The JFK Courage Essay Scholarship Contest is open to high school students in grades 9 through 12. Students planning to enroll full-time at a four-year college or university to study English or writing may enter.
The writing competition consists of a 1,000 words or less essay on the subject of political courage. Students entering the contest will be expected to write about a U.S. elected official who showed courage and integrity and even risked their careers by doing the right thing. The student must reflect familiarity with President John F. Kennedy's book, Profiles in Courage, published in 1956.
Winners include one grand prize winner, one second place winner and up to five finalists. Each winner receives a cash award. In addition, the grand prize winner is invited to the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston where they will receive the grand prize from Caroline Kennedy. The event is marked by the annual Profile in Courage Award ceremony.
The awards are funded by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and John Hancock Financial. The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides financial support, staffing, and other resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The organization was formed in 1963 and receives ongoing support through private donations.
The deadline for this scholarship is usually in JANUARY of each year, and the award amount is usually $500 - $10,000.
For more details, visit www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest.aspx
