harvard alumni essay contest

Harvard Alumni for Global Women's Empowerment

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HIR Academic Writing Contest

The Harvard International Review is a quarterly magazine offering insight on international affairs from the perspectives of scholars, leaders, and policymakers. Since our founding in 1979, we've set out to bridge the worlds of academia and policy through outstanding writing and editorial selection.

The quality of our content is unparalleled. Each issue of the Harvard International Review includes exclusive interviews and editorials by leading international figures along with expert staff analysis of critical international issues. We have featured commentary by 43 Presidents and Prime Ministers, 4 Secretaries-General, 4 Nobel Economics Prize laureates, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The Contest

Inspired by our growing high school readership around the world, we have run the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest since 2020 to encourage and highlight outstanding high school writing on topics related to international affairs.

Contest Format

Participants in the contest submit a short-form article on a topic in international affairs. Each submission will be read and scored by the Harvard International Review .

A number of contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. At the Defense Day, students will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must adhere to the following requirements, as outlined in the Submission Guide below.

For the upcoming Spring 2024 contest, participants will have a choice of two different themes and must note which prompt they have chosen at the top of their submissions.

Theme A: Inequalities in a VUCA World

Theme B: Global Challenges and Collective Actions

Contestants may choose either topic above when writing the article.

Content: Articles should address a topic related to international affairs today. Potential categories include (but are not limited to): Agriculture, Business, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, Employment & Immigration, Energy & Environment, Finance & Economy, Public Health, Science & Technology, Space, Trade, and Transportation. Articles should examine the theme from a global perspective rather than focusing on the United States.

Length: Articles should be at least 800 words but not exceed 1,200 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, or authorship declaration).

Writing Style: Submissions should present an analytically backed perspective on an under-appreciated global topic.  

AI Policy : The usage of ChatGPT is prohibited. Judges will be running all articles through multiple AI checkers, and articles that receive high AI generation scores across multiple checkers will be disqualified.

Excellent contest submissions will aim to present a topic holistically from a balanced perspective. Evidence and nuance are critical. Submissions should be well-researched, well-informed, and formal in style and prose.

The HIR does not accept op-eds , otherwise known as editorials or opinion pieces for its competition. Articles are expected to have a thesis but should not have an agenda. Submissions should also not be merely a collection of facts.

As a journalist organization, we ask that submissions follow AP Style's newest edition . We also ask that submissions are culturally sensitive, fact-checked, and respectful.

Examples of pieces that would be considered excellent submissions are below.

Citation and Sources : All factual claims must be backed by a citation from a reliable source. All ideas that are not your own must be properly attributed. Citations should be made via hyperlinks. Non-digital sources are welcome but must be cited properly as per AP Style . See the examples above for examples of using hyperlinks for citations.

Click Here: Submission Guide

Contest dates.

There are three distinct submission cycles for the 2024 Contest.

Please note that contestants are requested to register and pay before becoming eligible to submit their articles prior to the submission deadline.  

Admissions are done on a rolling basis! Capacity is limited.

Spring 2024

Article Submission Deadline: May 31, 2024

HIR Defense Day: June 29, 2024

Summer 2024

Article Submission Deadline: August 31, 2024

HIR Defense Day: October 5, 2024

Fall 2024 / Winter 2024

Article Submission Deadline: January 2, 2025

HIR Defense Day: February 5, 2025

Contest Prizes

All submissions will receive a score from the Harvard International Review based on the Evaluation Rubric described in the Submission Guide. Contestants that receive a passing score without qualifying for a HIR Defense Day will receive individual prizes. Finalists will be eligible for the following Gold/Silver/Bronze medals based on their scores and performance in the HIR Defense Day.

Commendation Prize: HIR Certificate

Outstanding Writing Content / Style Prize : HIR Certificate

High Commendation Prize : HIR Certificate

Bronze Medal : HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top 20 percent)

Silver Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top 10 percent)

Gold Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top three percent)

All scoring and prize decisions are final. The contest will not be able to provide additional detail beyond the scores provided by HIR graders. All contestants who manage to submit their articles will receive a certificate of completion.

