are two winners of this contest, both of whom receive $5,000 each.
The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
(410) 366-8343
vrg.org/student/scholar.htm
The Veterans of Foreign Wars offers more than $3 million in scholarships to high school students annually through its Voice of Democracy Essay Contest. The top prize is a $30,000 scholarship, while secondary prizes fall between $1,000 and $16,000. All first-prize winners (there are several because different departments decide who gets various scholarships) get a five-day trip to Washington, D.C. Interested students may contact their local or state VFW for more information.