elie wiesel ethics essay contest

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Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Giving   a   voice   to   students   so   they   may   engage   in   the   central   questions   that   impact   our     c u l t u r e   ., a letter to students from elie wiesel.

Whatever the answer to essential questions of society and individual human beings may be, education is surely its major component. But what would education be without its ethical dimension? Many of us believe them to be inseparable. That is why this Prize in Ethics Essay Contest was established in 1989 by our Foundation. Thousands of students from hundreds of colleges and universities across the nation have participated. Through their writing, they explored their concerns and beliefs, their fears and their hopes.

While we suggest relevant topics each year, applicants are encouraged to choose any subject they feel strongly about, provided it is related to the domain of ethics.

The quality of the essays we have received over the years has been remarkable. It is with great difficulty that winners are chosen by a special committee of teachers and scholars.

We appeal to college students to send us their essays. We promise you they will not be ignored. In fact, we shall be proud to be your first readers. And perhaps your first critics and publishers.

We wish you good luck.

2024 Writing Prompt

What challenges awaken your conscience?

Is it the conflicts in American society?  An international crisis?

Maybe a difficult choice you currently face or a hard decision you had to make?

Engage us. Enlighten us. Explore the ethics of any problem, question, or issue, whether close to home or in the world at large. 

We are eager to learn from you.

What are the essay guidelines?

• In 3,000 to 4,000 words (6-8 pages), you are encouraged to raise questions, single out issues and identify dilemmas. 
• Essays may be written in the formal or informal voice, but most importantly, an individual voice should be evident. 
• Essay must be the original, unpublished work however can be a paper that was turned in for class. 
• Only one essay per student per year may be submitted. 
• Essay should be titled, typed in 12-point font easily readable font (such as Times New Roman), double-spaced with 1″ margins, and numbered pages.
• Submissions will be judged anonymously. Hence, no name or identifying references (i.e. your name, school, or professor) should appear on the title page or in the document. Our office will put a code on your essay.

Am I eligible?

Registered undergraduate students at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States during the Fall 2023 semester are eligible to enter the 2024 contest. 

Students who are studying abroad during the Fall 2023 semester are eligible, as long as they are registered as full-time juniors or seniors at their home schools in the U.S

Students are NOT eligible to enter if…

• They are not yet attending college (includes not attending during the Fall 2023 semester) or are in high school.
• They attend two-year programs or schools.
• They are enrolled in an associate degree or community college program.
• They are part-time junior or senior students during the Fall 2023 semester.
• They finished their undergraduate studies before the Fall 2023 semester.
• They are in a doctorate, masters, or any graduate program.
• They are attending an unaccredited school as acknowledged by the National Student Clearinghouse. 
• They are students at a school outside of the U.S.

If you are not eligible this year, you may be eligible in the following years. New application forms and guidelines are posted every fall.

What should I write about in my essay?

The Foundation receives many inquiries regarding what students may write about in their essays. The topics provided by the Foundation each year are merely suggested topics – students may feel free to write about any topic as long as it pertains to ethics.

Who can be my faculty sponsor (optional)?

Where can I find past winning essays?

Previous winners can be found below. Winning essays from the past ten years are available to read as well.

Earlier essays were published in An Ethical Compass .

Where can I find other scholarship resources or contests I am eligible for?

• www.fastweb.com
• www.scholarships.com
• www.internationalstudent.com
• www.finaid.org
• www.studentawards.com
• www.myscholly.com

Can I use ChatGPT or AI to produce my essay or aid my writing?

Use of writing that is generated or aided by Artificial Intelligence is strictly prohibited.  If determined AI was utilized, this may result in disqualification. 

The essay submitted must be your own original, unpublished work however can be a paper that was turned in for class.

2023 Winners

First Prize

Danielle Ranucci

Princeton University

Second Prize

Cutter Canada

Trinity University

Third Prize

Honorable Mention

Nikkisha Joseph

CUNY Laguardia

Faith Seawell-Campbell

Coppin State University

*Please note that all essays are the property of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and may not be published elsewhere without written permission from the Foundation. All views and opinions expressed in the winning essays are those of the individual writers. The Foundation does not necessarily share these views.

Past Years' Winners

Click on the contest year to view the winners & their essays for that year.

