Sanders Announces Annual State of the Union Essay Contest

BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 9 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) launched his eighth annual State of the Union essay contest Thursday, calling on Vermont’s high school students to address what they view as the major issues facing the United States.

As the president prepares to give his State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress early next year, Sanders is inviting Vermont high school students to describe what they think are the most pressing issues facing the United States and what they would do to solve them. The 250-500 word essays can be on any issue of national importance.

Sanders’ annual essay contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to articulate what issues they would prioritize if they were president. A panel of Vermont teachers will judge the essays and select a winner. The students’ political views have no impact on how the essays are judged. Essays are judged on the students’ ideas and arguments.

The finalists will have their essays entered into the Congressional Record -- the official archive of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Sanders will also hold a roundtable discussion with the finalists.

“Our students are the future of our country and they must be involved in the discussion about where our nation needs to go,” said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee. “We need our students to be engaged, to help find solutions for the problems that face our country. That’s what democracy is all about.”

Since Sanders first held his State of the Union essay contest, more than 3,000 students from schools throughout Vermont have written essays on a wide range of important issues such as the declining middle class, climate change, health care, the national debt, the rising cost of a college education, and many other issues.

The deadline for student essay submissions is Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. More information can be found on Sanders’ Senate webpage at http://www.sanders.senate.gov/stateoftheunion/, by calling (800) 339-9834 or emailing katarina_lisaius@sanders.senate.gov.

Contact: Dan McLean (802) 862-6695