Contest Eligibility:

United States

Students are eligible if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

International

Students in countries outside of the United States (grades 9-12) are also welcome to submit. Submissions are expected to be written in English and with traditional American spelling. For more information on submissions in your country, please contact [email protected]

Register Here

Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester

2023 Essay Contest

First prize:    $250         Second Prize:    $100         Third Prize:    $50 Topic: Yes, We Can IMPORTANT! Please note: the deadline for essay submissions is MARCH 15, 2023.

President Barack Obama used the phrase “Yes, we can” to encourage his supporters during the 2008 presidential election campaign. How would you apply his slogan to today’s world. What gives you hope for positive developments in the world and makes you optimistic about the future? You may address the topic in terms of what people can do to bring about positive change in any area of contemporary life, including your school or community, the country as a whole, and/or the larger world we live in.  You may discuss how people can work together, as well as how a single person or a few people can have a positive impact on society. You do not need to address all those suggestions and you may write from a different approach to the question. Remember that your treatment of the topic should be in the form of an essay, not a letter or a poem.  The Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester invites all area students in grades 9 -12 to demonstrate their writing skill and creative ideas in this essay contest. You can take any position, argue any point, and espouse any cause in relation to this theme…so long as the work is your own and no one else’s.  We are looking for students with fresh perspectives, well-reasoned arguments, and excellent verbal skills.  

Official Rules

1.Any student currently attending school in the Greater Rochester Area in Grades 9,10, 11 or 12 may enter by completing the entry form and submitting a qualifying essay.  Children of members of the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester (“HRCR”) are not eligible to enter.  No purchase, entry fee or other payment is required.  Information provided on the entry form will be used solely for purposes of this Contest.

2.    Entries must be sent by electronic mail unless permission is given to submit paper entries. Submit electronic essays to  [email protected]  An entry form is also required and is available from the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester website: http://hrcrochester.clubs.harvard.edu You should keep a copy of your essay for reference. We cannot assume responsibility for delayed, misdirected or lost email. 3.    Entries shall be no more than 1,000 words long. ESSAYS MUST CONSIST SOLELY OF THE ENTRANT’S ORIGINAL WORK AND MUST NOT BE ENTERED IN ANY OTHER CONTEST.  Though an essay may contain ideas or facts derived from research, the expression of these must be exclusively in the entrant’s own words.  No editing, correction or other assistance by anyone else, nor borrowing of another’s language without attribution, is permitted.  Any entrant who is discovered to have received such assistance in preparing an entry will be disqualified.  (If discovery occurs after a prize has been awarded, the prize will be forfeited and repaid to HRCR.) The theme of the essay shall be: Yes, we can!  Potential winners shall be selected according to the following criteria: (a) originality of ideas, (b) persuasiveness of arguments, (c) relevance to the theme, (d) effectiveness of expression, (e) and appropriate length.  The panel of judges shall consist of members of HRCR and other qualified persons selected by HRCR, whose decisions in all matters shall be final and binding on all parties.

The Prizes are:    

one First Prize of $250 one Second Prize of $100 one Third Prize of $50 

HRCR reserves the right to withhold awarding any or all of the prizes if the      judges decide the entries are of insufficient merit. All entries become the property of HRCR and may be retained or disposed of in its sole discretion, but copyright in each entry will remain with the entrant.  Any taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners or their guardians.

Sponsor:    Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Rochester, Inc.

Jane Shuffelton, Contest Administrator                              

[email protected]

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Search the site, search suggestions, alert: harvard yard closed to the public.

Please note, Harvard Yard gates are currently closed. Entry will only be permitted to those with a Harvard ID via Johnston, Thayer, Widener, Sever and Solomon (Lamont) Gates. Guests are not allowed.

Last Updated: April 25, 2:24pm

Open Alert: Harvard Yard Closed to the Public

Boardplus cafe spots around campus.

As the spring semester passes by on campus, students find themselves caught in the familiar frenzy of academic demands. With the stress of overdue papers comes the inevitable return of the all-nighters, often fueled by caffeine. 

Like breaking out of a writer’s block, students suddenly remember their secret “pick-me-up" hack — BoardPlus. BoardPlus is part of the undergraduate meal plan that adds $65 per semester to use at any Harvard Dining Services operated cafe or grille. And just like clockwork, as the end of the year approaches, students race to spend their untouched balance. However, instead of overwhelming the barista at Buckminster Cafe with last-minute orders every Reading Period, we can gradually savor the perks throughout the semester.  

