The Carson City School District’s Board of Trustees is pleased to sponsor the 24th Annual Great American Essay Contest. Completed essays are due to the Carson City School District at 1402 West King Street no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The annual contest began in 2002 to honor the memory and events of September 11, 2001. A fund has been established by the Carson City Board of Trustees, which will celebrate and give a cash award for students at each level: elementary, middle school and high school.
Any public, charter, private or home-schooled student in Carson City may participate in the contest. The essay should be no longer than five (5) pages and may be as short as the student desires. The essay may be handwritten or typed.
Essays will be judged within each grade level as follows: adherence to the topic, originality of thought and use of the traits of writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency and conventions). The topic for this year is the following:
“The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence calls on us to celebrate our patriotic symbols, while renewing our commitment to freedom, equality and justice for all. What patriotic symbols of freedom, culturally or historically, are most important to you and why?”
Winners will be publicly announced at the Nov. 17, 2025 school board meeting. There will be winners for each level including elementary school, middle school and high school. Each winner will receive the following cash prizes. First-place winners will also be asked to read their essay during the school board meeting.
- First Place: $100
- Second Place: $50
- Third Place: $30
The first page of the essay must include the student’s name (first and last), his or her age, grade, telephone number, teacher’s name and school.
ABOUT Carson City School District
Located in Nevada’s capital, Carson City School District offers public education to approximately 7,300 students throughout Carson City. The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 1 comprehensive high school. Carson City School District boasts many successes including impressive graduation rates, strict safety measures, programs for gifted students and advanced-placement classes, among several others. For more information, visit carsoncityschools.com.
