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Herzog Foundation Launches 2026 Bill of Rights Essay Contest for Middle and High School Students

The Herzog Foundation is excited to announce the launch of its fifth annual Bill of Rights Essay Contest, inviting middle and high school students enrolled in Christian schools or homeschools to participate. This year, essays will be accepted until Nov. 23, with winners announced on Dec. 15, coinciding with Bill of Rights Day.

“America’s 250th anniversary provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the ideas and freedoms that have shaped our nation,” said Herzog Foundation President Darrell Jones. “By engaging with the Bill of Rights, students gain a deeper appreciation for the liberties we enjoy and the constitutional principles that continue to guide the American experiment.”

In recognition of America’s semiquincentennial and the 235th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, the Herzog Foundation is inviting students to reflect on the document’s significance through the following essay prompt: “What made the Bill of Rights revolutionary and unique at the time of its ratification? As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, why do these rights remain essential and how can today’s citizens preserve them for future generations?”

The contest will recognize one winner in each category: middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Each winner and their school will receive a $300 award from the Herzog Foundation. A select number of runners-up also will receive $150 awards.

“For 235 years, the Bill of Rights has protected fundamental freedoms and helped define what it means to be an American citizen,” Jones said. “We are proud to encourage students to study its history and recognize their role in preserving those freedoms for future generations.”

For more details about the Herzog Foundation’s Bill of Rights Essay Contest, including submission guidelines, please click here. Revisit the inspiring work of our past winners:

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About the Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation

The Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to catalyzing and accelerating the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education so that families and culture flourish.

Learn more at HerzogFoundation.com.