High school students nationwide are invited to participate in the 2008-09 "Being an American" Essay Contest, which explores the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Administered by the Bill of Rights Institute, a non-profit educational organization in the Washington, D.C., area, the contest offers cash prizes totaling more than $189,000 to both students and their teachers.

Top prize winners and their teachers also will receive allexpenses paid trips to the nation's capital.

To participate, students are asked to share their thoughts on American citizenship by answering the following question: "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?"

The top three prize winners in each region will be announced at an awards gala in Washington, D.C., in spring 2009. First-place winners in each region and their sponsoring teachers will receive $5,000 cash awards; secondplace winners will receive $2,500; and third-place winners will receive $1,250.

Winning students will explore the nation's capital, meet contemporary American heroes and national leaders and visit the Supreme Court, National Archives and other national landmarks.

Honorable mention prizes of $250 will be awarded to 63 students -- seven from each region.

Teachers are encouraged to incorporate the essay contest topic into the classroom. Lesson plans meeting state and national academic standards and supplemental materials are available at no charge from the Bill of Rights Institute.

For complete rules, lesson plans for teachers and how to submit essays, visit www.BeingAnAmerican.org.

Essays must be received by Dec. 1.