Ethics essay contest deadline March 16

The Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics invites submissions for the 2026 Ethics Essay Contest. Essays should be submitted electronically to danlee@augustana.edu by Monday, March 16.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three essays: $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. Essays will be judged by an outside evaluator on the basis of the following:

• Clarity
• Appropriate use of ethical ideas, theories and principles in addressing and clarifying the topic
• Depth, insight and creativity of analysis
• Thoughtfulness and plausibility of supporting arguments for the position taken. The particular position taken will not be a factor.

The suggested length is 2,000-3,000 words. The essay may address any significant ethical issue or examine a portion of the work of a significant ethical thinker. In all cases, the essay should take a position and defend it.

Submissions may come from any Augustana class or can be writing an individual did outside of course work. Work that was done to satisfy a course requirement during the current academic year or during spring term of the previous academic year may be submitted for consideration, provided that the student submitting the work was a full-time student at Augustana College at the time that she or he wrote the paper. Essays may not concurrently be submitted to other on-campus essay contests.

Winning submissions will be published in Augustana Digital Commons. Here are winning essays from previous years.