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.
Location(s)
Schedule
- January 17th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
Eligibility Requirements
- The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas.
- Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate.
- Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and members of their families are not eligible to participate.
- Students must have a nominating teacher. Nominating teachers can be former or current teachers, but must still be teaching at the same high school as the essay participant. Usually students ask their English or History/Social Studies teachers. In very few cases, we will make an exception if a student is unable to ask a teacher from their high school to be their nominating teacher. The parent or legal guardian responsible for the instruction of home schooled students can also serve as a nominating teacher.
Deadline
- January 17th, 2025
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 are checked for AI assistance and are disqualified if AI is detected at any point in the essay or bibliography. See Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism.
- Essays must have a minimum of five sources.
- Essays should not include identifying information about the author.
- Essays with fewer than five listed sources will be disqualified.
- All participants must cite sources they used to research their topic throughout their essay. Please use parenthetical citations within the text.
- We can not accept citations in footnote form.
- Essays must include a bibliography. Accepted formats include APA, MLA, or Turabian. Please refer to Guidelines for Citations and Bibliographies.
- Click HERE for more information on the essay topic, including subjects that should be avoided and subjects that will result in disqualification
Notifications of Decisions
- Winners will be notified by April 30th, 2025
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.
