NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest

About this scholarship

The 2026 NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest invites K–12 and equivalent homeschool students to examine the question, “What Does the Second Amendment Mean to You?” Entries compete in two separate divisions: junior, for grade 8 and below, and senior, for grades 9–12. Each division awards $1,000 for first place, $600 for second, $200 for third, and $100 for fourth. Eligible students must be enrolled, or expect to be enrolled, in an elementary, junior-high, or high-school grade during the academic year. A prior prizewinner may not win again in the same category, although a former junior winner may enter after becoming eligible for the senior division. The essay should be approximately 1,000 words, neat and legible, with double-spaced typed work preferred. Students must include the official entry form and a written certification from a parent, guardian, or teacher confirming that the composition is original; entries without that certification are disqualified. The application packet is submitted by postal mail to the Fund’s Office of General Counsel in Fairfax, Virginia. The linked PDF is the actual entry form, and the envelope must be postmarked by December 31, 2026.

Eligibility

• Be enrolled or expect to be enrolled in elementary, junior-high, or high school during the academic year
• Homeschool students must participate at an equivalent K–12 grade level
• Do not have a prior prize in the same junior or senior category
• Write an original essay of approximately 1,000 words on the official Second Amendment theme
• Include the completed official entry form
• Include a written statement from a parent, guardian, or teacher certifying original work
• Mail the complete entry to the address on the form with a postmark no later than December 31, 2026