The ExpressVPN Future of Privacy Scholarship
The Future of Privacy Scholarship, an annual essay contest hosted by VPN provider ExpressVPN, is now closed for entries.
2022 scholarship winner
Razvan Ciuca
Université de Montréal, Canada
This year’s topic: If you were writing the rules for the metaverse, how would you ensure it were free, open, and safe?
Read more about the winner in our interview.
Runners-up
Five students also won a one-year ExpressVPN subscription with their outstanding essays. They are:
Mihir Salil Gokhale - University of Texas at Austin, TX, U.S.
Harry Warne - Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
Rana Dubauskas - Vanderbilt University, TN, U.S.
Riley Choquette - The Open University, UK
Michael Wieder - Princess Anne High School, VA, U.S.
Awards and selection process
Scholarship award amount
The winner of the 2022 scholarship will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a one-year ExpressVPN subscription.
ExpressVPN also selects five runners-up, who will also receive a one-year ExpressVPN subscription.
Selection process
Essays will be graded on the completeness and clarity of their theses and arguments. While we encourage writing with personality and style, please note that this is not a creative writing exercise. Responses must take a clear position on the prompt to be considered.
Why enter?
You could win 5,000 USD.
The winner will be featured on multiple communications platforms. This is a great résumé-builder for a career in journalism, law, computer science, or any relevant field of study.
This is an opportunity to become a leading voice in the growing debate over encryption, digital rights, internet privacy, and the fight against censorship.
Raising awareness
As internet-ready devices proliferate in all facets of our lives, so do threats to the privacy of the individuals who use them. Advancing technologies and unforeseen events have created new challenges for schools and for students, making awareness of online security issues and fundamental privacy rights all the more crucial.
That’s why we created the ExpressVPN Future of Privacy Scholarship. Through an annual essay competition, students delve into urgent issues of the digital age, with the chance to win cash prizes.
Scholarship rules
Essays must be written in English.
Applicants must be currently enrolled in either a high school, undergraduate school, or graduate school, which can be located anywhere in the world.
There is no age or citizenship requirement.
Essays must be sent via email only, to this address: scholarship@expressvpn.com
To be valid, the application email must include the following information:
Your name
The name, address, and contact details of your school
Your current grade level
One entry per student. Multiple entries per student will be disregarded.
Essays must be submitted online by September 15, 2022, no later than 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time (U.S.).
The winner will be announced by the end of October 2022. The prize will be awarded by international wire transfer. The winner will be required to provide his/her bank information in order to complete the bank transfer.
The winner must submit a valid ID and proof of enrollment in a high school, undergraduate school, or graduate school.
Employees of ExpressVPN and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest.
All entries become the property of ExpressVPN. The contest winner agrees to allow ExpressVPN to publish or print his/her name and essay.
Winners will be solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes.
The prize is listed and paid in United States dollars (USD).
The decision of ExpressVPN in respect of any dispute arising out of this program shall be final.
Past winners
About ExpressVPN
One of the world’s largest providers of VPN services, ExpressVPN enables users to protect their privacy and security online with just a few clicks. The company’s award-winning apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and browsers secure user information and identities with best-in-class encryption and leakproofing.
With servers in 105 countries, ExpressVPN provides a fast connection and uncensored access to sites and services across the globe. The company is based in the British Virgin Islands and has been operating since 2009.
A vocal advocate for internet freedom and privacy, ExpressVPN is a proud financial supporter of non-profit organizations fighting to protect digital rights, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Internet Defense League, OpenMedia, and others.