In conjunction with the third and final Presidential Debate being hosted by Belmont University, middle school and high school students enrolled in Metro Nashville Public Schools are invited to enter the Presidential Debate Essay Contest. First place winning essays will be published in The Tennessean, and winners will also be invited to provide a video of themselves reading their essays or excerpts to be shared publicly by Belmont. Winners will also have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes tour of grounds for Belmont’s Presidential Debate.

The contest is open to all MNPS middle and high school students enrolled in grades 5-12 at the time of submission. Students are provided a variety of prompts to select a topic for their essay to showcase their knowledge and learning. Each submission will be judged by a panel that will include one Belmont faculty member and two Belmont students.

Monetary prizes will also be awarded to the contest winners. For the high school contest, 1^st place will receive $300; 2^nd place will receive $200; and 3^rd place will receive $100. For the middle school contest, 1^st place will receive $150, 2^nd place will receive $100 and 3^rd place will receive $50.

The submission deadline for students to enter this contest is October 5. To read the full guidelines for the Belmont Presidential Debate Essay Contest, visit Belmont’s community relations page at <Belmont.edu/community>.