Justice Echoes
Youth Scholar Cup
Language Confidence Awards - 2024 Fall
The 2024 Winners Are Announced:
Here Is the Official List of Award Recipients
Writing
Frist Prize
Fenglin Wang Jinan Foreign Language School, China
Maggie Zhang Collège Alpin International Beau, Switzerland
Second Prize
Wenqi Shi Tongxiang Senior High School, China
Kemi Dai Brookes Westshore, Canada
Nam Nguyen Fort Erie International Academy, Canada
Yifan Cao Guanghua Cambridge International school, China
Eric T.Du Abingdon School, England
Third Prize
Cici Guo Brillantmont International School, Switzerland
Qinyin Wang Chicago Christian International School, United States
Yizhi Du Columbia International College, Canada
Zi'ang Wei Fulford Academy, Canada
Ahmad Zainal Havergal College, Canada
Monica Chen Bangkok Chicago Christian International School, Thailand
Qingyang Zhao Bangkok Chicago Christian International School, Thailand
Xinhao Ni Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School, China
Speech
Frist Prize
Leyan Dong North Cross School, United States
Second Prize
Peggy Zhu Oak Grove School, United States
Faridah Abdullah Rugby School, United Kingdom
Rachel Ng University of Toronto, Canada
Third Prize
Zhai Wang Venus Kwok Doane Academy, United States
Tommy Dong Basis Scottsdale, United States
Siyan He Doane Academy, United States
Teresa Tong Crofton House School, Canada
Arts
First Prize
Lan Lan Sevenoaks School, United Kingdom
Second Prize
Luna Gu Shanghai Huaer Collegiate School Kunshan, China
Doria Shen Shanghai Huaer Collegiate School Kunshan, China
Third Prize
Joe Tao Basis Scottsdale, United States
Quang Do Bangkok Chicago Christian International School, Thailand
Ziqi Li Guangdong Polytechnic of Industry and Commerce, China
Leo Huang Collège Alpin International Beau, Switzerland
Lim Wei Jie Tonbridge School, United Kingdom
Andy Zhang Sevenoaks School, United Kingdom
Congratulations！
2024 Award Statist
First Prize Top 3%
Second Prize Top 7%
Third Prize Top 20%
Competition Theme
AI and Ethics: Navigating the Future
Introduction
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, we are faced with new ethical dilemmas that require careful consideration. AI technologies, from virtual assistants to self-driving cars, offer unprecedented convenience and potential for innovation. However, they also raise critical questions about privacy, bias, and accountability. Issues such as how personal data is used, the fairness of AI decision-making, and who should take responsibility when things go wrong, are at the forefront of these discussions. As we continue to develop and rely on these technologies, it is crucial to balance their benefits with a commitment to ethical principles that protect individuals and communities.
These challenges are not hypothetical—they are affecting us now. For example, facial recognition systems often misidentify people of color, leading to wrongful accusations or arrests. Autonomous vehicles may face situations where they must make life-and-death decisions, prompting debate about the ethics of programming such choices. If we do not address these ethical concerns, we risk creating technologies that perpetuate inequalities or harm society.
Prompts
“The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.” ― B.F. Skinner. Reflect on this statement in the context of AI and ethical decision-making.
How can we ensure that AI technologies are developed and used in ways that respect human dignity and rights?
Who should be responsible for the ethical use of AI technologies—the developers, the companies that deploy them, or governments?
Share your thoughts or experiences regarding privacy concerns with AI technologies, such as social media monitoring or digital surveillance, and how they affect you or your community.
All responses should consider both the potential benefits and ethical implications of AI technologies.
Competition Categories
Writing Category: Narratives, Essays, Poety
Speech Category: English Speeches
Art Category: Comic Art, Design, Video, Painting, Illustration, Mixed Media, Photography, Music, Printmaking, Ceramics
Eligibility
Participants: Students from any country and any school are eligible. Participants must be 20 years old，or younger on the submission deadline.
Submission Deadline
All work submission deadline：August 15, 2025
Notification of Shortlisted Candidates: September 15, 2025
Announcement of Winners: September 30, 2025
AWARDS SETING
Each Category: First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, and Honorable Mention
Frist Prize Winner: Will receive a cash prize of $200 or 1500 RMB
- First Prize: 1-2 winner for the highest performance.
- Second Prize: 3-5 winners for the best performance.
- Third Prize: 5-7 winners for good performance.
The awards and number of winners will be flexibly and dynamically adjusted according to the actual number of entries to ensure fairness in the evaluation of the awards and maximize the incentive effect.
Entry Fee
Fee: $40 USD / 300 CNY
Purpose: All proceeds will be used for project operations and other non-profit activities
Work Requirements
Language: Works must be written in English
Writing Category: Narratives or Essays (600-2000 words).
Poetry (no more than 80 lines)
Speech Category: Video length must not exceed 5 minutes.
Art Category: Various forms, a written reflection (artist’s statement) of more than 100 words is required
Submission Format
File Format: Only MS Word format files are accepted, video links must be included in the file.
File Naming: Name + Category (e.g., Sam, Writing)
Formatting Requirements: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced
Citations: If there are references, please indicate in-text citations and references
Submission
Precautions
Once the work is submitted, it cannot be changed or refunded
Writers and speakers cannot form teams
The competition organizing committee has the final authority over the selection results and does not accept any form of reconsideration.
The usage of ChatGPT is prohibited. Judges will be running all articles through multiple AI checkers, and articles that receive high AI generation scores across multiple checkers will be disqualified.
Past Competition Themes
Over the years, our competition has explored diverse and thought-provoking themes, each designed to resonate with the global challenges of justice, equality, and cultural identity. These themes have encouraged participants to delve into critical issues, creatively expressing their perspectives through the lens of language and social justice.
• 2021: “Digital Justice: The Evolution of Language in the Age of Technology”
In 2021, the theme turned towards the digital world, exploring how technology impacts language and justice. Participants considered how digital platforms shape communication, promote or hinder free speech, and influence movements for social justice in an increasingly connected world.
• 2022: “Linguistic Justice: Bridging Divides in a Multilingual World”
The 2022 competition focused on the role of language in promoting inclusion and equality in multilingual societies. Participants were invited to explore the idea of linguistic justice, emphasizing the need to preserve language diversity and support access to education in mother tongues.
• 2023: “Voices Unheard: Reviving Endangered Languages”
In 2023, the spotlight turned to the preservation of endangered languages. This theme encouraged participants to raise awareness about the cultural and historical significance of these languages, and to explore efforts to revive them as a means of promoting linguistic and cultural justice.
• 2024: “Embracing Our Roots: Overcoming Mother Tongue Shyness”In 2024, the competition shifts focus to the often overlooked issue of Mother Tongue Shyness, addressing the discomfort or lack of confidence many individuals face when using their native languages. This theme invites participants to explore the various factors contributing to this phenomenon, such as language education, sociocultural influences, and personal experiences. With over 7,000 languages worldwide, the loss of any language signifies the disappearance of a unique culture. This year's theme aims to inspire participants to rediscover and appreciate their native languages, fostering confidence and reversing trends that could lead to cultural erosion. Through their creative expressions, participants are encouraged to celebrate linguistic heritage and promote the enduring value of every mother tongue.
Global Advisory Board
Registration for this year is now closed