32nd Annual Great American Think-Off Debate on the Nature of Truth Comes to New York Mills, MN this June 14, 2025 New York Mills, MN—May 1, 2025—We’re thrilled to announce the four finalists for the 2025 Great American Think-Off, the annual “philosophy contest for the...
32nd Annual Think-Off Debate Saturday, June 14, 2025 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Think-Off Kick-Off Friday, June 13 The 2025 Great American Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 14th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Doors...
32nd Annual Think-Off Debate Essays Due April 1 Finalists Announced May 1 Live Debate June 14, 2025 The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is pleased to announce the 2025 Great American Think-Off question: Is there only one truth, or are there many truths? NOTE:...
31st Great American Think-Off Announcing Honorable Mentions Read Essays Below In 2024, the Great American Think-Off Committee selected six honorable mentions, three on each side of the 2024 question, “Is freedom of speech worth the cost?” The 2024...
America’s Greatest Thinker for 2024 is… Michelle Mellon of Deming, New Mexico! Audience Votes: Freedom of Speech IS Worth the Cost On Saturday, June 8, 2024, a majority of the audience of nearly 200 voted to name Michelle Mellon America’s Greatest...
31st Annual Great American Think-Off Congratulations to all four finalists! Read the winning essays below The four finalists for the 2024 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Crystal Kelley of Eden Prairie, MN; David Lapakko of Richfield, MN; Michelle...
31st Annual Think-Off Debate Saturday, June 8, 2024 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Think-Off Kick-Off Friday, June 7 The 2024 Great American Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 8th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open...
31st Annual Great American Think-Off Philosophy Essay/Debate Contest Live Debate June 8, 2024 New York Mills, MN—May 1, 2024—The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is pleased to announce the four finalists from the essay contest portion of the 31st annual Great...
31st Annual Think-Off Debate Question Announced January 1 Essays Due April 1 Finalists Announced May 1 Live Debate June 8, 2024 The Great American Think-Off, now in its 31st year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,294) and...
30th Annual Great American Think-Off Congratulations to all four finalists! Read the winning essays below The four finalists for the 2023 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Gretchen Mayer of Mansfield, SD; Douglas McClain of Fergus Falls, MN; Allen...
30th Annual Think-Off Debate Saturday, June 10, 2023 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium 2023 Think-Off Kicks-Off Friday, June 9 The 2023 Great American Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ...
30th Annual Great American Think-Off Philosophy Essay/Debate Contest Live Debate June 10, 2023 New York Mills, MN—May 1, 2023—The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the 30th Annual Great American...
30th Annual Great American Think-Off Philosophy essay & debate competition Essays due April 1st The Great American Think-Off, now in its 30th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,295), and hosted by the New York Mills...
30th Annual Great American Think-Off Question Announced January 1 Essays Due April 1 Finalists Announced May 1 Live Debate June 10, 2023 The Great American Think-Off, now in its 30th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,294),...
29th Great American Think-Off Announcing Honorable Mentions Read Essays Below In 2022 the Think-Off Committee selected 10 honorable mentions, 5 on each side of the question: Which should be more important: personal choice or social responsibility? The 2022 Honorable...
America’s Greatest Thinker: Blaine Rada Audience Votes: Social Responsibility is More Important than Personal Choice On Saturday, June 11, 2022, a majority of the audience of more than 200 voted to name Blaine Rada of Darien, IL America’s Greatest Thinker...
29th Great American Think-Off Congratulations to all 4 finalists! Read the winning essays below The four finalists for the 2022 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Matthew Anderson of Sunnyvale, CA; Dennis Nau of Fergus Falls, MN; Blaine Rada of...
29th Annual Think-Off Saturday, June 11, 2022 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Reception to follow @ Cultural Center The 2022 Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open to the public at...
29th Annual Great American Think-Off Philosophy Essay/Debate Contest Live Debate June 11, 2022 New York Mills, MN—May 1, 2022—The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is pleased to announce the four finalists for the 2022 Great American Think-Off debate, which will...
29th Annual Great American Think-Off Philosophy essay & debate competition Essays due April 1st The Great American Think-Off, now in its 29th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the New York Mills...
Question Announced January 1 Essays Due April 1 Finalists Announced May 1 Great Debate June 11, 2022 When you make an important decision, what do you consider in your assessment of pros and cons? Certainly you think about how that choice will affect you...
Let your voice be heard! Vote by December 27, 2021 The question with the most votes WINS! The Great American Think-Off committee has met and selected three choices as possibilities for the 29th annual Great American Think-Off question. Just to shake things up a bit...
28th Great American Think-Off Congratulations to all 4 finalists! Read the winning essays below The four finalists for the 2021 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): AJ Gil of Atlanta, GA; Angela Stehr of St. Paul, MN; Bill Sutherland of Eden Prairie,...
