CBC Spouses Essay Contest

The essay contest provides academically talented and highly-motivated high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to address a topic that embodies some of our communities’ most pressing issues and are asked to write an essay to defend their research, analyses and opinion. Submissions are judged by a special committee of CBC Spouses.

Winners will participate in a panel discussion on the topic during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference (CBCF-ALC) in September.

Eligibility
• Essay contest is open to high school juniors and seniors (grades 11 and 12) at time of submission of essay.
• Essay contestants must reside in a district represented by a Congressional Black Caucus Member.
• Be a U.S. citizen/legal permanent resident.
• Contestants should identify as Black or African-American

General Rules
• All essays must be submitted online.
• The document must be saved in PDF format prior to uploading.
• Contestants must compose an original essay with limited guidance from adults and teachers.
• The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will have the right to publish, in full or in part, or otherwise duplicate any essay entered in the contest, along with the author’s name, without payment to the author.
• All entries must be received by March 29, 2025, 11:59 pm EST.

Essay Guidelines
• All essays must be submitted online.
• Essays should be original compositions; no less than 750 words, and no more than 1000 words with evidence that supports their findings.
• Essays will be judged on overall content, quality, universality, style and grammar and alignment with contest theme.