Michael Zhu A Lonely Farewell University of Connecticut

Honorable Mentions

An Ethical Compass

In 2010, The Elie Wiesel Foundation published a book of winning essays from the span of the Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. The book includes a preface written by Prof. Wiesel and an introduction by renowned author and  New York Times  Op-Ed contributor Thomas Friedman.

2019 Marked the 30th Anniversary of Our Prize in Ethics

We celebrated by welcoming our past winners to come together for the day at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC to consider their essays and the ethics of our world today. Thank you to those to who contributed their memories to the following video and participated in the day.

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Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Website: Elie Wiesel Foundation

Description

2022 Essay Topic:

Articulate with clarity an ethical issue that you have encountered and analyze what it has taught you about ethics and yourself. Note that the most engaging essays often reflect deeply on a particularly meaningful experience or episode in one’s life. That approach could focus ethical reflection on:

• A personal issue, family matter, travel incident, academic inquiry, dilemma in literature or film, recent article or editorial in a major newspaper, current conflict in American life, or international crisis
• Write about any specific topic you wish, provided it explores an ethical problem, question, issue, or concern.

Eligibility

Read the full guidelines at http://www.ethicsprize.org .

Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the US during fall term or spring term are eligible to apply.

• Permanent Resident
• International or Other Visa Status
• Undocumented

Submit your essay online at https://center.uoregon.edu/EWF/2022/CMS_CFP_Login::pageIndex?formid=2687831 . 

Essays will be judged on:

• The quality of the writing
• The clarity of the ethical problem or issue
• The depth of the essay’s ethical analysis – including, for example, reflections on matters of right and wrong, justice and injustice, and the implications of those reflections for society

Contact Information

The Elie Wiesel Foundation For Humanity

555 Madison Avenue, Ste 1301 | New York, NY 10022

T: 212.490.7788 | F: 212.490.6006

www.eliewieselfoundation.org  

Award Details

Number of Awards: 5

Award Amount: $10,000 1st place, $5,000 2nd place, $3,000 3rd place, $1,000 Honorable Mention (2 available)

• December: Deadline

Copyright © 2007–2024 University of Washington . Managed by the Center for Experiential Learning & Diversity , a unit of Undergraduate Academic Affairs .

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The elie wiesel foundation for humanity announces 2023 winners of prize in ethics essay contest.

Five college students from universities across the country will be awarded scholarships totaling $20,000 for their exceptional essays on topical ethical issues. 

NEW YORK , Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, an organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, announced this year's winners of the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest.  The Foundation's yearly scholarship initiative selected five college student winners for their remarkable essays analyzing relevant ethical issues facing our world.

The Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, established in 1989 by Professor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion Wiesel , is an annual competition that challenges college students to contemplate an ethical theme or situation. Many essays often stem from a student's personal experience or introspection. Winners will be granted scholarships in varying amounts, totaling $20,000 .

"Challenging young people to articulate their thoughts via open-ended questions is the antidote we need to today's ideology-driven soundbites," said Elisha Wiesel , the son of Elie Wiesel and the Foundation's Chairman. "My father's passion for moral education echoes through this Contest and we're proud to amplify these students' voices through their exemplary work."

Chosen by a selection committee among hundreds of applicants, this year's winners include:

First Place Winner:  Danielle Ranucci , Princeton University Her essay, "Suffering in Their Place," studies the intensity between indifference, caring, empathy, and genuine regard for those who are mistreated and persecuted, and the effectiveness of compassion in the battle against oppression.  She reflects on her birth family in Kazakhstan , the socio-economic climate of the country, and the circumstances that come from being adopted.

She writes, "My conversation with my adoptive-parents added another dimension to my ethical questioning: why should they be obligated to imagine the strangers who suffer around the world as some kind of family they never knew?

The obvious answer was that we should always identify with each other's suffering because we were all human. But that seemed too simple to me. There must have been a more nuanced explanation."

Second Place Winner:  Cutter Canada , Trinity University His essay, "Doing the Most Good: A Story About Hope.", recounts his journey to veganism while considering his grandmother's words of wisdom, ancestral culture, and their relationship with food.

Third Place Winner:  Drew Cain , Trinity University His submission, "The Secret Lives of Private School Students: The Ethics of Secrecy, Truth-Telling, and Whistleblowing within Social Media,"  grapples with the themes of honesty, deceit, and silence set against personal events he experienced in his junior year of high school.

Honorable Mentions:  Nikkisha Joseph , of LaGuardia College Her essay "A Conveniently Used Word," reflects on when "doing the right thing" isn't always the easiest choice to make.

