The Virginia School Boards Association is holding a personal essay/speaking contest. The first-place winner will present their essay before an audience of more than 200 school board members and administrators at the 2026 VSBA Conference on Education held July 16 at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel in Virginia Beach.

This is the sixth year the Virginia School Boards Association will hold this contest. We hope that this contest will bring out the very best in students’ writing and speaking efforts and allow our attendees to witness examples of bright, thoughtful, and accomplished students from around the Commonwealth.

This year's topic is Rooted in Public Education. (click here to access this year's full contest and guidelines document)

This year, the winner will receive a $1,000 award. Submissions are open to all 2025-2026 Virginia public high school students (grades 9-12) in divisions that are members of the VSBA. This contest is a great opportunity for students to share their unique voices as well as compete for funds to further their education.

The contest offers the following incentives:

The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 award and a certificate to be presented at the 2026 VSBA Conference on Education on July 16, 2026 in Virginia Beach.

* The first-place winner is required to attend the 2026 VSBA Conference on Education to be recognized and to present their essay as a speech. Their essay will also be recognized on the VSBA website and in an issue of the VSBA Newsletter.

TO ENTER: Begin by completing the application form that follows. Instructions for submitting the essay and the video of your speech are found in the email your school board received. Be sure to read and follow all of the guidelines for the essay and with these guidelines or incomplete applications will disqualify your entry from consideration.

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026 by 4:00 pm.

OTHER QUESTIONS/INFORMATION
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact VSBA by emailing communications@vsba.org or by calling 434-295-8722.

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* 1. Applicant's Name:

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* 2. Applicant's School Division (i.e. [School Division] County/City Public Schools)

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* 3. Student's Grade Placement for 2025-2026 School Year:

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* 4. Student's Personal Information:

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* 5. Student's Phone Number:

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* 6. Student's Email Address:

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* 7. Title of Essay/Speech

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* 8. If your submission is chosen as the first-place winner in this contest, will you commit to attending and presenting your entry, without alterations, as a speech at the 2026 Conference on Education, held on July 16, 2026?

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* 9. You grant permission to publish the content of your entry on the VSBA website, and publications with the assurance that you, the author, will be fully credited:

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* 10. The winner for this contest will be presented a $1,000 award. Please provide a response to the following question: How would this scholarship aid in furthering your education?

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* 11. Please share any additional information you feel we should know about you or your presentation:

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* 12. Please attach a copy of your signed Parental Release Form.

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* 13. Please attach your personal essay as a PDF.

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* 14. Please provide your YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox link to your speech video *Please ensure your video settings allow for anyone with this link to view your video.

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