This is something really neat: the William F. Buckley Jr. Essay Contest. The contest is open to college students who will be a sophomore or junior in the fall. (Oh, I’d love to give college a go again. But that is such a cliché, I could blush.) For details, go here.

Your essay will be between 1,500 and 2,000 words long. About anything? No, a specific topic:

One of the principal tasks of Buckley-Reagan conservatism was to bring government back under the control of the Constitution — a task pursued through judicial appointments but also through legislation and general education. How well has this project succeeded, and where is it falling short?

Good question. The deadline is July 31. Send your essay to buckleyessay@nrinstitute.org. If you win, what do you get? Glory? Satisfaction in a job well done? Well, to quote from the webpage I have linked to, the winner will “feature in a NRI forum with NR writers, be interviewed on an official NR podcast, and receive fun swag.”

Really, a juicy opportunity. Give it a go. The exercise itself should be salutary.