Contest Eligibility and Rules:

· Contest is open to all high school students who currently meet the income eligibility guidelines for the government-sponsored free and reduced lunch program.

· Students must be currently enrolled in high school to apply.

· Contestants are encouraged to discuss the essay topic with teachers, parents, or friends; however, the essay must be written solely by the student, in their own words.

· AI assistance: Students may use AI tools to help brainstorm or generate ideas, but the essay itself must be written entirely by the student.

· Essays must be 750 words or fewer.

· Submissions must be in digital form (Microsoft Word or Google Docs preferred). No PDFs, scanned copies, or mailed essays will be accepted.

· Essays should be emailed to info@abridgeforkids.org. The student’s full name, current high school, and graduation year must appear in both the subject line of the email and at the top of the essay (e.g., "Tim Jones - San Diego High School - Class of 2027"). Essays missing this information will not be considered.

· Essays will be judged blindly. Each essay will be assigned a number, and the judging panel will not have access to the author’s name, age, or school.

· Winners will be contacted during the week of April 15, 2025.

· A photo release form signed by the winner’s parent or guardian will be required before receiving any sponsorship or prize.