Washington – Forty-eight American high school students have been named winners of the 19th annual National Peace Essay Contest, sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, DC. Each student will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and compete for the 2006 national first prize, a $10,000 college scholarship. Approximately 4,000 students from across the United States, including U.S. territories and American high school students studying overseas, wrote essays for this year’s contest.

Students conducted research and wrote on the complex issue of "Controlling the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons." They were asked to compare two cases—one successful and one not—in which the international community attempted to control nuclear weapons proliferation and analyze what contributed to the attempt’s success or failure. The students then recommend actions that the international community can take to strengthen future efforts.

The state-level winners have been invited to a special program in Washington, DC, June 18-23. Students will meet with senior U.S. government and foreign embassy officials, members of Congress, and other experts involved in the making of American foreign policy. They will also assume the roles of diplomats, government officials, and members of the international community in a special three-day problem solving simulation focusing on issues the international community faces in dealing with the modern challenges of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

At week’s end, the national first-, second-, and third-place winners will be announced, and college scholarships of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 will be awarded at a banquet on June 22. Dr. Joyce Neu, who worked with former President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center in Atlanta and is currently director of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego, will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.

For nineteen years, the National Peace Essay Contest has promoted civic education on international peace and conflict resolution. "This contest challenges students to consider some of the most pressing issues confronting international peace and our country’s security," said Institute President Richard H. Solomon. "This year’s topic of nuclear proliferation could not be more timely—and it is also a challenge that the international community will confront for decades to come. The lessons these students take away from the researching and writing on the essay topic and from the upcoming awards week will endure."

You can follow the other winners on their unique learning adventure in Washington by visiting USIP's National Peace Essay Contest Web Site.