Deadline:
July 25, 2025
Location(s)
Online
Overview
Details
Participation in the ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition offers the opportunity to join the ChallengeUS Future Leaders Network (global community of young changemakers), secure cash prizes that can be put towards educational and professional pursuits, and gain public recognition for exceptional work.
What's New?
Unlike previous cycles, we will now select a single, overall 1st place winner from the entire competition pool instead of a different 1st place winner representing each submission category. After the overall 1st place winner has been chosen, we will still recognize three "Best in Class" honorable mentions (one from each submission category). The overall 1st place winner will be awarded $500 USD, have their submission published by ChallengeUS, be featured in a biographical article, and receive a Certificate of Special Achievement. The "Best in Class" honorable mentions will also have their submission published, be featured in biographical articles, and receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Prompt: Summer 2025
As we journey along the 21st century, the challenges facing countries all over the world are only becoming more complex. However, with every challenge comes the opportunity to imagine something better. What’s one thing you hope your country accomplishes by the year 2050? What steps need to be taken to realize your vision?
Categories
Participants are welcomed and encouraged to submit entries to multiple divisions (creative writing, analytical writing, and speech) in order to maximize chances at winning. However, winning contestants will only be awarded 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in ONE division.
- Creative Writing: Entries might include personal narratives, reflections, stories, poems, written speeches, memoirs, and other personal essays that address the prompt while showcasing the writer’s critical thinking, personal expression, and storytelling abilities. The emphasis is on originality, personal voice, and engaging the reader with thoughtful insight as well as emotional depth.
- Analytical Writing: Entries might include argumentative essays, research papers, literature reviews, case studies, and other forms of academic writing that uses sources and citations to drive key insights. Submissions are expected to present well-researched, evidence-based essays that address the prompt. The emphasis is on logical reasoning, structured analysis, and the ability to support answers to the prompt with facts, examples, or data.
- Speech: Entries might include any form of verbal speech or presentation submitted in a video form. Speakers are welcomed to use creative and/or analytical techniques in their speech submission. Visual aids are permitted but the emphasis will be on effective verbal communication while providing unique perspectives, ideas, and insights addressing the prompt.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Eligibility
- Any student, residing in any country, currently enrolled in an accredited high school or undergraduate college/university, is eligible to participate
- Students taking academic gap years or semesters are also eligible
- Submissions (speech or writing) must be in English
- Participants from previous competition cycles are eligible to enter the current competition cycle, except those that won first place in any previous ChallengeUS competitions
- Any use of AI or plagiarism is strictly prohibited and will result in automatic disqualification
Dates
Deadline: July 25, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Prizes
- One overall First Place winner will be recognized along with three "Best in Class" honorable mentions (one from each submission category). This means 4 students, in total, will be recognized.
- The overall First Place winner will be awarded $500 (USD)
- The overall First Place winner and the 3 "Best in Class" honorable mentions will be spotlighted in a biographical article by ChallengeUS
- The overall First Place Winner and the 3 "Best in Class" honorable mentions will receive a Certificate of Achievement and their submissions will be published by ChallengeUS
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