Faith Seawell-Campbell , of Coppin State University Her piece "Hidden in Plain Sight Human Trafficking: A Threat to Humanity and Vulnerable Populations Worldwide," focuses on this form of modern-day slavery and exploitation of humankind.

The Foundation was very honored to welcome back this year MSNBC host Rachel Maddow as a guest juror to review the final round of essay submissions.  Ms. Maddow is a former Prize in Ethics winner herself from her undergraduate days at Stanford University , receiving honors for her essay, "Indentifiable Lives: AIDS and the Response to Dehumanization."

In addition to their scholarships, winners are also awarded a trip to New York City for a seminar to discuss their essays among other ethical topics.  This year's seminar will be led by Professor Wiesel's former student and Contest Readers Committee member, Rabbi Avraham (Alan) Rosen . The day will end with a celebration of their achievement at the renowned Lotos Club.

Jury member, EWF Board Member, and long-time supporter of the Prize, Dov Seidman , founder of The HOW Institute for Society and LRN, will host the students for an annual luncheon.

"I'm proud to partner with Marion and Elisha Wiesel and the entire Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in awarding the Prize in Ethics. This remarkable group of student winners, who are already making a difference in the world by writing essays that prod the conscience and consider issues through an ethical lens, embody the hope that a new generation of moral leaders will rise to meet the challenges before us," said Seidman.

Additionally, the Foundation has opened its submissions for the 2024 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, accepting applications through December 29, 2023 . New for this cycle, the contest will be open to all undergraduate students enrolled full-time for the Fall 2023 semester at accredited four-year colleges and universities.  Interested students may apply at the following link: 2024 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

About The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest  The Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest encourages students to write thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues, and offer rational arguments for ethical action. The contest is open to all undergraduate full-time students who are registered at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States . All submissions to the essay contest are judged anonymously. Winning essays present intensely personal stories, originality, imagination, and clear articulation and convey genuine grappling with an ethical dilemma. For suggested essay topics and more information, visit: https://eliewieselfoundation.org/prize-in-ethics/ 

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity:  Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation soon after he was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace. Now spearheaded by Marion and Elie's son Elisha Wiesel , the Foundation seeks to carry on Elie Wiesel's legacy and spark ethical consciousness of human rights by investing in programs that promote moral leadership and real-world outcomes for victims of injustice. To learn more, visit: www.eliewieselfoundation.org

Media Contact Olivia Crvaric [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-elie-wiesel-foundation-for-humanity-announces-2023-winners-of-prize-in-ethics-essay-contest-301939378.html

SOURCE The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest challenges college students to analyze the urgent ethical issues confronting them in today’s complex world. Students are encouraged to write thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues and are rational arguments for ethical action.

Students will submit a 3,000- to 4,000-word essay.  The general topic asks students to "articulate with clarity an ethical issue that you have encountered and analyze what it has taught you about ethics and yourself," although any topic that explores the theme of ethics is acceptable.

The essay should be developed from the personal point of view of the student and may take the form of an analysis that is biographical, historical, literary, philosophical, psychological, sociological, or theological.

Prizes range from $500 to $5,000.

Application Process

To be eligible for this award, applicants must be registered undergraduate full-time juniors or seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States. Students entering the contest are required to have a Faculty Sponsor (the ONSA director will suffice) review and electronically verify their essay.  Application requirements are listed in detail on the foundation's website.

• General Academic Funding

Eligible applicants

• Third-year Undergrads
• Fourth-year+ Undergrads

Citizenship status

• US Permanent Resident
• DACA/Dreamer
• International Student (non-US citizen)

ASU Nomination required

For more information.

Back to Scholarship Database

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is an annual competition that is designed to challenge college students to analyze the urgent ethical issues confronting them in today\\'s complex world. Students are encouraged to write thought-provoking, personal essays.

Alexandra Rone Lang ’21 wins The Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Posted By: Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences March 5, 2021

Alexandra Rone Lang ’21, a Northwestern University philosophy major, won first prize in the 2020 Prize in Ethics Essay Contest presented by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, LRN Corporation and LRN Founder and Chairman Dov Seidman.

Lang’s winning essay is titled:  ‘Any Fraction of Infinity’: Aging, Illness, and the Right to Continue.   The essay explores the ethical and moral complexities and self-reflection that occur at the end of life through Lang’s experience providing support to an elderly patient in hospice.

