jfk essay contest winners 2021

New Jersey First-Year Student Wins the 2022 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2022 Media Contact: Matt Porter   617-514-1574 [email protected] www.jfklibrary.org

New Jersey First-Year Student Wins the 2022 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest -- Winning Essay Profiles Texas State Representative José Tomás Canales and his 1919 demand to address racial violence by the Texas Rangers --

BOSTON  – The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that Theodora McGee, a first-year student at Moorestown High School in Moorestown, New Jersey , has won the national John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students. The winning essay describes the political courage of former State Representative José Tomás Canales who in 1919 introduced legislation to reform the Texas Rangers, a law enforcement agency whose members had committed widespread racial violence against Mexican-American residents of southern Texas. McGee describes how Canales’ actions successfully brought attention to abuses by the Rangers – but at a cost to his future in politics. She writes, “While Canales' fight to reform the Texas Rangers helped reduce violence against Mexicans and Tejanos, it spelled the end to his political career.” The essay contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and supported by John Hancock. McGee will receive a $10,000 scholarship award for her accomplishment from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. [Click here to read the winning essay.] The annual Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official. The contest is a companion program of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award™, named for Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage , which recounts the stories of eight US senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular decisions for the greater good. This year, 2,474 essays were submitted from students in fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, and from US citizens in Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. “It’s more important than ever for students to be able to learn about the courage of leaders like José Tomás Canales who sacrificed his political career to stand up against racism in his community. We are so grateful to have thousands of young people participate each year in the Profile in Courage Essay Contest to learn about the challenges facing elected leaders who choose to take difficult stands for the greater good,” said Rachel Flor , Executive Director of the Kennedy Library Foundation. “We congratulate Theodora for her excellent essay highlighting Canales’ political courage and her extraordinary achievement as a first-year student.” “It has been an honor for John Hancock to join the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in inspiring today’s youth to learn about the importance of public service and courageous leadership,” said Thomas Samoluk , Head of External Affairs & Investigative Services at John Hancock, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Board Member and Development Committee Chair. “We congratulate Theodora McGee for this well-deserved recognition and celebrate the thousands of students who submitted essays about public officials who have made a difference at all levels of government.” She found out about the contest from her nominator and World History teacher Fred Bjornstad who had a contest poster hanging outside his classroom. Promoting the contest was important to Bjornstad after hearing that first-year students had had fewer writing opportunities during the pandemic. He also assigns weekly essays to help students develop their writing skills. McGee was inspired to write about Canales after discovering his courage while researching lesser-known incidents in U.S. history. She was moved by his notable actions and explained, “He was a really courageous person who stuck to his principles. He was one of the only minorities in the Texas State House. He could have just ignored the situation, but he didn’t. He decided to stand up and make a difference even if it meant risking his career.” The eldest daughter of Cecile Murphy and Fawn McGee, and older sister of twelve-year-old Wilhelmina, McGee participates in the Girls Leadership Council at the Alice Paul Foundation where she learns about women’s history and women’s rights. She has played piano since the age of four and is in the honors art program at her school. Her favorite academic subjects are history and Latin, and she is an avid reader. McGee loves to sail and looks forward to serving as a Counselor in Training at the Riverton Yacht Club Sail Camp this summer. For serving as her nominating teacher, Mr. Bjornstad will receive a John F. Kennedy Public Service Grant in the amount of $500 to be used for school projects that encourage student leadership and civic engagement. Allison Eto , a junior at ‘Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii , was selected as the second-place winner for her essay on Ralph Dills, a former State Assemblyman of California. She will receive a $3,000 prize for this recognition. Five students were recognized as finalists in the competition: Nicholas Chang , a junior at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington , profiled John Spellman, former Governor of Washington; Will Gasaway , a senior at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey , profiled Glen Taylor, former US Senator of Idaho; Aiden Fel , a sophomore at Ossining High School in Ossining, New York , profiled Pete McCloskey, a former US House Representative of California; Jaya Gupta , a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia , profiled Rose Bird, former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court; and Thi Ha Phyo , a sophomore at Storm Lake High School in Storm Lake Iowa , profiled John T. Bernard, former US House Representative of Minnesota. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 prize. Ten students were recognized as semifinalists: Emily Adcock , a senior at Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi , profiled Liz Cheney, US House Representative of Wyoming; Caleb Bello , a junior at International School of Beaverton in Beaverton, Oregon , profiled Benjamin W. Olcott, former Governor of Oregon; Jacob Bruns , a sophomore at John F. Kennedy Senior High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa , profiled Andy McKean, State Representative in Iowa; Felix Chen , a first-year student at the Harker School in San Jose, California , profiled William Byron Rumford, Sr., a former State Assemblyman of California; Ingrid Holmquist , a junior at Montgomery Blair High School in Tacoma Park, Maryland , profiled Kurt Schmoke, former Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland; Joseph Kauffman , a junior at the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania , profiled Kurt Schmoke, former Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland; Terrence McCafferty , a senior at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio , profiled Anthony Gonzalez, US House Representative of Ohio; Mariam Parray , a junior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas , profiled Liz Cheney, US House Representative of Wyoming; Simran Sahoo , a sophomore at Downington STEM Academy in Downington, Pennsylvania , profiled Chad Mayes, State Assemblyman of California; and Caroline Yu , a senior at Greenwich High School in Old Greenwich, Connecticut , profiled Tom Perriello, a former US House Representative of Virginia. Each semifinalist will receive a $100 prize. Eight students received honorable mention and are listed, along with winners, finalists, and semifinalists at www.jfklibrary.org/essaycontest . The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation created the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 1989 to honor President Kennedy’s commitment and contribution to public service and to celebrate his May 29th birthday. The award is presented annually to public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences. The award is named for President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage . A distinguished bipartisan committee of national, political, and community leaders selected the winning essay. Martha Minow , 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University, former dean, Harvard Law School chairs the 15-member committee. Committee members are Stacey Abrams , former Georgia House Democratic Leader [on leave of absence from the committee during her campaign for Governor of Georgia], David Axelrod , Political Strategist and Founder, the Institute of Politics at The University of Chicago; Joaquin Castro , Congressman, (D-TX 20th District); Carlos Curbelo , former US Congressman, (R-FL 26th District); Christopher Dodd , former Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America, former US Senator (D-CT); Adam Frankel , Senior Advisor to Emerson Collective and Fenway Strategies, former Speechwriter to President Barack Obama; Sherrilyn Ifill , President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Caroline Kennedy , Honorary President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; Marne Levine , Vice President of Global Partnerships and Business Development, Facebook; Claire McCaskill , former US Senator (D-MO), NBC Political Analyst; William H. McRaven , Admiral, USN (Retired); Beth Myers , Principal, Buckminster Strategies; Ronald L. Sargent , Chairman, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; and Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President Kennedy. This contest, which runs from September to January annually, was supported through 2021 by John Hancock , one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock supports more than 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and education savings plans. * * * The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is the non-profit partner and creative collaborator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which is administered by the United States National Archives and Records Administration. Over the past forty years, this partnership has produced world class exhibits, the largest, most advanced digital archive created by a presidential library, award-winning educational and digital resources, and public programs that make the Library the largest convener of public dialogues in the Boston area. Grounded in the archival evidence, these activities promote a greater appreciation of America’s political and cultural heritage, help people understand the major challenges facing democracy today, and inspire new generations to engage with the issues at the heart of contemporary life that relate to the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.

