The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), of which the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is a member, has supported the work of HazingPrevention.org (HPO) in the past and continues to take a leadership role in helping HPO bring hazing prevention to the high school audience.

     The NFHS is a general sponsor of HPO and the sole sponsor of the National Hazing Prevention Week High School Essay Contest. In the past, the contest has been open to high school and college students. But beginning this third year, the contest is exclusively for high school students and will feature more awards for contest winners.

     This year’s National Hazing Prevention Week was September 21-25, 2015.

     The goal of the NFHS is to attract more high school students who submit essays for the contest. We are encouraging more students to think about hazing prevention, to learn more about it and to per- haps begin to turn the tide on the issue.

     The relationship will provide HPO with the ability to promote the contest directly to high school students, teachers, coaches, counselors and administrators. In addition, the NFHS Citizenship and Equity Committee will assist HPO’s Contests and Awards Committee with judging the hundreds of essays submitted for the contest.

     Entrants in the 2016 NHPW High School Essay Contest will submit 500-600 word essays relevant to the theme, “Hazing Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility.” Students will be asked to write about ways they welcome new members to their group, team or organization, then how that challenges hazing and challenges them on a personal level. Cash prizes of $500, $250 and $150 will be awarded for the top three essays nation- wide. One honorable mention will be awarded for each of the NFHS eight sections with each of those winners receiving a $50 gift card.

     Guidelines for the NHPW High School Essay Contest are available at www.NationalHazingPreventionWeek.com/contests. Deadline for the contest is midnight, April 30, 2016.