“By writing a page of Emelia’s story, I hope to provide some shadow of the longevity she longed for, and a tribute to the strength and dignity of a woman who, irrespective of age and prognosis, had the courage to express her unapologetic renunciation of the eventuality of death,” says Lang.

The Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, established in 1989 by Professor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion Wiesel, is an annual competition that challenges college students to address the urgent and complex ethical issues that confront the modern world. Since its inception, thousands of young people have written essays for consideration. After Professor Wiesel’s death in 2016, The Elie Wiesel Foundation and LRN, a global ethics and compliance education and technology company, have continued the Prize in honor of Professor Wiesel’s legacy and memory. – The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity website

Related: LRN discusses Land’s essay

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© 2021 Northwestern University | Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences | 1918 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60208

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity Announces 2023 Winners of Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Five college students from universities across the country will be awarded scholarships totaling $20,000 for their exceptional essays on topical ethical issues. 

NEW YORK , Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, an organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, announced this year's winners of the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest.  The Foundation's yearly scholarship initiative selected five college student winners for their remarkable essays analyzing relevant ethical issues facing our world.

The Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, established in 1989 by Professor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion Wiesel , is an annual competition that challenges college students to contemplate an ethical theme or situation. Many essays often stem from a student's personal experience or introspection. Winners will be granted scholarships in varying amounts, totaling $20,000 .

"Challenging young people to articulate their thoughts via open-ended questions is the antidote we need to today's ideology-driven soundbites," said Elisha Wiesel , the son of Elie Wiesel and the Foundation's Chairman. "My father's passion for moral education echoes through this Contest and we're proud to amplify these students' voices through their exemplary work."

Chosen by a selection committee among hundreds of applicants, this year's winners include:

First Place Winner:  Danielle Ranucci , Princeton University Her essay, "Suffering in Their Place," studies the intensity between indifference, caring, empathy, and genuine regard for those who are mistreated and persecuted, and the effectiveness of compassion in the battle against oppression.  She reflects on her birth family in Kazakhstan , the socio-economic climate of the country, and the circumstances that come from being adopted. 

She writes, "My conversation with my adoptive-parents added another dimension to my ethical questioning: why should they be obligated to imagine the strangers who suffer around the world as some kind of family they never knew?

The obvious answer was that we should always identify with each other's suffering because we were all human. But that seemed too simple to me. There must have been a more nuanced explanation."

Second Place Winner:  Cutter Canada , Trinity University His essay, "Doing the Most Good: A Story About Hope.", recounts his journey to veganism while considering his grandmother's words of wisdom, ancestral culture, and their relationship with food. 

Third Place Winner:  Drew Cain , Trinity University His submission, "The Secret Lives of Private School Students: The Ethics of Secrecy, Truth-Telling, and Whistleblowing within Social Media,"  grapples with the themes of honesty, deceit, and silence set against personal events he experienced in his junior year of high school.

Honorable Mentions:  Nikkisha Joseph , of LaGuardia College Her essay "A Conveniently Used Word," reflects on when "doing the right thing" isn't always the easiest choice to make. 

Faith Seawell-Campbell , of Coppin State University Her piece "Hidden in Plain Sight Human Trafficking: A Threat to Humanity and Vulnerable Populations Worldwide," focuses on this form of modern-day slavery and exploitation of humankind. 

The Foundation was very honored to welcome back this year MSNBC host Rachel Maddow as a guest juror to review the final round of essay submissions.  Ms. Maddow is a former Prize in Ethics winner herself from her undergraduate days at Stanford University , receiving honors for her essay, "Indentifiable Lives: AIDS and the Response to Dehumanization." 

In addition to their scholarships, winners are also awarded a trip to New York City for a seminar to discuss their essays among other ethical topics.  This year's seminar will be led by Professor Wiesel's former student and Contest Readers Committee member, Rabbi Avraham (Alan) Rosen . The day will end with a celebration of their achievement at the renowned Lotos Club.

Jury member, EWF Board Member, and long-time supporter of the Prize, Dov Seidman , founder of The HOW Institute for Society and LRN, will host the students for an annual luncheon. 

"I'm proud to partner with Marion and Elisha Wiesel and the entire Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in awarding the Prize in Ethics. This remarkable group of student winners, who are already making a difference in the world by writing essays that prod the conscience and consider issues through an ethical lens, embody the hope that a new generation of moral leaders will rise to meet the challenges before us," said Seidman.

