2011-2012 Awards Week in D.C.

June 17-22, 2012

Review the full agenda

This year, 1,100 students submitted entries to the National Peace Essay Contest while thousands more participated in related writing and other classroom exercises in high schools around the country.

Over the years, more than 1,400 state winners have participated in the Washington Awards Program. Many of these students have gone on to study foreign policy issues in college or have pursued careers in international affairs.

This year, the U.S. Institute of Peace's National Peace Essay Contest staff are organizing an exciting program for the state winners during their week in Washington. Activities will include:

• A challenging three-day simulation
• Meetings with knowledgeable speakers such as distinguished foreign policy scholars, practitioners, public officials in Congress, and foreign diplomats
• Visits to historic national memorials and museums
• An awards ceremony to honor state winners and to announce national winners.

Awards Program Photos

• Days 1-4
• Capitol Hill and Awards Ceremony

Contest Resources

We're going green! To protect the environment and to reduce costs, USIP is discontinuing the production of printed Essay Contest materials. Please access our contest resources below.

• Download the Guidebook (contains the essay question, requirements, and directions)
• Download the Study Guide (for students and instructors)

Questions?

• Contact essaycontest@usip.org