The Growing Up in America (GUA) Contest is an annual creative competition organized by Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) in partnership with NBC Bay Area. This contest encourages students to express their ideas, experiences, and cultural perspectives through art, essays, and videos.
For more than three decades, the Growing Up in America contest has inspired thousands of students across the Bay Area to share their voices and celebrate their identities. The competition provides young participants with a platform to reflect on their communities, culture, and personal experiences while showcasing their creativity.
Contest Overview
The Growing Up in America contest is open to K–12 students who live in or attend school within specific counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants can submit creative entries in three main categories:
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Art
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Essay
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Video
The contest highlights creativity while encouraging students to think deeply about social themes and community connections.
Contest Theme
Each year, the contest introduces a theme that guides student submissions. The current theme is “Growing Healthy Connections.”
This theme encourages students to explore the importance of healthy relationships and meaningful connections in their lives. These relationships can include:
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Family members
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Friends and classmates
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Teachers and mentors
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Teammates and community members
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Personal self-connection and self-respect
Students are invited to share their perspectives on how positive relationships and respectful communication help people grow, learn, and feel valued within their communities.
Prize Information
The contest offers several awards recognizing outstanding creativity and expression.
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Grand Prize: One $1,000 Lance Lew Grand Prize
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Best in Class Winners: Nine awards of $500 each
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Honorable Mentions: Ten recognitions
Winning entries may also be featured on AACI’s website and NBC Bay Area, providing additional exposure for students’ creative work.
Eligible Participants
The contest is open to:
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Students from Kindergarten through 12th grade
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Students who live in or attend school in the San Francisco Bay Area
Eligible counties include:
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Santa Clara County
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San Francisco County
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Contra Costa County
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Marin County
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Sonoma County
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Solano County
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Napa County
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Alameda County
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San Mateo County
Contest Categories
Participants may submit their work in one of the following formats:
Art
Students can submit creative visual artwork that reflects the contest theme.
Essay
Written submissions allow students to express their ideas and experiences related to healthy relationships and community connections.
Video
Students can produce short videos presenting their interpretation of the theme through storytelling, interviews, or creative visuals.
Submission Timeline
The Growing Up in America contest follows an annual schedule:
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Theme announcement: January
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Online submissions open: March
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Submission deadline: March
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Winners announced: Early May
Students must submit their entries before the official deadline to be considered for awards.
Application Process
Students interested in participating should follow these steps:
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Review the contest theme and submission guidelines.
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Create an original entry in the art, essay, or video category.
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Visit the official contest website to access the submission form.
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Select the appropriate age group and category.
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Upload the entry following the technical specifications listed on the website.
All submissions must be made through the official contest portal.
About AACI
Asian Americans for Community Involvement is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through culturally responsive health and wellness services. Through programs like the Growing Up in America contest, AACI encourages youth to celebrate diversity, express creativity, and build strong community connections.
Official Call: https://aaci.org/gua/