Additionally, the Foundation has opened its submissions for the 2024 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, accepting applications through December 29, 2023 . New for this cycle, the contest will be open to all undergraduate students enrolled full-time for the Fall 2023 semester at accredited four-year colleges and universities.  Interested students may apply at the following link: 2024 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

About The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest  The Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest encourages students to write thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues, and offer rational arguments for ethical action. The contest is open to all undergraduate full-time students who are registered at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States . All submissions to the essay contest are judged anonymously. Winning essays present intensely personal stories, originality, imagination, and clear articulation and convey genuine grappling with an ethical dilemma. For suggested essay topics and more information, visit: https://eliewieselfoundation.org/prize-in-ethics/ 

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity:  Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation soon after he was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace. Now spearheaded by Marion and Elie's son Elisha Wiesel , the Foundation seeks to carry on Elie Wiesel's legacy and spark ethical consciousness of human rights by investing in programs that promote moral leadership and real-world outcomes for victims of injustice. To learn more, visit: www.eliewieselfoundation.org   

Media Contact Olivia Crvaric [email protected] 

SOURCE The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

Rules and Requirements for The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest 2024

• 1st - $10,000
• 2nd - $5,000
• 3rd - $3,000
• 2 Honorable Mentions - $1000 each

Eligibility:

• Registered undergraduate full-time students at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States during the Fall 2023 Semester.

Suggested Essay Topics:

What challenges awaken your conscience?

Is it the conflicts in American society? An international crisis? Maybe a difficult choice you face or a hard decision you had to make?

Engage us. Enlighten us. Explore the ethics of any problem, question, or issue, whether close to home or in the world at large. We are eager to learn from you.

What the Readers Look for:

• Clear articulation and genuine grappling with an ethical dilemma.
• Adherence to guidelines and carefully proofread essays.
• Observation of rules for Standard English usage (grammar, punctuation, mechanics) in writing.
• Thoroughly thought-out, tightly focused essays.
• Originality and imagination.
• Eloquence of writing style.
• Intensity and unity in the essay.

Essays will be judged on:

• The quality of the writing
• The clarity of the ethical problem or issue
• The depth of the essay's ethical analysis – including, for example, reflections on matters of right and wrong, justice and injustice, and the implications of those reflections for society

Essay Format:

• In 3,000 to 4,000 words, you are encouraged to raise questions, single out issues and identify dilemmas.
• Essays may be written in the formal or informal voice, but most importantly, an individual voice should be evident.
• The essay should be developed from your point of view and may take the form of an analysis that is biographical, historical, literary, philosophical, psychological, sociological or theological.
• Essay must be the original, unpublished work of one student however can be a paper that was turned in for class.
• Only one essay per student per year may be submitted.
• All essays must have a title.
• All essays must be written in English.
• Essay should be titled, typed in 12-point font easily readable font (such as Times New Roman), double-spaced with 1" margins and numbered pages.
• Submissions will be judged anonymously. Hence, no name or identifying references (i.e. your name, school, or professor) should appear on the title page or in the document . Our office will put a code on your essay.

Faculty Sponsor:

• Any interested professor at the student's school may act as a Faculty Sponsor.
• Students entering the contest are required to have a Faculty Sponsor review and electronically verify their essay.
• Your Faculty Sponsor will need to verify online that your essay meets the content standards in order for your essay to be judged.
• All essays must be verified by the extended deadline on January 22, 2024 at 5pm PST in order to be judged.
• Upon submitting your entry online, your reported Faculty Sponsor will be emailed with a link to review and verify your submission online.
• If your Faculty Sponsor declines your submission or does not verify your essay by the deadline, it is disqualified.
• Please work with your Faculty Sponsor on any necessary edits to your essay before you upload and submit online.
• Your Faculty Sponsor will be reminded by email in the event your submission is not reviewed near to the deadline, but please check on the status of your submission independently, and work with your sponsor to ensure timely verification.
• Faculty members should only endorse thought-provoking, well-written essays that fall within the contest guidelines.

Enrollment Verification:

• The Foundation requires an official letter from your Registrar on your institution’s letterhead, or from the National Student Clearinghouse verifying your enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student in the Fall of 2023. Please obtain this and upload as a PDF as part of your online submission.

Studying Abroad:

• Students who are studying abroad in the Fall 2023 semester, but are considered enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university in the United States are eligible to apply. Please check with your Registrar and obtain the appropriate documentation to verify your enrollment.

