What Is the Contest?

APA sponsors this contest to encourage high school students to address critical planning issues in their communities. By responding to a challenging essay question, students will:

• Deepen their understanding of their own community;
• Learn how planning is part of the democratic process through which Americans can create communities of lasting value for today's residents and for future generations;
• Develop an appreciation for the important role that elected officials, planning professionals, and citizens of all ages play in that process;
• See how the knowledge and skills they acquire in high school (and continue to develop) will enable them to participate fully in the planning process wherever they may choose to live.

Who Qualifies?

This contest is open to students who meet the following criteria: (1) are high school juniors or seniors during the 2008-09 academic year; (2) are 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; and (3) are residents of the United States or a U.S. Territory, or who are U.S. citizens living abroad.