High school students nationwide are invited to participate in the 2008-2009 "Being an American" Essay Contest, which explores the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Administered by the Bill of Rights Institute, a non-profit educational organization in Washington, D.C., the contest offers cash prizes totaling more than $189,000 to both students and their teachers. Top prize winners and their teachers also receive all-expenses paid trips to our nation's capital.

The coming 2008-2009 school year will be the first year in which high-school-aged students from every state will be eligible to enter the contest. The contest began two years ago in three states and expanded last year to 19 states and the District of Columbia. Over 17,000 students have participated in the contest to date.

Further information, including complete contest rules, submission details and background information on the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and our Founding Fathers is available at www.BeingAnAmerican.org.

-GIR-