Open
$1,000–$2,000
3 Award Winners
Application Open Date
2/1/2024
Application Deadline
5/31/2024
Eligible Grades
High School Freshman – High School Senior

Fourth Circuit Essay Contest

Funded by
United States Court Of Appeals For The Fourth Circuit
Open
$1,000–$2,000
3 Award Winners
Scholarship Open Date
2/1/2024
Scholarship Close Date
5/31/2024
Eligible Grades
High School Freshman – High School Senior

The Fourth Circuit Essay Contest is an essay writing competition organized by the United States Court Of Appeals For The Fourth Circuit. This is the court that governs the states of Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The actual court is located in Richmond, Virginia.

The contest offers three awards of $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000 to the first, second, and third position winners of the contest.

Applicants are evaluated on their essay content. Only students who are currently high school students, 9th to 12th grade, may enter.

Scholarship Summary

The Fourth Circuit Essay Contest is an essay writing competition organized by the United States Court Of Appeals For The Fourth Circuit. This is the court that governs the states of Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The actual court is located in Richmond, Virginia.

The contest offers three awards of $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000 to the first, second, and third position winners of the contest.

Applicants are evaluated on their essay content. Only students who are currently high school students, 9th to 12th grade, may enter.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Eligible Grade: High School Freshman – High School Senior
  • Maximum Age: Any
  • Required GPA: Any
  • Geographic Eligibility: Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
  • Gender: Any
  • Race/Ethnicity: Any

Key Information of Fourth Circuit Essay Contest

Study Details

Area of Study

Health Care

Country of Study

United States

Specific Schools

Any

Application Requirements

Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.

  • Essay

Fourth Circuit Essay Contest Timeline

February 1, 2024

Application Open Date

Application opens for submission of entries.

May 31, 2024

Submission Deadline

Entries will no longer be accepted from this date.

August 2024

Award Announcement Date}

Scholarship winners will be announced within the month.

How to ace the Fourth Circuit Essay Contest

1

Do not exceed the word limit

The essay has a strictly enforced word limit of 1,000 words. Ensure to stick to that, as exceeding this limit will result in disqualification.

2

Do detailed research on the constitutional principles

Stand out from the crowd by making enough findings on the constitutional principles and communicating this knowledge properly in your essay.

3

Be original in your essay, don’t plagiarize

After making enough research, create your original content while avoiding any form of plagiarism. Citations can be included as footnotes and endnotes but should not be considered in your word count.

4

Ensure clarity and effectiveness in your expression

Make sure you are not lost in thought when communicating the central theme of the essay. Go straight to the point, and use clear and effective expressions to capture the attention of the judges.

How the Fourth Circuit Essay Contest is Judged

Essays will be judged for the understanding of constitutional principles, clarity, and effectiveness in expressing the theme as well as grammar, spelling, and composition in the submitted essay.

Why We Love the Fourth Circuit Essay Contest

1

Engages student in issues of national interest

The competition has created a platform for students to input their ideas on serious issues of national concern. This helps young students to make constructive criticism in improving national policies.

2

Encourages students to educate themselves

The essay contest encourages students to research an issue they may not have previously known about.

3

It presents a chance to make impact

Students can make meaningful contributions to change the perception of how people see things in national discussion through their essays.

5 Facts About the Fourth Circuit Essay Contest

01.

The court is a regional appellate court

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit happens to be one of the twelve regional appellate courts within the federal judicial system.

02.

Court takes care of nine federal districts

The court hears appeals from the nine federal district courts in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina and federal administrative agencies.

03.

The contest is open to only high schoolers

The essay contest is open to all students currently in grades 9 to 12 from Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

04.

Certain people are exempted from application

Prior award winners, as well as children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and members of the household of a federal judge or federal judiciary employee, are excluded from the competition.

05.

A new prompt and topic each year

Every year, a new essay prompt on a specific topic is provided when applications open.