Student Diplomat Essay Competition

NAFSA: Association of International Educators and Abroad View, the global education magazine for students, are hosting an essay contest for your chance to become the next Student Diplomat.  You are invited to submit a compelling story that articulates how your undergraduate international experience(s) has helped meet the United States’ need to understand global situations and compete in the global arena. Please address one of the questions below in your essay. 

Essay Questions

Entrants are required to address one of the following questions:

1. Shaping Your Identity
   How has your study abroad experience informed the way you view yourself as an American and as a global citizen?
2. Foreign Policy
   Based on your experience overseas, how do you think study abroad promotes mutual understanding with other countries and cultures to advance U.S. foreign policy?
   
3. Countering Anti-Americanism Abroad
   How did your experiences and interactions studying abroad further cross-cultural understanding between your host country and the United States, or perhaps correct a misperception within your host country about the United States and/ or Americans?

Deadline

The Student Diplomat Essay Competition is now closed. The deadline to submit an essay for consideration was November 14, 2008.

Terms

All submissions will be considered for publication by Abroad View and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The essays will become the property of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and Abroad View magazine for the purpose of exclusive copyright in the education industry.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $150 and an STA Travel voucher worth $300.

Eligibility

The Student Diplomat Essay Competition is open to all U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who have had an undergraduate study abroad experience, whether they are currently enrolled through an accredited college or university or have studied abroad since spring of 2004.

Guidelines

Essays should be a minimum of 1,000 words and no more than 1,500 words.

All essays must include the following to be considered:

• full name;
• complete contact information including e-mail address;
• home school; and
• date and location of study abroad experience
  

Please E-mail your essay to studentdiplomat[at]nafsa.org.

For questions and further information, please E-mail studentdiplomat[at]nafsa.org.