Undergraduate Essay Competition
The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership is pleased to announce its second annual undergraduate essay competition. Each year, students will be invited to submit essays on a timely question related to foundational freedoms, responsibilities, or governance in a constitutional republic like the United States of America.
For 2026, we invite responses to the question:
Should U.S. citizens be required to pass the citizenship test before they can vote?
Winners:
- First Place: $2,500
- Second Place: $1,500
- Third Place: $1,000
Competition Rules
1. Maximum length: 1000 words
2. Must be the student's own work
3. AI-generated papers not permitted
4. Open to ASU undergraduates only
5. Submit in MS Word format
Please upload your essay no later than 11:59pm, April 12, 2026.
*Submissions open January 2026*