Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

$500 Cash Prize for Best Essay by a High School Senior

Each year, in conjunction with our Founder’s Day Celebration honoring Ivan Allen, Jr., the College recognizes a Georgia high school senior for an essay on civic responsibility. Following is a description of the essay and contest rules.

The Essay

An individual who exhibits civic leadership shows a willingness to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the community. Ivan Allen, Jr. was such an individual. As Atlanta's mayor from 1962 to 1970, Allen played a major leadership role during the civil rights movement both in the city and in the nation. He worked diligently to bring the races together in Atlanta and was the only important white southern politician who supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in testimony before Congress, a risk that could have ended his political career. Mayor Allen also sought to establish Atlanta as a progressive Southern city through expansion of the airport, attraction of major professional sports teams, and active support of the arts and culture.

The purpose of this Ivan Allen, Jr. Civic Responsibility Essay Contest is to illuminate moral behavior and civic responsibility by American leaders and institutions. All entries must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2010.

2010 Essay Topic

Are the United States and its citizens obliged to provide aid to poor countries?  Respond to this question in terms of a specific case of international relief.

Award and Recognition:

A cash award of $500 will be given to the author of the best senior essay. An additional $500 scholarship will be provided to any contest winner who subsequently enrolls in a degree program in Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. 


 

Contest Rules

Submission Requirements:

• Essays must be in English and not more than 1,200 words in length.

• Students may submit only one essay.

• Essays must be submitted with a signed cover page (also available below).

How to Submit Your Essay:

Send the completed cover page and three copies of your essay to:

Dr. John Tone, Associate Dean
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
Georgia Institute of Technology
781 Marietta Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30318

Do not identify the essay's author on anything but the cover page.

All entries must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2010.

Evaluation Criteria and Process:

Georgia Tech will evaluate the essays using the following criteria:

• The essay demonstrates a strong understanding of the subject.

• The essay reflects familiarity with primary sources related to the subject.

• The essay is well-researched, well-reasoned, and adequately documented, using Chicago Manual of Style or MLA documentation.

• The essay is written clearly, with correct spelling and grammar.

Contest reviewers will see no identifying information about entrants. An essay committee at Georgia Tech will initially identify the essays that best meet the above criteria. The essay committee will then submit the highest-rated essays to members of the Ivan Allen College Student Advisory Board, which will select the prize-winning essays. All decisions will be final.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible to submit an essay, students must either:

be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. AND currently enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade of a public, private, or parochial high school (whether in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or high schools overseas) as of the contest deadline of April 1, 2010

OR

be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. , participating in a high school correspondence course or home schooling program, AND no younger than 16 years old and no older than 18 years old as of the contest deadline of April 1, 2010.

Relatives of Georgia Tech employees are not eligible.

Questions?

Please send e-mail inquiries to john.tone@iac.gatech.edu

Ivan Allen Jr. Civic Responsibility Essay Contest Cover Sheet (.pdf download)

Ivan Allen Jr. Civic Responsibility Essay Contest Rules (.pdf download)