Albuquerque Academy

May 24, 2024

Sophomore Selected as Finalist in Profile in Courage Essay Contest

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced that Aarush Tutiki ’26 was named a finalist in the national John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students. In his essay, Aarush profiled Leonidas Dyer, former U.S. Representative of Missouri.

For this year’s contest, 2,313 essays were submitted from students in 50 states and Washington, D.C., and from U.S. citizens in Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Vietnam. The foundation selected one winner, a runner-up, five finalists, ten semifinalists, and eight honorable mentions.

The annual Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an essay on an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official. The contest is a companion program of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award™, named for Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Profiles in Courage , which recounts the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular decisions for the greater good.

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Fourth circuit announces winners of 2021 high school essay contest.

In his inaugural address 60 years ago, President John F. Kennedy uttered a profound and enduring challenge regarding citizenship: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” As Kennedy recognized, citizenship carries with it both rights and responsibilities.

What are the responsibilities of citizenship, and how do those responsibilities support and reinforce the rule of law?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is pleased to announce the winners of its 2021 High School Essay Contest.

First Place--$2,000 Award: Huda Haque , a rising senior at Panther Creek High School, Cary, North Carolina.  Read the First Place Essay

Second Place--$1,500 Award:   Taylor Kohn , a rising senior with South Carolina Association of Independent Homeschools, Columbia, South Carolina.  Read the Second Place Essay

Third Place--$1,000 Award: Eli Bailey , a recent graduate of Oakton High School, Vienna, Virginia. Read the Third Place Essay

The contest, which ran from January 29, 2021, to May 28, 2021, was open to current 9th through 12th graders in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The court received excellent essays from students in all five states.

Students were asked to share their thoughts on "What are the responsibilities of citizenship, and how do those responsibilities support and reinforce the rule of law?” The winning essays will be read during a virtual Constitution Day program scheduled for September 17, 2021, at 2:30 p.m.

