2008 Young Diplomat's Essay Contest

The Foreign Service Youth Foundation is sponsoring the Worldwide Young Diplomat's Essay Contest, open to eligible high school and middle school youth. The first place high school winner receives $1000 cash and the second place high school winner receives $500 cash. The first place middle school winner receives $250 cash. Diplomatic Automobile Sales is providing the proceeds for the winners. Winners also will be invited to the annual youth award ceremony held in the summer.

The 2008 high school essay should be 750 to 1000 words. The topic is: Analyze and explain what you think will be the challenges facing the American Foreign Service in the 21st Century.

In writing your essay, use the following as your guidelines:

A. Select one or more specific current international issues that you think will be major challenges to the American Foreign Service in carrying out a successful foreign policy in the new century and explain why you have chosen these issues.

B. Describe and analyze the role of members of the United States Foreign Service in conducting diplomacy to resolve one or more of these particular issues and discuss the immediate consequences.

C. Keep in mind the United States national interests include: national security, protection of American citizens, human rights, democratization, free market economics, countering terrorism, free trade, and sustainable economic development.

The middle school essay should be 500 to 750 words and answer: If you were an American diplomat, what current international issue would you feel compelled to address; what do you think should be done and why?

Eligibility rules for essay contest:

A. For the high school contest: All high school students whose parents were or are US government employees that have served or are serving at an American diplomatic mission for at least one year may participate. Eligible students must be in grades nine through twelve attending a public, private, parochial school, home school or a high school correspondence program.

B. For the middle school contest: All middle school students whose parents were or are US government employees who have served or are serving at an American diplomatic mission for at least one year may participate. Eligible students must be in grades six through eight, attending a public, private, parochial school, home school or a correspondence program.

C. Students whose parents are judges, members of the Board of Directors of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation, or employees of the Diplomatic Automobile Sales are not eligible to participate.

Contest procedures:

A. Submit your original essay in English on the designated topic;

B. Review contest rules on line and submit a completed signed registration form available at http://www.fsyf.org/award/essayContests.html or request the form from fsyf@fsyf.org.

C. All submissions must include a word count, excluding the list of sources and the registration form;

D. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman or an equivalent font with a one-inch margin on all sides of the page;

E. You must staple and attach the registration form to your completed essay. Remember to include your page numbered essay, with a title and sources;

F. You must include your name, mailing address and phone number, and an e-mail address;

G. Your essay will be disqualified if it does not meet the requirements or is emailed or postmarked after April 15, 2008. If mailed, it must be received by May 1, 2008.

Send contest essays attached to a copy of your registration form to the following address:

Diplomat's Essay Contest
Melanie Newhouse
Foreign Service Youth Foundation
17707 Caddy Drive
Derwood, MD 20855

Or email your contest essay and a copy of the registration form to fsyf@fsyf.org.

8. Contest deadline: Submissions must be postmarked by April 15, 2008. Contest winners will be announced by June 30. Your essay will become the property of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation once it is submitted, and will not be returned.

Questions regarding the contest rules or guidelines can be directed to Melanie Newhouse at fsyf@fsyf.org or 301-404-6655.