Sen. Sanders seeks student essays for annual contest

November 27, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., meets with Vermont high school students in the Vermont House chamber in March to discuss their essays in the annual State of the Union essay contest. Courtesy photo

In keeping with his tradition, Vermont’s senior U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has issued his annual call for entries in the 15th State of the Union Essay Contest for Vermont high school students. 

While the President of the United States delivers an address to a joint session of Congress to outline priorities for the coming year, Sanders acknowledges that great ideas can come from everyone – not just those in power, according to his announcement.

Sanders holds the annual essay contest to encourage young people to engage in the political process. It provides an opportunity for Vermont high school students to describe a major issue facing our country and to propose what they would do to solve it.

“The purpose of this contest is to get young people to start thinking about the many important issues that we deal with every day,” Sanders said. “All people have the right to express their views and help shape the direction in which our country goes – and that includes young people. I want to see our students be actively engaged, no matter where they stand on the issues.”

The 250-to-500-word essays can be on any issue of national importance. A volunteer panel of Vermont educators judge the entries based on the writers’ ability to articulate the issue and solution, without regard to the students’ political views. Afterward, Sanders invites the finalists to a roundtable discussion at the Vermont State House, and he will enter their essays into the Congressional Record – the official archive of the U.S. Congress.

Over 6,100 students from high schools across Vermont have written essays in the past 14 years about issues such as climate change, racial justice, access to mental health care, immigration reform, disability rights, political polarization, and more. Last year, Leah Frisbie from Essex High School was selected as the winner from 454 submissions for her essay on banning books from school libraries.

The deadline for submissions is Jan. 14. More information is on Sanders’ website or call 1-800-339-9834.