Little Rock, Arkansas – The Clinton Foundation is giving Arkansas high school students another chance to turn their ideas about their communities into college scholarship money.
Foundation officials announced Thursday that entries are now being accepted for the 2027 Ideas Matter Scholarship Essay Contest. The competition is open to high school juniors and seniors across Arkansas and will award a total of $8,500 to three students.
The contest is designed to encourage young people to think about their role in their communities and the ways they can help improve civic life. Students are being asked to consider how young people can become more involved, build trust and help create stronger connections among people.
The student who finishes in first place will receive a $5,000 college scholarship. Second place comes with a $2,500 scholarship, while the third-place winner will receive $1,000.
For this year’s contest, students must write about how young people can improve civic health through community involvement, building trust, creating a stronger sense of belonging, respectfully engaging with others and working together to solve problems.
The foundation is also asking students to look beyond simply describing problems. Participants are encouraged to identify obstacles that may prevent young people from becoming involved in civic activities and then offer realistic ideas for overcoming those barriers.
Essays must be at least 1,500 words and must be the student’s original work. The foundation said the entries should explore why youth participation matters and how greater involvement by young people could benefit their communities.
The competition has been running for more than a decade. Since it began in 2014, the Clinton Foundation said it has awarded more than $43,000 in scholarships to Arkansas students.
Those students have used their essays to identify challenges affecting their communities and develop ideas aimed at addressing those issues. The foundation says the contest continues to give students a way to think seriously about civic participation while also helping them pursue higher education.
The 2027 submission period opens September 10. Students have until January 4, 2027, to submit their essays.
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With thousands of dollars in scholarships available, organizers are encouraging eligible students to begin thinking about their topics early. The 1,500-word minimum also gives participants room to explore a community issue, explain why it matters and present possible solutions.
The contest is open specifically to Arkansas high school juniors and seniors, making it an opportunity for students who are approaching the next stage of their education.
Complete rules, essay requirements and submission information are available through the Clinton Foundation’s Ideas Matter Essay Contest webpage. Students interested in competing can review the requirements before preparing and submitting their work.
