ChallengeUS, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to amplifying youth voices in civics, has announced the launch of its Summer 2026 Future Leaders Competition in partnership with New Voters. The competition opens June 1, 2026 and closes August 7, 2026, with results to be announced in October.

The contest invites high school and undergraduate college students from around the world to respond to a civic-themed prompt through one of four submission categories: creative writing, analytical writing, speech, or art. For this cycle, the prompt is as follows: 

Young people are often told that their voices and actions can shape the world around them. But the ability to feel powerful, heard, or capable of creating change is not experienced equally by everyone. What experiences have shaped your belief in whether or not you can make a difference? 

"This competition is about more than prizes," said Brandon Tran, Founder & CEO of ChallengeUS. "We want to hear from young people everywhere about how they see themselves in relation to the world around them. New Voters is the perfect partner that shares in that mission, and together we're creating a platform where those voices get real recognition."

Competition Highlights:

• Grand Prize: $1,000 awarded to one Best Overall winner
• Category Winners: Four category winners recognized across creative writing, analytical writing, speech, and art
• Publication: All winning submissions will be published by ChallengeUS, and winners will be featured in biographical articles
• Network Access: Select participants will be invited to join the ChallengeUS Future Leaders Network, a global community of young changemakers
• Certificates: All winners receive a Certificate of Achievement

Participants are encouraged to submit entries to multiple categories to maximize their chances, though winners will only be awarded in one. Submissions are open to any student currently enrolled in an accredited high school or undergraduate program, regardless of country of residence. Students on academic gap years and homeschooled students are also eligible to participate. The competition is free to enter. 

About ChallengeUS: ChallengeUS is a nonprofit organization working to be the starting point on young people’s civic journey. Its mission is to critically engage and elevate youth voices on civic issues through organizing global civic competitions, thereby crowdsourcing youth-driven solutions to global challenges, all while investing in a global network of young leaders through scholarship prizes and award recognition. Through the Future Leaders Competition series that has reached thousands of students from over 100 countries, ChallengeUS facilitates opportunities for young people to practice democracy through research, storytelling, problem solving, and civic imagination. 

About New Voters: New Voters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering students to become lifelong civic participants. Through voter registration drives, advocacy training, and community organizing, New Voters has engaged over hundreds of thousands of students across the United States. The organization partners with leading educational institutions and organizations, and has been recognized nationally for its contributions to strengthening American democracy.

For full guidelines and submission details, visit www.challengeusnow.org/competitions/summer-2026 or email admin@challengeusnow.org.