Utah students in grades 10–12 can submit essays proposing AI policy for Utah schools. In addition to cash prizes, one student will be selected from each of Utah’s 29 Senate districts to participate in a statewide student policy congress at the Utah State Capitol.

SALT LAKE CITY (September 1, 2026) – Utah high school students will have a direct say in shaping how artificial intelligence is used in the state’s classrooms through the “Shaping Utah’s AI Future” Essay Contest and the Utah Student AI Policy Congress, sponsored by Sutherland Institute.

The statewide initiative invites Utah students in grades 10–12 to submit essays proposing specific, actionable AI policy recommendations for junior high and high schools. Students in public schools, private schools, microschools, or home school/home school programs are eligible to submit.

Submissions will address one or more of these six areas:

• Instructional Use and Teacher Discretion – Who should decide when and how AI is used for teaching and learning?
• Student Use and Academic Integrity – When should student AI use be permitted, expected, disclosed, or prohibited?
• Privacy and Safety – What safeguards should apply to student data and AI-generated content?
• Decisions About Students – When should AI influence decisions affecting individual students, and what human oversight should be required?
• Equity and Preparation – How should schools balance equitable access to AI with preparing students for life after graduation?
• Tools and Governance – Who should approve AI systems, under what standards, and at what level of government?

The strongest essays will answer question at the heart of the debate over AI: who decides? These essays will also address whether decisions about AI policy should be made at the state, Senate district, school or classroom level, as well as how much discretion individual teachers should retain.

The top three essays will receive cash prizes:

• First place: $1,000
• Second place: $500
• Third place: $250

In addition to the cash prizes, one student from each of Utah’s 29 Senate districts will be selected to represent their district at the Utah Student AI Policy Congress, which will be held Nov. 20–21, 2026, at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City.

“AI is already reshaping the classroom, and the students living through that shift deserve a seat at the table,” said Todd Weiler, president and CEO of Sutherland Institute. “We built this framework around the questions policymakers actually have to answer: who decides, what role teachers should play, how do we protect student privacy, and how do we keep things fair. Now, we’re asking Utah students to work through those same questions and bring their best ideas to the capitol.”

About the Utah Student AI Policy Congress

The two-day Utah Student AI Policy Congress will bring together 29 student delegates, one from each Senate district, for a legislative-style process modeled on the Utah State Senate.

On Friday, Nov. 20, delegates and guests will gather for an opening dinner to kick off the Congress.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, delegates will debate proposed AI policy recommendations on the Senate floor, meet in rural and urban caucuses over lunch to discuss regional priorities, and vote on a final Utah Student AI Policy Resolution.

The final resolution will be presented to state lawmakers as a formal statement of Utah students’ perspectives on AI policy in schools.

Meals for participating delegates will be provided at the Capitol on Saturday. Each delegate may bring one guest to Friday’s opening dinner at no cost. Additional dinner tickets will be available for $30.

Students will be responsible for their own travel and lodging. Schools, parents and local donors are encouraged to help support delegates, particularly those traveling from rural districts.

How to Enter

The essay contest is open to Utah students in grades 10–12 who attend public or private schools or participate in homeschool programs.

Essays should be 1,000–1,500 words and propose a specific, actionable AI policy recommendation addressing one or more areas of the policy framework.

Students may submit essays:

• Online: Through the submission portal
• By mail: Sutherland Institute, Attn: Student Essay Contest, 420 E. South Temple, Suite 510, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Essay submission deadline: October 1, 2026

Senate district delegates announced: October 15, 2026

Cash-prize winners announced: October 15, 2026

Full contest rules, the complete essay topic framework, and submission instructions are available here.

Sutherland Institute president and CEO Todd Weiler is available for interviews. Please contact Kelli Pierce at the information below if you would like to speak with him.