Are you a high school student with a strong interest in history? Want to tell your Congressman what you think about the role of politics in America? Then enter your essays for the JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest! This essay contest has been organized by an effort led by the Kennedy Library Foundation, which seeks to honor John F. Kennedy’s legacy of elected office by recognizing elected officials who take principled stands and make courageous decisions. The JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest is an annual essay competition designed to encourage high school students to write about acts of political courage by a U.S. elected official. The contest is named after President John F. Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage, which recounts the stories of eight U.S. Senators who showed courage by standing up for their beliefs. The contest is important because it helps to promote civic education and engagement among high school students. By encouraging students to research and write about political courage, the contest helps to instill a sense of responsibility and commitment to democracy. The contest also allows students to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. Moreover, the contest offers students a chance to win cash prizes, which can help them pay for college or other educational expenses. The grand prize winner receives $10,000, and up to five runners-up receive $1000 each. In addition, the winning essays are published on the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s website, which provides students with a platform to share their ideas with a wider audience.
- The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum offer an annual scholarship to winning applicants who submit 700-1,000 word essays based on a prompt related to U.S. history.
- The current year’s prompt is “Describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born.”
- The scholarship amount can be up to $10,000. If you have a passion for U.S. history and writing, we encourage you to apply and put your skills to the test.
