American Foreign Service Association Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by American Foreign Service Association

Introduction

For 250 years the United States has combined military strength and persuasive influence to lead abroad. Central to that effort is the U.S. Foreign Service — the professional diplomatic corps that implements U.S. foreign policy and protects American interests overseas. From brokering peace and de-escalating crises to cultivating long-term partnerships, the Foreign Service is the frontline of American diplomacy.

Soft power — the ability to attract and persuade without coercion — is a major component of that influence. It includes cultural exports (music, film, literature), educational and professional exchange programs, independent fact-based journalism, and international development and humanitarian assistance. These instruments help the U.S. build trust and sustain relationships around the world.

In 2025, U.S. soft-power capacity suffered a dramatic contraction: the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was dismantled; the U.S. Agency for Global Media (home to Voice of America) was effectively shuttered; most exchange programs, including Fulbright, were suspended; and the Foreign Service experienced a roughly 25% reduction in staffing. Given these changes, can the United States continue to exercise global leadership?

Essay Prompt

Write a 1,000–1,500 word essay arguing for one of two positions:
- Explain how the United States can preserve global leadership without the aid of the dismantled institutions and reduced Foreign Service, or
- Argue that U.S. leadership cannot be sustained under these conditions and explain why.

In either case, emphasize the practical implications for the U.S. Foreign Service operating with fewer personnel and diminished tools. If you argue leadership can be maintained, include concrete, realistic steps diplomats could take to meet U.S. objectives. If you argue it cannot, identify specific capability shortfalls, increased risks, and likely costs.

Eligibility

This contest is open only to high school students in grades 9–12 who meet all of the following:
- Attend school in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident enrolled in a high school overseas.
- Attend a public, private, or parochial school, or are homeschooled.
- Are NOT the child of a parent who is currently in the Foreign Service.
- Previous first-place winners and immediate family members of AFSA, Semester at Sea, or National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) directors or staff are ineligible. Past honorable mentions and runner-ups remain eligible.

Word Count

- Essays must be between 1,000 and 1,500 words. (The bibliography/sources list is not included in the word count.)
- Submissions outside this range will be disqualified.
- Include the exact word count on your submission.

Deadline

- All entries must be received by March 1 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Formatting and Style Requirements

- Type your essay, double-spaced, in 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides.
- Use the latest edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers for citation and formatting, and include a works cited/bibliography.
- Properly cite sources in-text and format your works cited page according to MLA rules.
- Follow MLA guidelines for margins and indentation.
- Use a range of source types (academic journals, magazines, newspapers, books, government documents, and publications by research organizations). At least three sources must be primary materials (documents, speeches, or other materials produced at the time under study).
- You must cite The Foreign Service Journal’s 40th anniversary edition at least once.
- General encyclopedias such as Wikipedia are not acceptable sources; use of such sources will result in disqualification.
- Do not rely solely on websites; if you use online sources, cite them properly.

Submission Instructions

- Complete the online registration form in full. All fields are required.
- Upload a Microsoft Word file (.doc or .docx) of your original essay with a title, and include a complete list of sources consulted. Be sure to put the essay’s word count in the submission.
- The registration form must include the name of a teacher or sponsor. That person may review the essay and serve as the primary contact between the student and AFSA. Having a coordinator review your entry is recommended to ensure completeness and correctness.
- Do not put your last name or your school’s name anywhere on the essay pages. Personal and school identifying information should appear only on the registration form.
- Once submitted, essays become the property of the American Foreign Service Association and will not be returned.

Video Requirement (to discourage AI-generated entries)

- In addition to your written essay, submit a short on-camera video (30 seconds to 1 minute).
- At the start of the video state your full name. The video must also answer:
- Why this topic interested you.
- Why you entered the contest.
- A brief summary of your essay and what you learned from writing it.
- Upload your video to YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, or Google Drive and provide a viewable URL. The video must not be set to Private (YouTube “Unlisted” is acceptable).
- Entries without a compliant video will be disqualified.

Judging Criteria

- Essays are judged on analytical depth, quality and breadth of research, and clarity of writing (style and mechanics).
- To score well, fully address every element of the prompt and demonstrate a solid understanding of the U.S. Foreign Service and the consequences of reduced soft-power tools.
- All qualifying essays will undergo multiple rounds of blind judging (judges will not know authors’ identities).
- Decisions by the judges are final.

Prizes

- Winner: $2,500; a trip to Washington, D.C. (airfare and hotel) for the student, one parent, and the student’s teacher to meet with diplomatic officials at the U.S. Department of State; and a fully funded Semester at Sea educational voyage.
- Runner-up: $1,250 and a full scholarship to the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program (summer session).

Final Note

Carefully follow every instruction. Submissions that fail to meet eligibility, formatting, citation, word-count, video, or deadline requirements will be disqualified. Good luck.