The court extends its appreciation to its distinguished panel of judges for their work in reviewing the essays and selecting the top three submissions:

• Claire Raj, J.D. , Associate Professor of Law and Director, Education Rights Clinic, University of South Carolina School of Law.
• Tara Casey, J.D. , Professor of Law and Director, Carrico Center for Pro Bono & Public Service, University of Richmond School of Law.
• Carolyn A. Dubay, J.D., Executive Director, North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission.
• Marilyn Ogburn, J.D, , Attorney, Baltimore, Maryland.  
• Patricia Proctor, J.D. - Founding Director, Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy, Marshall University.

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This modern classic is the story of intransigent young architect Howard Roark, whose integrity was as unyielding as granite…of Dominique Francon, the exquisitely beautiful woman who loved Roark passionately, but married his worst enemy…and of the fanatic denunciation unleashed by an enraged society against a great creator.

As fresh today as it was then, Rand’s provocative novel presents one of the most challenging ideas in all of fiction—that man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress.

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Every three months there is a new seasonal entry round, with its own unique essay prompt. You may compete in any or all of these entry rounds.

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The first-place essay from each season will be eligible to contend for the annual first-place title, with the opportunity to secure a grand prize of $25,000.

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Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized.  Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel. 

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Is it a selfless desire to benefit mankind? A hunger for fame, fortune, and accolades? The need to prove superiority? Or is it a self-sufficient drive to pursue a creative vision, independent of others’ needs or opinions?

Ayn Rand addresses these questions through her portrayal of Howard Roark, an innovative architect who, as she puts it, “struggles for the integrity of his creative work against every form of social opposition.”

Learn more and request a free digital copy of the book today.

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Curious to know what makes for a winning essay in The Fountainhead  contest? Check out some of the essays written by our most recent grand-prize winners. 

To varying degrees, they all display an excellent grasp of the philosophic meaning of The Fountainhead .

See the full list of winners from our most recent contest here .

Jada Manaloto

12th grade student

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts

New York, New York

United States

John F. Kennedy High School

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Soo Yeon Chun

Deerfield Academy

Deerfield, Massachusetts

Cora Usurela

11th grade student

Thornhill Secondary School

Thornhill, Ontario

Shepherd International Edu.

Gangdong-gu, Seoul

South Korea

Lucas Pringle

Repton School

Repton, England

United Kingdom

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Essay Contest Winners Announced

August 25, 2021

The winners of JASNA’s 2021 Essay Contest have been selected, and we invite you to  read their outstanding entries on our website . A list of the students awarded  Honorable Mention  is also posted online.

"Indulged with his favorite instrument."Illustration by C.E. Brock, Mansfield Park, 1908 (Internet Archive)

The JASNA Essay Contest is an annual event open to high school, college/university, and graduate school students worldwide. We sponsor it each year to help foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. This year, participants were asked to discuss Jane Austen and the arts: how she used the arts to reveal character, address social standing, advance the plot, or otherwise make a point in her novels.

We received submissions from students in the United States,  Canada, and 13 other countries: Croatia, China, Ethiopia, India, New Zealand,  Pakistan,  the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Ukraine,  United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.  The entries were evaluated in two rounds by 31 judges, and the top 3 essays in each division were selected for scholarship awards. The first-place winners have also been invited to attend JASNA's 2021 Annual General Meeting.

Congratulations to this year's winners, and many thanks to all the contest participants and judges!

High School Division

•  First Place:  Emma K. Fontenot "The Master Manipulator: Jane Austen’s Use of Portrait Drawing in  Emma"
•   Second Place:    Aidyn Turk "The Myth of the Accomplished Woman: The Arts in Austen’s Novels"
• Third Place:   Clara C. Brodey "Portraiture in  Emma : Realist or 'Imaginist'?"

 College/University Division 

•   First Place:   Audrey K. Peterson "Seeing and Knowing: Taste as Moral Judgment"
• Second Place:   Rebecca H. Kilroy "Elinor and Emma: Artistic Vision and Social Standing of Two Jane Austen Heroines"
• Third Place:    Josephine M. Roy "Mistresses of Music: The Pianoforte and Social Mobility in Jane Austen’s Novels"

Graduate School Division      

• First Place:    Anjalee Nadarajan "Staging Flirtation at the Pianoforte in  Sense and Sensibility  and  Emma"
• Second Place:    Sharon Cohen "Interpretive Ekphrasis and the Marital Marketplace: Elinor’s Drawings in  Sense and Sensibility"
• Third Place:    Victoria Zhuang "The Triumph of the Insufficiently Accomplished Woman: Austen’s Examination of how the Arts Reflect Women’s Agency"

 You'll find the winning essays published here . 

The JASNA Post

About jasna.

The Jane Austen Society of North America is dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. JASNA is a nonprofit organization, staffed by volunteers, whose mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius.  We have over 5,000 members of all ages and from diverse walks of life. Although most live in the United States or Canada, we also have members in more than a dozen other countries.

©2024 The Jane Austen Society of North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

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