INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 3, 2023) – In honor of National Hazing Prevention Week in September, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Hazing Prevention Network (HPN) are again hosting the High School Essay Contest. The annual essay contest is designed to encourage conversations about hazing and hazing prevention at the high school level.
The theme for this year’s contest is “How can I make a difference against hazing?” High school students are encouraged to write a 500- to 600-word essay focused on an anti-hazing stance. The essay encourages individuals to speak out against hazing and take action to prevent it from happening.
“We are excited to hold the NFHS essay contest with our education partner, Hazing Prevention Network. Hazing at all levels is a scourge and too many lives are irrevocably changed or damaged. If this essay contest can bring one beam of light to the darkness of hazing through an educational endeavor, then it is beneficial to every high school in the United States,” said NFHS Director of Sports and Student Services Elliot Hopkins. “We hope high school educators embrace this initiative and encourage their students to get involved and participate.”
The contest aims to give a platform to voices that have been silenced and to empower individuals to make a positive difference in their communities. By participating in this contest, individuals can help raise awareness and work toward ending the harmful practice of hazing.
Essays will be judged based upon the following criteria: adherence to theme, grammar/spelling, clarity of message, and creativity/uniqueness of message. The top three essay authors will receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $150.
Visit https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/nfhs-high-school-essay-contest/ for more information and contest guidelines.
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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.6 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.
About the Hazing Prevention Network
Hazing Prevention Network, formerly known as HazingPrevention.Org, is an international nonprofit dedicated to empowering people to prevent hazing. Our goal is to educate people about the dangers of hazing, advocate for change, and engage the community in strategies to prevent hazing. We are a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
