Aralia Student Results
Our talented students have truly made us proud by securing remarkable awards in this globally recognized competition:
- 2 Silver Awards
- 1 Bronze Award
- 2 High Commendation Awards
- 1 Outstanding Writing Content / Style Prize
These awards highlight our students’ exceptional writing skills and their keen ability to analyze complex global issues.
About the Harvard International Review Essay Competition
Competition introduction: The Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest is a prestigious competition encouraging young students to study and engage with international issues. Organized by the Harvard International Review, the competition is judged by a panel of esteemed journal editors and Harvard scholars. The magazine has published reviews of 43 presidents and prime ministers, 4 secretaries-general, 4 Nobel Prize winners in economics, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize winners, making it a highly respected platform for young writers to showcase their skills and knowledge. By participating in this competition, students can develop their academic writing skills and gain recognition for their work on a global stage.
Competition format: The Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12 worldwide. The competition invites students to submit a short essay on a topic related to international affairs, which will be graded by the editors-in-chief of Harvard International Review.
If selected as a finalist, students defend their work in an online HIR Finals event. During HIR Defense Day, students will deliver a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to a panel of esteemed Harvard International Review judges.
Submissions must be in English and must use traditional American spelling. This competition is an excellent opportunity for high school students to showcase their academic writing skills, gain recognition for their work on a global stage, and engage with important issues in international affairs.
Writing Theme: For this year’s contest, students can choose 2 different themes:
- Theme A: Inequalities in a VUCA World
- Theme B: Global Challenges and Collective Actions
Submission Guidelines:
Articles must be around 800-1200 words long, excluding figures, data tables, or authorship statements. The writing style should provide an analytically supported perspective on an underappreciated global topic.
It’s important to note that HIR does not accept op-eds or opinion pieces. As a journalistic organization, HIR requires submissions to follow the latest version of AP Style. Submissions are also required to be culturally sensitive, fact-checked, and respectful.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 attending school in the United States or other countries
Prizes: Finalists will be eligible to receive a medal and an HIR certificate, and have the opportunity to showcase their work on the HIR website and win a print subscription to HIR.
More information about this content can be found on Aralia’s competition website.
