2022 Great American Think-Off Results

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...

2022 Great American Think-Off Debate June 11 & Kick-Off June 10

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...

Think-Off Essays Due April 1

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...

2022 Great American Think-Off Question

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...

America’s Greatest Thinker for 2021

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...

2021 Think-Off Finalists Announced

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...

2020 Great American Think-Off Postponed to 2021

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...

Think-Off Debate June 8, 2019

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,...

2019 Great American Think-Off Finalists

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....

2019 Great American Think-Off Essay Deadline Extended

You heard right, folks! The new deadline to enter your opinion essay for the Great American Think-Off is April 15th, 2019! To vote or not to vote: does it matter? Historically, groups of citizens have fought hard for the right to vote, only to have more than half of...

2019 Great American Think-Off Question

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...

America’s Greatest Thinker for 2018 is…

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...

2018 Think-Off Finalists

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...

2018 Great American Think-Off Question

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...

Pamela Lewis is 2017 Greatest American Thinker!

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...

Great American Think-Off 25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

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...

2017 Think-Off Question Announced

“Has the 2016 election changed our perception of truth?” The Great American Think-Off committee announced this, the 25th annual Think-Off question, today, January 1, 2017. The Think-Off is a philosophy competition held each year in tiny New York Mills, MN....

Think-Off ‘Honorable Mentions’ Opportunity Announced

More Ways to Win in 2016 Great American Think-Off America’s everyday philosophers have a new incentive to share their thoughts with the nation this year. The Great American Think-Off, a philosophy contest held annually in the small rural town of New York Mills,...

2016 Great American Think-Off Topic Announced

Topic for the 2016 Great American Think-Off is “Income Inequality Threatens Democracy” After much discussion, and appropriately, some healthy debate, the Great American Think-Off committee has decided on this year’s topic for the annual debate: “Income Inequality...

2016 Think-Off Topic Announced

Topic for the 2016 Great American Think-Off: “Income Inequality Threatens Democracy” After much discussion, and appropriately, some healthy debate, the Great American Think-Off committee has decided on this year’s topic for the annual debate:...