#FreeToTweet: could you win a $5,000 scholarship?

Last year, Marina Abigail "Abby" Hoffman, now a freshman at UC Berkeley and a graduate of Steven, tweeted her way to a $5,000 scholarship for her message about the First Amendment.

Could the winner be you this year?

Beginning at midnight on Dec. 1 through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 15, (yea, I'm arriving late to the party) students at a high school, community college or university ages 14 and up can tweet their support for the First Amendment with the hash tag #FreeToTweet, which will enter them in the “Free to Tweet” scholarship competition.

Last year’s campaign received more than 17,000 submissions in one day, including a tweet of support from the White House.

Students can enter the scholarship competition by tweeting a message of support – using the hashtag #FreeToTweet – for the First Amendment. A panel of educators and First Amendment experts will review the entries and award five $5,000 scholarships.

Judging criteria and complete rules can be found here. Updates on the event can be followed on Twitter at @FreeToTweet2012.