High school students nationwide are invited to participate in the 2008-09 "Being an American" Essay Contest, which explores the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Administered by the Bill of Rights Institute, a nonprofit educational organization in the Washington, D.C., area, the contest offers cash prizes totaling more than $189,000 to both students and their teachers. Top prizewinners and their teachers also receive all-expenses paid trips to the nation’s capital.

To participate, students are asked to share their thoughts on American citizenship by answering the following question: “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?” The essay should be no more 750 words; submission deadline is Dec. 1.

The names of the top-three prizewinners in each of nine regions (Arizona is in the “Mountain” region) will be announced at a special Washington, D.C., Awards Gala in the spring of 2009. The first place winners in each region, and their sponsoring teachers, will receive $5,000 cash awards; second place winners $2,500 and third place winners $1,250.

The winning students will explore the nation's capitol, meet contemporary American heroes and national leaders, and visit the Supreme Court, National Archives and other national landmarks. Honorable mention prizes of $250 will be awarded to 63 students, seven from each region.

The “Being an American” Essay Contest has a dedicated Web site, www.BeingAnAmerican.org, where teachers, parents and others can find complete rules and lesson plans, and is the only place where teachers can submit their students' essays for consideration.