Submission of Materials:

• Entries must be submitted online through a submission system.
• Essays will be uploaded as a PDF (.pdf).
• Enrollment verification must be uploaded as a PDF file.
• Your Faculty Sponsor’s name and contact information, including email, must be provided.
• You may edit your unfinished submission at any time but once submitted, you will not be able to edit your entry.
• You must submit to generate the email to your Faculty Sponsor.
• All essays must be verified by the Faculty Sponsor by the extended deadline on January 22, 2024 at 5pm PST in order to be judged.
• Please note that due to the volume of entries, no materials will be critiqued or returned.

Contest Deadline: January 22, 2024, by 5pm PST

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity reserves the right to publish the winning essays, in whole or in part. These essays may not be published elsewhere without written permission from the Foundation. Please note that due to the volume of entries, no materials will be critiqued or returned. the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity 555 Madison Avenue - Suite 1301, New York, NY 10022 Telephone: 212-490-7788 www.eliewieselfoundation.org

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The Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize In Ethics

Offered by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

Multiple awards worth up to

Grade level.

College Upperclassmen

Expected deadline: This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.

January 2025

Scholarship Overview

Are you a college upperclassman interested in ethics, either as they pertain to your own life or on a bigger scale? If so, we may have a great opportunity for you: the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics essay contest! The contest is open to college juniors and seniors attending a university in the U.S. who write an essay analyzing ethical issues in today’s complex world. The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity offers this scholarship. The foundation honors Romanian-born American author of Night and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel by funding programs that reflect his values. Thus, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity is proud to host this annual essay contest to support young writers and encourage critical thinking on ethics. Contest winners can earn up to $10,000 to help pay for their educational endeavors. If you are passionate about ethics and want to put your thoughts into words, we encourage you to apply!

Eligibility information

The contest is open to full-time college upperclassmen at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States. Applicants must also meet the below eligibility requirements.

U.S. Citizens, Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, DACA

Psychology, Journalism, Literature/English/Writing, Religion, Social Science, Political Science, History

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Application information.

To apply for this scholarship, students must submit an online application and the below application materials.

4,000-word essay

Proof of enrollment

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Yale student wins first prize in ethics essay contest.

Yale junior Sarah Stillman was the first–place winner of the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics 2005 Essay Contest.

Winning the $5,000 prize for her essay about sweatshop workers is the most recent achievement of a young woman who had a book for teenage girls published at the age of 15 and who made a documentary film about the Barbie doll culture as a high school senior. The Elie Wiesel prize is also the second national honor Stillman received this year. In February USA Today named her to the elite 20–member All–USA College Academic Team .

While Stillman maintains a 3.95 average as she pursues simultaneous bachelorÕs and masterÕs degrees in anthropology at Yale, she also writes articles on globalization and feminism—among other topics—for a variety of publications and composes prize–winning poetry. She is the founder and editor–in–chief of Manifesta: The Yale Feminist Journal.

An ardent champion of human rights, Stillman, who grew up in Washington D.C., presided over the Georgetown Day School chapter of Amnesty International and has traveled extensively doing research on the plight of women workers, particularly in Asia and Latin America.

As a freshman at Yale, Stillman co–founded a tutoring program for prisoners at a maximum security prison in Connecticut and she continues to teach creative writing there.

She has started building a national network of student–run prison outreach programs, a project she will continue working on throughout her senior year at Yale.

In her prize–winning essay, “Made by Us: Young Women, Sweatshops and the Ethics of Globalization,– Stillman offers a personal account of her exposure to the exploitation of female workers, from a Chinese toy factory, where the average worker is 14 years old, to a sweatshop in Honduras, where girls earn 55 cents an hour working 12–hour shifts, six days a week, and are often obliged to put in unpaid overtime. Despite the gloomy statistics, though, Stillman expresses the conviction that public awareness of such inequities is the first step toward eradicating them.

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The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and The HOW Institute for Society Announce Student Winners of the 2021 Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

NEW YORK, October 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Michael Zhu, a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut, has won the 2021 Prize in Ethics Essay Contest presented by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and The HOW Institute for Society and its Executive Chairman and Founder Dov Seidman.

In “A Lonely Farewell,” Zhu, who majored in molecular and cell biology and economics and minored in healthcare administration, compares western and Chinese medical ethics, exploring differing values and practices around end-of-life care and the moral complexities found in each.

