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High school students may enter the Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation essay contest, with separate competitions for U.S. students and international students. Each contest awards first, second, and third prizes of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,250.
Submit a research-supported essay in English of up to 2,500 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography) answering the annual human rights question, along with a signed cover page including teacher attestation and a no-generative-AI statement. Essays are due by December 10.
KHREF was founded to motivate students to find rules and enforcement mechanisms that protect human rights. The contest honors Richard Kemper, killed in France during World War II, whose parents later dedicated land by his high school to those who fought for human rights.
The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation Essay Contest awards $5,000.
December 10, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline are typically not considered, so plan to finish early.
Key requirements include: United States; High school. Check the full eligibility section above, or create a free Award Scholar profile to have every requirement checked against your profile automatically.
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