Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest
Direct application
$2,500
8 winners
Eligibility
Education level
High school
About this scholarship
High school students residing in North America, Hawaii, or at a U.S. military address may enter this annual essay contest. Students may submit directly or through a teacher or parent.
Multiple winners are selected from essay submissions on economics, civics, free markets, liberty, and related topics. Top prizes include awards up to $2,500.
Apply through the Stossel in the Classroom website by the March deadline. Each contest cycle offers different essay topics designed to encourage critical thinking about contemporary issues.
Essay questions
What else to submit
- One original essay responding to one contest prompt
- Choose ONE of the four essay prompts/topics to write on
- Essays must be 500-1,000 words (entries below 500 or above 1,000 words are disqualified; a Works Cited page/bibliography does not count toward the word limit)
- Eligibility: students in grades 5-8 (Middle School division) or grades 9-12 (High School division) with a U.S., Canadian, or military mailing address
- Essays must be the student's own original work; plagiarism or AI-generated content is disqualified
- Deadline: March 13, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET
- Finalists must participate in brief remote interviews during May 17-23
- Students must be in grades 5-8 or grades 9-12.
- Essay must be 500-1,000 words.
- Essay must be the student's own original work; plagiarism or AI-generated content is disqualifying.
- Students may submit directly or through a teacher or parent.
- Finalists must participate in a brief remote interview.