Deadline: July 25, 2025

The ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition is calling young visionaries to share their creative ideas and perspectives. This online essay competition is an excellent opportunity for young leaders to showcase their creativity and critical thinking in addressing pressing societal issues. The writing competition will highlight and reward talented individuals through cash prizes and award recognition. The topic for the summer competition 2025 is “What’s one thing you hope your country accomplishes by the year 2050? What steps need to be taken to realize your vision?”

To make this essay contest more competitive, only one overall first-place winner will be selected from entries in all three categories. The Winning candidate will be given $500 as a cash prize. The winning entry will also be published by ChallengeUS and get featured in biographical articles and receive a Certificate of Achievement. The online contest will select three “Best in Class” honorable mentions, one each from all three categories. Their work will also be published and they will receive a Certificate of Achievement.

All participants will get an opportunity to become part of an international network of young change-makers. As the essay competition is online, candidates are saved from the hassle of traveling to another country. What’s more exciting is that individuals can submit entries in multiple categories to increase their chances of winning. Through this international essay competition, participants will get global recognition for their exceptional work.

Benefits

• There is no registration or entry fees.
• One overall First Place winner will be selected and given a prize of $500.
• The winning entry will be published by ChallengeUS and will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
• Three “Best in Class” honorable mentions (one from each submission category) will be awarded. Their entries will be published by ChallengeUS and will also receive a Certificate of Achievement.
• All participants will become part of a global ChallengeUS Future Leaders Network.

Eligibility

• Applicants can be students living in any country.
• Students should be currently enrolled in high school or undergraduate university.
• Individuals who have taken an academic gap or semester break can also apply.
• Homeschooled students can also apply.
• The submission entries should be in English language.
• Students who have already participated in previous competitions are eligible to participate again except those who won 1st prize in any previous ChallengeUS competitions.
• Students are not allowed to use AI or any other helping tool.
• Plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
• Candidates can apply in multiple categories.

Application

• Click the ‘Submit’ icon available under each category.
• This will open the form of that particular category.
• Read and follow the guidelines and formatting details mentioned.
• Enter your personal and contact information.
• Mention your educational details.
• Write your Submission Title.
• Upload your entry as a PDF file.
• Read the terms and conditions and agree to them.
• Click ‘submit’ to submit your entry.
• Creative Writing Category can include stories, poems, personal narratives, memoirs, or other personal essays.
• The word limit is 1250 words.
• Writing submissions should be in PDF format with font size 11 or 12 pt. and font style Times New Roman or Arial.
• The Analytical Writing Category can include literature reviews, case studies, research papers, argumentative essays, or other academic writings that use citations and sources.
• The word limit is 1250 words.
• Writing submissions should be in PDF format with font size 11 or 12 pt. and font style Times New Roman or Arial.
• The citation style should be MLA, APA, or Chicago.
• Speech Category can include a presentation or any form of verbal speech in a video format.
• Speech duration should be 10 minutes.
• Speech submissions must be in MP4 format.
• Entry should have High audio and video quality.

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