Me too. But I am not in high school anymore, dang it. Check this out, seems like a good opportunity for any high schoolers looking for college cash:

United States Institute of Peace Invites High School Students to Enter National Essay Contest.

The United States Institute of Peace established the National Peace Essay Contest to expand educational opportunities for America’s youth. The topic for the 2007-08 competition is “Natural Resources and Conflict.” Participants are asked to write a 1,500-word essay stating what they believe are the necessary elements for the development of fair, peaceful, or effective use of natural resources after a conflict.

Students are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, or if they are U.S. citizens attending high school overseas. Students may be attending a public, private, or parochial school, or participating in a high school correspondence program. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted.

First-place state-level winners are awarded $1,000 each and compete for national awards. National awards include one first-place award of $10,000; one second-place award of $5,000; and one third-place award of $2,500. First-place state winners are also invited to Washington, D.C., for the awards program. The institute pays for expenses related to the program, including travel, lodging, meals, and entertainment.

Visit the USIP Web site for complete program information and entry procedures. National Peace Essay Contest.