In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy recounted the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers to do what was right for the nation. These leaders demonstrated political courage by taking a stand for the public good in spite of pressure by interest groups, their political party, or even their constituents. The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage.
The maximum word count is 1,000 with a minimum of 700, not including citations and bibliography. Use at least five varied sources such as government documents, letters, newspaper articles, books, and/or personal interviews.
The following awards are given:
- The first-place winner receives a $10,000 cash award. If the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation holds the 2023 Profile in Courage Award event in person, the winner and her/his/their family will be invited to travel to Boston to accept her/his/their award in May. Travel and lodging expenses will be paid for the trip to Boston for the winning student and her/his/their parents.
- Second-place winner receives $3,000.
- Five finalists receive $1,000 each.
- Eight semifinalists receive $100 each.
- Ten students receive honorable mentions.
- The nominating teacher of the first-place winner is also invited to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library to receive the John F. Kennedy Public Service Grant in the amount of $500 for school projects encouraging student leadership and civic engagement. Travel and lodging expenses will be paid for the trip to Boston.
- All participants receive a Certificate of Participation.
Location(s)
Schedule
- Entries are due in January
Cost/Compensation
- No fee
Eligibility Requirements
- Submissions are open to all high school students who are U.S. citizens.
- All students must have a nominating teacher from their current high school who provides students with support and advice during the writing of their essay. Nominating teachers are also asked to read students' essays to make suggestions for improvement before they are submitted to the essay contest. As part of this review process, the nominating teacher reviews the essay for syntax, grammatical, typographical and spelling errors and ensures the essay meets the contest requirements.
Deadline
- Mid January
Application or Entry Requirements
- Essays can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count.
- Essays must be the original work of the student.
- Essays must have a minimum of five sources, use parenthetical references throughout the text, and include a bibliography.
- Essays must 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 official may have addressed an issue at the local, state, or national level. However:
- John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy are not eligible subjects for essays.
- Essays about past recipients of the Profile in Courage Award will be disqualified unless they describe an act of political courage other than the act for which the award was given.
Essays about the senators in Profiles in Courage will be disqualified.
Notifications of Decisions
- Winners and finalists will be notified by late April
- All participants will receive a letter announcing the winners and finalists by the end of May
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is a historical archive and museum dedicated to the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy, located in Boston, Massachusetts. The museum offers exhibits that explore JFK's presidency, his family's life, and his assassination in 1963. The museum also features artifacts, photographs, documents, and audiovisual materials that chronicle the era of the Kennedy presidency. Its archives contain more than 8.4 million pages of JFK's personal, congressional, and presidential papers, making it one of the largest archives of a U.S. president. The Museum is situated on a 10-acre waterfront site designed by renowned architect I. M. Pei. In addition, the museum hosts numerous events and programs, including lectures, book signings, and film screenings, attracting visitors from around the world.
