The 18th German American Conference Essay Competition
Compete and become a Transatlantic Thought Leader.
Qualify for a travel scholarship, pitch your idea on stage, and join a growing community of emerging transatlantic thought leaders at the largest student-led conference on transatlantic relations in the world.
Submit Your EssayYour Opportunity as a Transatlantic Thought Leader
As a Transatlantic Thought Leader, you will have the opportunity to present your ideas, network with brilliant peers, and engage directly with influential leaders from policy, business, and civil society, while building lasting international friendships around the questions shaping the future of the transatlantic relationship.
Mission
Our mission is to elevate the voices and ideas of the next generation of transatlantic thinkers — young people who are reimagining the future of the transatlantic relationship and translating shared democratic values into concrete responses to today's geopolitical, economic, technological, and societal challenges.
Through the essay competition, we aim not only to surface original perspectives from the younger generation, but also to bring those ideas into direct dialogue with the policymakers, business leaders, and civil society actors shaping the transatlantic agenda.
The Essay Question
What is one concrete problem in transatlantic cooperation that could realistically be addressed within the next ten years?
Choose Your Track
Select a challenge that falls within one of the German American Conference event tracks, and propose a concrete and feasible solution:
- • Global Affairs & Politics
- • Sustainability, Environment & Health
- • Society & Culture
- • Business, Trade & Entrepreneurship
- • Technology & Innovation
Your Essay Should Address
What is the problem?
Clearly describe the challenge and its relevance to transatlantic cooperation.
Why does it matter?
Explain why this issue is important for both Europe and the United States.
Why is it solvable within the next decade?
Justify why meaningful progress is realistically achievable within ten years.
What is your solution?
Propose a specific, actionable approach and explain how it would strengthen transatlantic cooperation.
What We Are Looking For
-
Future-oriented ideas that think about what the partnership should become, not what it used to be.
-
Analytical rigor combined with practical relevance — essays that translate into actionable policy ideas.
-
Depth over breadth — focus deeply on one problem rather than superficially treating many.
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on the clarity of the problem, its relevance, the realism of the approach, and the strength of the proposed solution. In addition, we will consider language, structure, and style, as well as the creativity and originality of the ideas presented.
Awards & Prizes
Transatlantic Thought Leader Prize (up to 50 recipients)
- ✓ Free conference ticket to the German American Conference
- ✓ 50% discounted Gala reception ticket
- ✓ Membership in the GAC Transatlantic Thought Leader community
Top 15 Transatlantic Thought Leader Prize
In addition to the benefits above, the Top 15 finalists receive:
- ✦ The opportunity to pitch their essay to the GAC community at the final ceremony
- ✦ A travel stipend of up to $700
- ✦ Complimentary accommodation through our student couchsurfing program
Submission Requirements
Your contribution must meet the following criteria:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Form | Written essay (maximum 2,100 words, excluding references and footnotes) |
| Language | English |
| Citation style | APA |
| File format | |
| Anonymity | The submission must not contain the author's name, email address, institutional affiliation, or any other identifying information. |
| Individuality | Submissions must be individual work. Collaborative or group submissions are not permitted. The essay must be written specifically for this competition, and the ideas presented must be the author's own. |
| Sources & auxiliary aids | All sources must be properly cited. Any auxiliary aids used — including AI tools, proofreading, or translation services — must be fully disclosed in an auxiliary aids directory and correctly cited. The use of ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools is strongly discouraged; reliance on such tools has resulted in less original submissions in previous years. Failure to acknowledge any aid or resource will result in disqualification. |
Eligibility
Participants must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of the conference.
This means applicants must have been born between November 1991 and November 2008 (inclusive).
What to Provide
- • A copy of your passport or other identification
- • Your essay file with no indication of your name in the file name, the file metadata, or the file itself
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | Call for Essays published |
| May 9, 2026, 6pm CET / 12pm EST / 9am PT | Essay Webinar #1 (tips, strategies, Q&A) - Details to follow |
| May 31, 2026, 6pm CET / 12pm EST / 9am PT | Essay Webinar #2 (tips, strategies, Q&A) - Details to follow |
| June 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET | Submission deadline |
| August 15, 2026 | Announcement of the Transatlantic Thought Leaders 2026 |
| October 9-11, 2026 | Final pitch event and award ceremony at the GAC |
Webinars
We will host two online webinars to share tips, strategies, and answer your questions about the essay competition. Both webinars cover the same information.
How to Submit
All submissions are handled through our dedicated submission portal. The submission deadline is June 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Contact
For any questions related to the competition, please contact us at:
essay@germanamericanconference.orgSupporters
Our supporters will be announced in the coming weeks—stay tuned! We are deeply grateful for their support in making this initiative possible.
Ready to Share Your Ideas?
Apply now to spark new ideas and become a Transatlantic Thought Leader.
Apply Now