The National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Líderes Initiative is a national program designed to create opportunities for Latino youth that will elevate their influence as leaders in the United States.

National Essay Contest Scholarships

There are many other essay contest scholarship opportunities.
Please check deadlines for each contest.
$1,000 Second Amendment to the Constitution Essay Content - This essay contest celebrates the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The theme for the essay is “The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation.” First prizes are $1,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds; second prizes, $600 in Savings Bonds; third prizes $200 in Savings Bonds; and honorable mention, $100 in Savings Bonds.” Deadline: Dec. 1, 2010 http://www.nradefensefund.org/writingcontest.aspx  

$2500 Sir John M. Templeton Fellowships Essay Contest.  The Sir John M. Templeton Fellowships Essay Contest for junior faculty and students in higher education is held every year. The 2010 Templeton Fellowships will be awarded for the best essay on the topic. Deadline: May 3, 2010 http://www.independent.org/students/essay/

$25,000 Voice of Democracy National Competition. “the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. Deadline: Nov. 1, 2010 http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=150

Ayn Rand Essay Contest.  Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novels Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged  For 9th through 12th Graders. 569 Prizes. Deadline: March 20, April 26, May 14, September 17, 2010. http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_contests_index

$1,000 Swackhammer Disarmament Video Contest. Contestants will submit short (2-3 minute) videos on the importance of US leadership for a nuclear weapons-free world. Deadline: April 1, 2010.  http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/programs/awards-&-contests/video-contest/2010/index.htm

$5,000 Holocaust Remembrance Project. “First Place winners will participate in an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and other historic sites. In addition, scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded to the first-place national winners.” Deadline: April 2, 2010 http://holocaust.hklaw.com/

$1,000 Olive W. Garvey Fellowships. “Since 1974, the internationally acclaimed Olive W. Garvey Fellowship program has awarded fellowships biennially to outstanding college students around the world through a competitive essay contest on the meaning and significance of economic and personal liberty. Deadline: May 3, 2010 http://www.independent.org/students/essay/

$2,500 AFSA High School Essay Contest. “Analyze and explain how the members of the Foreign Service promote United States national interests by participating in the resolution of today's major international problems.” Deadline: April 15, 2010  http://www.afsa.org/essaycontest/

$5,000 All-Ink Scholarships – “All-Ink.com is offering up to $5,000 in scholarships to qualified students who are enrolled or planning to participate in an accredited college or university program.” 12/31/08
$1,000 Gaia Community Autumn Scholarship – “Gaia Community provides an oasis for those of us committed to waking up, listening to our deepest calling, and living the lives we were meant to live—while empowering and inspiring others to do the same.” 12/31/08
$500 CareerFitter.com Scholarship – “Scholarships to qualified students who are enrolled or planning to participate in a college, university or graduate school program during the spring/summer/fall term. Students who apply must be a United States citizen or permanent resident with a minimum 2.5 Grade Point Average.” Various Deadlines
$3,000 BBG Systems Scholarship – “The winner will receive an award of $3,000. Award recipients may use their funds only to cover tuition, institutional fees, and books at a two- or four year college or university.”

$20,000 SEVEN Fund Student Essay Competition – “The competition will award one (1) undergraduate student prize of $10,000 and one (1) graduate student prize of $20,000.” 12/7/08
$5,000 Kaplan “My Turn” Essay Contest"The 2006-2007 Kaplan/Newsweek "My Turn" Essay Competition will award ten winners with college scholarships of up to $5,000. What do you need to do? Submit a 500- to 1,000-word personal essay on a topic of your choice."
$2,000 TextbookX.com Spring Scholarship"In responding to this question, you must make reference to one book that has had a significant influence on your thoughts concerning this topic. In addition to the guidelines set forth above, we will be looking for well-crafted essays that use correct spelling and good grammar."

$5,000 Elie Weisel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. “An annual competition that is designed to challenge college students to analyze the urgent ethical issues confronting them in today's complex world. Students are encouraged to write thought-provoking, personal essays.”
$1,000 The College Prowler Wachovia Monthly Scholarship"Submit Your College Application Essay and Win $1,000. A New Winner Chosen Every Month! College Prowler and Wachovia are prowling around for the best college application essays in the nation."

$1,000 Lincoln Forum Essay Contest.“The contest is open to anyone, regardless of age or citizenship status, who is enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in an American college or university between .”
 
$1,000 - $10,000 National Peace Essay Contest. “First-place state winners receive college scholarships of $1,000 and also compete for national awards of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 for first, second, and third place respectively (national awards include state award amounts).” Deadline: February 1, 2010 http://www.usip.org/programs/initiatives/national-peace-essay-contest
 
$7,500 Knight Essay Contest. “The topic of the essay shall deal with: an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. Students must source at least five (5) references with the minimum of 3 being printed references.” Deadline: December 31, 2009http://www.sar.org/Youth/Knight_Essay
 
$1,500 Dupont Science Essay Competition.“Our two First Place DuPont Challenge essay winners receive not only a $1,500 educational grant, but also an all-expense-paid trip (with a parent and sponsoring teachers) to Space Center Houston and the adjacent NASA facilities.” Deadline: January 31, 2010http://thechallenge.dupont.com/index.html
$1,500 DeMolay Essay Competition.“Each year, the Kach Essay Competition awards $300 to each Region winner (two winners from each of DeMolay's eight regions) and $1,200 to each of the two national winners. For the two national winners, that's $1,500 each!”

$1,000 Humanist Essay Contest.“First, Second, and Third place prizes will be awarded in two age categories: thirteen through seventeen and eighteen through twenty-four (ages determined as of the entry deadline of December 1 of each contest year. First Prize: $1,000 Second Prize: $400 Third Prize: $100”

$500 and Prizes, College Prowler Essay Contest. “Have you written an essay for any of your college applications? If so, send it to us and you could win a scholarship along with free College Prowler guidebooks to help you make sure you're enrolling in the school that's right for you. Essays should be no longer than 1,000 words.”

$1,500 James Joyce Essay Contest. “Entries will be reviewed by a panel of four judges: Robert DiYanni, Chairman of The Modern Word Literary Advisory Board; Bob Joyce, head of the James Joyce Centre in Dublin; Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, former New York Times book critic.”

$5,000 Newsweek Education Program Scholarship. “To enter, each student must complete the official entry form (or a photocopy) and submit it with two copies of an original essay (500–1,000 words) on a topic of the student’s choice that shares an opinion, experience or personal feeling.”
$1,000 ScholarshipExperts.com Scholarship – “U.S. students, ages 13 years and older, who are planning to attend (or are attending) a postsecondary institution. Applications and a brief, creative essay (250 words or less) addressing the current topic must be submitted online.” Various Deadlines