The Pasadena Forum Student Essay Contest
The Prompt
The UN International Bill of Rights drafted in 1948 and adopted by its member nations decrees in Article 1:
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”
Using your own interpretations of the current sociopolitical atmosphere in the United States, another UN member nation, or the world as a whole, discuss whether this Article has been upheld. Such an answer can be as focused or as broad as you so choose. You may compare and contrast if you are so inclined.
Student Prizes
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First Prize: $1,000
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Essay published in print in a future issue of The Pasadena Policy Review
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Second Prize: $500
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Essay published in print in a future issue of The Pasadena Policy Review
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Calendar
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The deadline for submissions is May 6th, 2026. Winners will be announced around the end of May.
Eligibility
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Applicants must either enrolled in an accredited high school, or be enrolled in an accredited college or university as an undergraduate in Spring 2026. Enrollment will be verified with the student’s high school, college, university before any prizes are awarded.
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Applicants may be either part-time or full-time students.
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Applicants may be citizens or residents of any country.
Essay Requirements
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Paper Length: 1000-1,500 words
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Essays must be written in English.
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Essays must be submitted using the form below
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Essays must be in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.
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Essays must have a cover page with the essay’s title and the name of the author.
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Essays must be original works written by the submitter and must not have been previously published elsewhere. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be reported to the student’s school.
Standards
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The contest will be judged by select academic faculty and experts well-versed in the subject matter of the prompt. The winner will be published in a future issue of The Pasadena Policy Review
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Essays will be judged based on the clarity and coherence of their arguments, originality, relevance to the chosen topic, and command of evidence and research.