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),...
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...
Anthony Berryhill of Austin, TX! Runner-up Armchair Philosopher, Mark Bland of Virginia Beach, VA, out-argued Rudy San Miguel of New Orleans, LA to advance to the final round of debate, wherein Anthony Berryhill took the prize! Before debating Bland, Berryhill first...
The four finalists for the 2018 Great American Think-Off are (in alphabetical order): Tonya Abari of Nashville, TN; Anthony Berryhill of Austin, TX; Mark Bland of Virginia Beach, VA; and Rudy San Miguel of New Orleans, LA. Berryhill won the debate on June 9, while...
From the Great American Think-Off! Read All 10 Honorable Mention Essays Below, OR you can: Read About the Debate Here Read the 4 Finalists’ Essays Here The 5 Honorable Mentions who Said FAILURE Plays a Larger Role in One’s Life Are: Abdinasir Nourkadi,...
The Center Announces the Think-Off Debate Moderator: The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces Ashley Hanson as the moderator of debate among armchair philosophers for the 26th Annual Great American Think-Off this June. As a social practice theater artist,...
Success or Failure: Essay Finalists to Debate Topic Cultural Center Announces Great American Think-Off Debate Finalists The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces four finalists from the essay contest portion of the Great American Think-Off. These four win $500...
April 1 @ Midnight The deadline for applications to the Arts Retreat Program at the Cultural Center is midnight on Easter, Sunday! Learn more about the retreat here: Arts Retreat And Submit your application here: Submittable April 2 Because April 1 is a holiday...
An entrepreneur’s new business fails. A 7th grader receives the “most valuable player” award for basketball. A recovering addict fails to abstain. A singer auditions for and wins a role on Broadway. Everyone experiences some successes and failures in life, but...
Beginning in 2016, the Think-Off Committee established the new category of Honorable Mention essays to provide a way to showcase additional excellent essays beyond the top four finalists. Five Honorable Mention essays have been selected from each side and printed...
Pamela Lewis – 2017’s Greatest American Thinker! Had he lived during the 2016 presidential election, Pontius Pilate might have asked his famous and mocking question, “What is truth?” For me, as well as for many of my fellow Americans, the...
2017 Think-Off Question Answered: 2016 Election DID Change Our Perception of Truth New Yorker Named Greatest American Thinker in New York Mills Saturday, four armchair philosophers faced off in the Great Debate portion of the Great American Think-Off philosophy...
2017 is a special year for the Great American Think-Off, as it marks the 25th annual philosophical debate. Because of this milestone, the Cultural Center is hosting several weekend events; see the schedule below. Friday, June 9 6-9pm Think-Off Kick-Off at the NYM...
The Great American Think-Off essay contest finalists will come to New York Mills to debate each other before a live audience on Saturday June 10, 2017. These four deftly and expertly, from their computer desks or chaise lounges, answered the 25th annual...
In the Gallery: ‘Heavy Metals’ March 8 – April 8, 2023
Window to the World: Spain & Portugal 2024
Blue Red Roses Concert 3/24/23
Community Event: Winter/Sazama Recital March 31 @ St. Peter’s Church
NEW in 2023: Wednesday Workshops
2023 Winter/Spring Concert Series
Winter/Spring 2023 Youth Ballet at the Cultural Center
2023 Great American Think-Off Question Announced
Sit ‘n’ Stitch 2023
Art for Lunch 2023
Arts Midwest Folkefest Goes Virtual in 2021 with Kardemimmit
Deep Roots: Sustaining a Living Community
Corey Medina & Brothers Return to NYM February 18, 2023!
Surge and the Swell Concert February 25, 2023
2022 Year in Review – Join Us in 2023!
‘Photos From Finland’ Gallery Exhibit
2022 Online Auction
Fall 2022 Workshops @ the Cultural Center
Longest Night Music Festival 2022
2022 Great American Think-Off Results
2022 Great American Think-Off Finalist Essays
2022 Great American Think-Off Finalists Announced
Think-Off Essays Due April 1
2022 Great American Think-Off Question