28th Great American Think-Off Announcing Honorable Mentions Read Essays Below In 2021 the Think-Off Committee selected four honorable mentions, two on each side of the question: Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules? The 2021 Honorable Mention...
Playing by the Rules WINS! Dan Tschida of Minneapolis, MN wins 28th Annual Great American Think-Off philosophical debate in New York Mills, MN Tschida defeated AJ Gil of Atlanta, GA in the final round of debate on Saturday, June 12, 2021, successfully arguing his...
28th Annual Think-Off Saturday, June 12, 2021 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Reception to follow @ Cultural Center The 2021Think-Off debate will be held at the New York Mills School Auditorium on Saturday, June 12th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open to the public at...
28th Great American Think-Off Philosophy Essay Contest Live Debate June 12, 2021 These four writers were selected as the top essayists answering the 28th annual Think-Off question, “Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules?” These four...
2021 Great American Think-Off Essays due April 1st The Great American Think-Off, now in its 28th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once again...
28th Annual Think-Off Question Announced January 1, 2021 The Great American Think-Off, now in its 28th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once...
Great American Think-Off Virtual Documentary Film Watch Party Thursday, June 11, 2020 Begins at 7:00 p.m. In honor of the 2020 Great American Think-Off, which was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, we are hosting a virtual watch party on Facebook to view the Think-Off...
2020 Think-Off Debate Cancelled Submitted Essays Valid for 2021 Essays Accepted Until 4/1/21 2021 Think-Off Debate June 12, 2021 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Great American Think-Off debate has been cancelled. This year’s question, “Which is more...
28th Annual Great American Think-Off Essay Deadline EXTENDED to April 15, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily lives, the Think-Off Committee announces the extension of this year’s essay deadline to April 15, 2020. It is our hope that while...
28th Annual Think-Off Question Announced January 1, 2020 The Great American Think-Off, now in its 28th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once...
Jennifer Nelson is the 2019 America’s Greatest Thinker! 27th Great American Think-Off Held June 8, 2019 Debate Details Follow Jennifer is a native of Morris, MN who currently lives in the Twin Cities where she works as a research consultant for the DFL Caucus at...
27th Great American Think-Off Congratulations to all 4 finalists! Read the winning essays below The four finalists for the 2019 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Rick Brundage of St. Paul, MN; David Lapakko of Richfield, MN; Louise Mengelkoch of...
27th Great American Think-Off Announcing Honorable Mentions Read Essays Below Read the 2019 Honorable Mention Essays Below, OR you can: 2019 Think-Off Results 2019 Think-Off Finalist Essays Michael Denny, Journalist from Staples, MN No Voting does not matter. It...
Celebrating Philosophers & Artists We are making yet another connection by hosting both the Great American Think-Off Reception and the Distinctly Minnesota Artist Reception as one big party! Help us Kick-Off the Think-Off in style! Join us June 7th at 6:30-8:30pm...
27th Great American Think-Off Saturday, June 8, 2019 @ 7pm Held @ NYM School Auditorium Reception to follow @ Cultural Center The 2019 Think-Off debate will be held at the James Mann Center for the Performing Arts (Auditorium) at the New York Mills School on Saturday,...
Final Four Announced “To Vote or Not to Vote: Does it Matter?” Essay Finalists to Debate Topic June 8, 2019 @ 7pm The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the 27th Annual Great American Think-Off....
UPDATE! Essays are now due April 15th, 2019! The Great American Think-Off, now in its 27th year, is an annual philosophy contest held in New York Mills, MN (population 1,224), and hosted by the Cultural Center in New York Mills. This year’s question once again...
Celebrating Cultures 2025
Natural Dialogs: A Collaborative Project by Photographer Jon Solinger
Art in Your Park Summer 2025
Meet the Finalists: 2025 Great American Think-Off
2025 Annual Regional Show: “Art is a Lie That Makes Us Realize Truth”
Sofia Talvik in Concert @ NYMRCC 5/29/25
2025 Great American Think-Off Weekend
Sit ‘n’ Stitch 2025
2025 Winter/Spring Concert Series
Art for Lunch Spring 2025
Spring 2025 Workshops
Dylan Doyle Band Returns to NYMRCC 4/22/25
Caleigh Irish Concert – NEW DATE: April 11, 2025
Arts Leadership Opportunity! Be Our Next Artistic Director
2025 Annual Meeting
2025 MSHSL High School Art Show
Pop Up Writing Workshop: Visiting Artist Alice Hatcher
Jesse Anderson Band Concert – March 28, 2025
90s PROM!
Dawson Redenius Septet 2/28/25
Join the Debate on Truth: 2025 Great American Think-Off Question Announced
2024 Great American Think-Off Honorable Mentions
2024 Great American Think-Off Results
2024 Great American Think-Off Weekend