Scholarship Description

"Expanding Housing Choice and Affordability through Planning"

Eligibility:
This contest is open to students who are high school juniors or seniors during the current academic year. Entrants must either be enrolled in a public or private high school, in a high school equivalency program, or in a program of home schooling recognized by the local school system.

Award:
The first place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to the college or university of his or her choice and recognition on APA’s website. The student must send proof of enrollment to the APA in the form of a tuition statement, at which time the check will be sent directly to the institution.

The winning student will also be invited to attend one of APA’s National Planning Conferences during the five year period after he or she first matriculates at a college or university. APA will provide the student with a free registration and will reimburse travel expenses up to $1,000. For more information about the National Planning Conference, please visit:

http://www.planning.org

Awards for honorable mention will be given to ten contestants. Each honorable mention winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Planners Book Service.

All winners will be notified by email and regular mail no later than March 1st.

Guidelines:
Essays should be between 1,200 and 1,500 words in length. They must be type-written, double-spaced, in English, and the pages must be numbered. Word length does not include cover page, bibliography, or footnotes. Every essay must include a Works Cited, Reference Page, or Bibliography. It is to your advantage to have someone review your essay before your submit it to make sure it is complete, free from typographical and grammatical errors, and addresses the topic.

Submission Requirements:
Students are required to submit a cover page that includes his or her contact information and information about his or her high school. The student is also responsible for getting a teacher or advisor to sign a statement verifying that the student attends the school indicated and, to the best of the adult’s knowledge, has written the essay being submitted (home-schooled students may ask a youth group leader, parent, or other adult to be a sponsor). APA will verify the endorsements of all semi-finalists prior to making the final award determination.

APA encourages students to submit their application online by using an Internet connection at a home, school, or library. Please email your submissions to essay@planning.org with the words "High School Essay Contest" in the subject line. Students must submit their cover page and essay as one attachment. Please title the document with your first and last name.

Website Address

http://www.planning.org/institutions/hsessay.htm