www.BEINGANAMERICAN.org

2009-2010 Essay Contest Closed!

Thanks to teachers and students around the country, over 50,000 students participated in this year's contest, answering the question, "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?" Now, our team of judges from around the country will begin the process to select our 180 winners. Want to know more about the Contest? Find out here:

■ What are the prizes?
■ Where can I find previous winners' essays?

Winners will be announced in March. Top prize winners will be notified at the beginning of February so that they can join us in Washington, D.C. Thanks again to all of you who participated in this year's contest. We couldn't have been a success without you.

To read the official press release announcing that 50,000 students participated this year, please click here.

Teacher/Contest Login:

Free Classroom Lessons to Use All Year Long!

BeingAnAmerican.org is here throughout the year to get students thinking about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Check out some of the FREE resources we have available all year long to use in the classroom.

Materials For Teachers

If you are a teacher, using Being an American Essay Contest resources in your classroom is easy. Use our lesson plan and activities as a way of talking about civic values, and ask your students to reflect on civic values by writing on the essay topic.

         ■ Essential Civic Values
         ■ Founding Documents
   ■ American Heroes
         ■ Writing Tips

If your students write an exemplary essay that you would like to share with us, please let us know!

Follow The Contest on Twitter!

2008-2009 Prize Winners

Over 30,000 students around the country last fall answered the question, "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?" Top prize winners won a trip to Washington, D.C. where they toured our Nation's Capital and met with members of Congress, Pro Football Hall of Fame Cornerback Darell Green, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and other well-known Americans. A full list of winners with photos and their essays can be found here.

Read about the top prize winners' Awards Program experience and see some pictures of the events!

What Does Being an American Mean?

What does it mean to be an American? We asked citizens of all types - find out what they said by listening to what Juan Williams, NPR and FoxNews journalist; NBA All Star, Antawn Jamison; Country Music Legend, Kenny Rogers; and other Americans think it means.

News & Updates

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