We The Future High School Scholarship

Parent/Guardian must read “Constituting America’s Privacy Policy Guidelines and Notice to Parents,” approve of student entering, “check” parent statement on online form & sign hard copy contest entry form.

High School Students may submit the following: Essay, Song, STEM, Short film, Social Media Video, or PSA. All entries that utilize copyrighted music, film clips, or photos MUST obtain the proper licensing permissions IN ADVANCE of submitting the entry, in order to be considered.

The winner will also be invited to attend the Winner Mentor Trip tentatively scheduled for June 2024 (all costs fully covered).

Submissions due no later than 11:59 p.m. September 17, 2023, through the online portal on this site. See Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions.

• Essay: Recognizing our form of government is a Republic, write a 500-1,000 word essay on how our First Amendment (RAPPS: Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) rights enable the citizens to influence the laws of our country or initiate a constitutional amendment and, in so doing, prevent the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). The essay must be no shorter than 500 words and no longer than 1,000 words, typed or handwritten. Essay entry may be mailed or submitted electronically, but MUST include student’s name, age, and grade on every page of the essay. If mailing, the essay and entry form must be included. *Your essay may also fall under the guidelines and expectations for the American Legion Oratory Competition Essay. See Official Rules Section III for details.
• Song: As citizens under a republican form of government, how do we use the First Amendment (RAPPS: Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) to change the laws of our country or create a constitutional amendment and, in so doing, prevent the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). The song must be an original pop, country, rock, or other popular genre song composition with lyrics and music written by the student, no longer than 3:20. Song submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled) and must include a video recording of the performance or a still photo with audio in the background. The song title must be in the title of the uploaded video and the song lyrics must be in the description of the video. See Official Rules Section III for details.
• STEM: Get a pulse on what your peers know about the Constitution! Conduct a survey or focus group, create an online quiz or website, or design a smartphone app containing information on the U.S. Constitution. Focus groups or surveys must poll twenty or more of your peers; online quizzes and websites must be completed/viewed by at least fifteen people and submission must include a report of results; smartphone apps must be downloaded and tested by fifteen people and submission must include a report of results. Please include two paragraphs as to how you would market your project.
• Short film: How does the Constitution make America and Americans’ way of life unique as compared to other countries?  Must be an original film written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the short film. It must be no shorter than 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes in length. See Official Rules Section III for details.
• Social Media Video (60 second maximum): (1) Please create a 60 second maximum video (Instagram reel, youtube short, etc) that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be no longer than 60 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the Social Media Video. Social Media Video submissions should be uploaded as 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) with the highest resolution possible to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). See Official Rules Section III for details.
• PSA (30 second): Choose one of the two topics to create a 30 second public service announcement: (1) Please create a 30 second commercial that represents how the first amendment rights (Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) can be used as tools to effect change in the country and/or amend the Constitution, thus preventing the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat). OR  (2) Why are civil civic conversations important in our society today? It must be 30 seconds in length, originally written and directed by the student and recorded. Up to two students may collaborate on and submit the PSA. PSA submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (640 x 360 minimum, HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled), “black to black” should be 29.5 for the 30-second PSA. See Official Rules Section III for details.