Finding the ideal study spot on campus is similar to the art of brewing the perfect cup of coffee—a process that requires time, patience, and a keen eye for the right environment. Fortunately, Harvard offers a diverse range of locations that fits different study styles, and where students can spend their BoardPlus.  

Bold Cold Brew: Barker Cafe

 Much like the rich aroma of a meticulously crafted cold brew, Barker Cafe provides the perfect blend of dark academia and productivity. Nestled in the heart of the Barker Writing Center, this spot offers a unique atmosphere of tall windows and warm sunshine that resonates with the focused energy of students. With a menu that caters to all tastes, from artisanal pastries to handcrafted lattes, Barker Cafe is a haven for those seeking a bold and invigorating study session. Maybe this is where Taylor Swift went to write her upcoming album...  

Cozy Caffeine Corner: Cafe Gato Rojo

Admist the chaos of being centrally located in Harvard Yard, Cafe Gato Rojo is anything but riotous. The Cafe hides in the basement of the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and its seemingly obscure location allows for the perfect place to people-watch as you ignore the to-do list. The wooden interior mixed with the aroma of freshly baked croissants is enough to fuel your imagination of being the main character in a coming-of-age story that watches the world pass by.  

Latte Lounge: Lamont Cafe

We have two groups of students on campus: The student that has never stepped foot in Lamont or the student who has made a fort out of a table in the second-floor study room, complete with a sleeping bag, toothbrush, and their ten-step skincare. With the return of LamCaf and its wide variety of handcrafted beverages, quick snacks, and bakery bites, it is possible this 24/7 library is the hangout spot of the semester. Complete with private rooms, Lamont Cafe is perfect for students who prefer a lively yet focused environment.   

The clock at the coffeeshop reads 3:00. Whether you are an expert all-nighter finding yourself at LamCaf at 3AM or people watcher at 3PM, each spot on campus has its own unique blend. As the essays and problem sets may pile up along with the empty coffee, matcha, or tea cups, we can always savor those bursts of productivity. 

The last day to use BoardPlus is the last day of finals. This year, it is May 11, 2024. Harvard College can use their BoardPlus at any HUDs-affiliated cafes, House grilles, or for guest-swipes. On campus, these locations include the Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) Cafe and Harvard Law School Cafe at the Caspersen Student Center. 

Trinh Class of '25

Hello everyone! I'm Trinh, a junior in Kirkland House, concentrating in neuroscience with a secondary in computer science, and a citation in Spanish.

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Tuskegee University

Tuskegee University Announces Winners of President's Essay Contest

April 29, 2024.

Contact: Kawana McGough , Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing    

Tuskegee, AL – Tuskegee University proudly announces the 2024 President's Essay Contest winners. The contest, aimed at promoting critical thinking and meaningful discourse, attracted submissions from various disciplines, reflecting the diversity and academic excellence synonymous with Tuskegee.

The winners of the President's Essay Contest are as follows:

• 1st Place: Everett Mason, Jr., Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, Lorman, Mississippi ($1,000 prize)
• 2nd Place: Zora Cunningham, Freshman, Business Administration, Memphis, Tennessee ($600 prize)
• 3rd Place: Aria Alridge, Sophomore, Agribusiness, Atlanta, Georgia ($400 prize)

Each winner demonstrated exceptional insight, creativity, and passion in their essays, offering valuable perspectives on topics relevant to the Tuskegee community and beyond.

Everett Mason, Jr., the deserving recipient of the first prize, captivated the judges with his compelling essay titled "The Continued Legacy of Tuskegee University Women." In his essay, Mason eloquently explores the transformative impact of black women throughout history, highlighting their resilience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to effecting positive change. Drawing inspiration from the rich legacy of Tuskegee's pioneering women, Mason articulates a vision of empowerment and inclusivity, envisioning a future where black women continue to break barriers and shape the world around them.

Mason's essay is a poignant tribute to the trailblazing spirit of Tuskegee's female leaders, past and present. It underscores the university's commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive student environment.

© 2024 Tuskegee University