Pittsburgh nonprofit hosts essay contest, scholarship for 'ambassador' camp

Tired of incivility, social media fights and partisan divisions?

A Pittsburgh-based nonprofit is doing its part to promote respect and civility by sponsoring the ninth annual Luminari scholarship for “I Want to be an Ambassador!” camp.

The 2020 Luminari Award essay competition is open to all Pittsburgh-area students currently in grades 7-11 and invites them to write about what diplomacy means to them.

“What the world needs now are more people with the willingness to consider different points of view, and to resolve differences in a civil and respectful way. And we have an opportunity to start with the next generation by teaching them about everyday diplomacy,” said Hilda Pang Fu, Luminari’s founder and president.

Two winners will be selected — one from all eligible students and one from English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students — and will receive a full merit-based $1,200 scholarship to “I Want to be an Ambassador!” camp, now in its 11th year.

The camp will be held June 16-24 and will include a two-day excursion to Washington, D.C., to visit foreign embassies and experience how ambassadors work.

For more information about the competition and to download an application, visit www.luminari.org. Students interested in the Luminari ESL Award essay competition should contact their ESL teacher directly.

Submission deadline is Jan. 30. Only printed and mailed applications will be accepted.