GREAT AMERICAN THINK OFF (GATO) Essay Contest

Great American Think-Off                                              

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center                                            

24 Main Avenue North, PO Box 246                                        

New York Mills, MN  56567                                            

www.think-off.org    www.kulcher.org                  

Primary Contact: Betsy Roder, Executive Director, Phone: 218/385-3339 or 218/298-2308 Email: [email protected] 

Secondary Contact: Alice Martin, Think-Off Committee Chair, Phone: 218/371-9296; Email: [email protected]

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 1, 2021

2021 Great American Think-Off Question Released

New York Mills, MN—December 31, 2020— The Cultural Center in New York Mills is now accepting essays answering the 2021 Great American Think-Off question: Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules?

As you may recall, this question was chosen for the 2020 debate, which was cancelled due to COVID-19. After a year of

deep political and civil divides in our nation, as well as a worldwide pandemic, the question seems even more relevant

now.

This topic marks our 28th year of a classic philosophical quandary meant to inspire thinkers from all walks of life. The

Great American Think-Off is a philosophical essay and debate competition held each year in rural New York Mills, MN

(population 1,224). The contest is free to enter and open to all and has received thousands of entries from all 50 states and several international countries throughout its nearly three-decade history.

Winning and playing by the rules are both highly valued in our society, but they are sometimes in conflict. Information abounds on both sides of this topic; a quick Google search reveals stories from college campuses, parenting blogs,

Harvard Business Review, ESPN, and the Bible. What is your personal experience with winning or losing? Did you play by the rules, or not? How did you feel if you won but cheated? How did you feel if you lost to someone else who didn’t follow the rules? Which is more important? How did you come to this belief?

We invite all to submit their answer in essay form for a chance to win $500 and take part in the lively debate on June 12, 2021, in New York Mills, Minnesota. To enter, submit an essay of 750 words or fewer by April 1, 2021. You may submit essays online at www.think-off.org (preferred), by email to [email protected], or by mail to Great American Think-Off, c/o Cultural Center, P.O. Box 246, New York Mills, MN 56567.

Four finalists will be announced on May 1, 2021, and receive $500 each plus travel expenses, along with a chance to win the title of America's Greatest Thinker at this year’s annual debate held on June 12, 2021 in New York Mills, MN.

The planning committee is also considering how this event might look different in 2021 to safety guidelines and reach a broader audience. To engage with the topic online, follow the Cultural Center on Instagram @nymkulcher and.

Facebook and Twitter @ccnym.

For additional contest details, visit www.think-off.org or call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339.

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About the Great American Think-Off: 
Now in its 28th year, The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas being explored by everyday people. Designed to bring philosophy down from the ivory towers of academia and accessible for all, the contest has received national acclaim including coverage by C-SPAN, the New York Times, and The Today Show. 

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, Minnesota, sponsors this annual philosophy contest and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to participate. The Cultural Center is a rural hub for creativity, community vitality, and lifelong learning in the arts. Since our incorporation in 1990, we have been passionate about connecting people to artists and rich cultural experiences in rural Minnesota, celebrating the local and being a window to the world.

To get a better sense of the Think-Off, find details, historical information, and a list of the past 27 years of questions and winners on the event website think-off.org.

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