and those on the plaques are honored during a solemn ceremony on Foreign Affairs Day. AFSA National High School Essay Contest The National High School Essay Contest is available to all High School students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and to U.S. citizens pursuing high school education abroad. The competition awards a $2,500 cash prize, a paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet the Secretary of State and a tuition-free Semester at Sea upon enrollment at an accredited post-secondary institution. Selected publications See also United States Department of State United States Foreign Service References Professional associations based in the United States United States Department of State 1924 establishments in the United States Organizations based in Washington, D.C.