Essay Contest 2008

IAAB’s 2008 Essay Contest was open to high- school students of all backgrounds and provided an opportunity for reflection and exchange. The essay contest offered diaspora communities a chance to learn about matters important to their youth, and for the youth of these communities to develop and articulate their own ideas about the issues that most affect them. Writers and readers alike were encouraged to consider issues that are important to Iranians as individuals, as members of the diaspora community, and as members of the global community at large.

Essay participants were asked to respond to one of three prompts:

1. When asked where you are from, what do you say? Is your response always the same? Please explain.
   
2. Do you think it is important for members of the diaspora to remain connected to their countries of origin? Have you found a need to explore your heritage?
   
3. Do relations between the United States and Iran ever effect the way you represent your Iranian heritage? Please explain.

A very sincere thank you to the five distinguished judges that read all essay contest submissions, including: Mr. Maz Jobrani, Ms. Shabnam Rezaei, Ms. Tara Bahrampour, Dr. Persis Karim and Ms. Kamin Mohammadi.

IAAB's Second Annual Essay Contest was made possible by the following sponsors: