Profile in Courage Essay Contest
ListedCompetition
- Award
- Unrestricted cash prizes: $10,000 first, $3,000 second, three $1,000 finalist awards. Winner supplies tax forms; first winner and up to two guests receive paid travel/lodging if the May 2027 Boston event is held in person.
- Timeline
- Sep 1, 2026Opens
- Jan 11, 2027Closes at Standard Time
- Apr 30, 2027Winner/finalist confirmation .
- How to apply
- Submit online an anonymous original 700-1,000-word analysis of a U.S. elected official's political courage during/after 1917, excluding citation/bibliography words. At least five sources, parenthetical citations and APA/MLA/Turabian bibliography. List a nominating teacher who reviews the essay; homeschool parent/qualified exceptions allowed. AI anywhere in essay/bibliography disqualifies.
- What you'll need
- A nomination (check the program's nominator rules)
- An essay
- Who can apply
- U.S. grades 9-12 schools/home schools, including undocumented students; U.S. correspondence/GED students under 20 in fifty states/D.C./territories; U.S. citizens at overseas schools. Past winners/finalists and sponsor employees' families excluded.
- Good to know
- Ineligible subjects include JFK, RFK, Edward Kennedy, John Lewis and the book's featured senators; other past award recipients need a different act from their award. Essays become Foundation property and winner essays/photos may be displayed.
- Details
- ResearchCivicsNo AI assistance allowed