“As someone who hopes to work in the medical field, I want to be able to be there for my patients so that they do not feel alone. I do not think that unwavering respect for individual autonomy is the answer to all questions surrounding the decision-making process,” Zhu writes in the piece. “Physicians should not shy away from helping their patients beyond diagnosing their illnesses and prescribing them medicines. They must play an active role in understanding their patients’ values and desires to better aid them in choosing the right care.”

Second prize in this year’s contest was awarded to Ester Villa Espinoza of Grand Canyon Universityfor the essay, “The Shoulders of Giants,” which brought into sharp relief the challenges faced by the author’s family in their decision to escape persecution from Soviet-era Ukraine and to seek refuge in the United States.

Nejra Kravic of Scripps College received third prize for “O Land of Bosnia: Identity, Belonging, and the Nation,” which contends with the questions of a post-genocide generation and the search for meaning for the indigenous, minority, and migrant communities in countries torn apart and shaped by war, such as in former Yugoslavia.

Honorable Mention was awarded to two students: Tiffany Vaughan, recent graduate of University of Chicago and current student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicinefor “Kidney Markets: Irreconcilable Aims of Medicine and Organ Markets,” and to Hannah Blair, recent graduate of Covenant College and current master’s student at Arizona State University, for “Unseen and Unheard: The Neglect and Re-Victimization of Sexual Violence Survivors In America’s Legal System.” The winning essays can be found on the Foundation’s website: http://eliewieselfoundation.org/prize-ethics/winners/

The Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, established in 1989 by Professor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion Wiesel, is an annual competition that challenges college students to address the urgent and complex ethical issues that confront the modern world. Since its inception, thousands of young people have written essays for consideration.

“Cultivating young moral leadership has never been more important. I know my father would take great pleasure in seeing this new generation of scholars and activists wrestling their thoughts onto the page,” said Elisha Wiesel.

Led by a lifelong pursuit and passion for ethical leadership, Dov Seidman became the exclusive partner of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity Prize in Ethics in 2008, as the institution was in its 20th year of celebrating ethical decision making among America’s youth. Dov has since partnered with the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity to ensure Elie Wiesel’s legacy lives on by offering the Prize as part of the work of The HOW Institute for Society , a non-profit

organization that seeks to build and nurture a culture of moral leadership, principled decision-making and values-based behavior.

“We are proud to partner with the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in awarding the annual ethics prize. It’s meaningful to join with Marion Wiesel and Elisha Wiesel in celebrating this inspirational group of student winners, who so thoughtfully grappled with consequential issues facing humanity and society through an ethical lens, and did so in both a philosophical and personal way. At a time when there are forces keeping us apart and polarizing our society, the winning students represent the hope that we can come together. These emerging leaders embody Professor Wiesel’s adage of ‘Think higher, feel deeper,’” said Seidman.

About The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

The Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest encourages students to write thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues and offer rational arguments for ethical action. The contest is open to undergraduate full-time Juniors and Seniors who are registered at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States. All submissions to the essay contest are judged anonymously. Winning essays present intensely personal stories, originality, imagination, and clear articulation and convey genuine grappling with an ethical dilemma. For suggested essay topics and more information, visit https://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/prizeinethics.aspx.

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity soon after he was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace. The Foundation’s mission, rooted in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality. For more information: www.eliewieselfoundation.org , “like” us on Facebook, or follow @eliewieselfdn on Twitter.

About The HOW Institute for Society

The HOW Institute for Society seeks to build and nurture a culture of moral leadership, principled decision-making and values-based behavior that enables individuals and institutions to meet the profound social, economic, and technological changes of the 21st Century to elevate humanity.

The world is being reshaped faster than we have yet been able to reshape our institutions, our leadership and ourselves. A future that includes dynamic capitalism, vibrant democracy, healthy communities and free societies depends on the rise of moral leadership and values-inspired behavior. The HOW Institute for Society is committed to building a world that is rooted in deep human values and noble ideals. The Institute is animated by an in-depth knowledge of moral philosophy, experience applying philosophical reasoning to modern problems and a belief in the urgent imperative of HOW. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.

For additional information on The HOW Institute for Society, visit www.thehowinstitute.org

Media contact: Kelly Buzby [email protected]

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Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Ellie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is an essay writing competition that rewards students with well-crafted ideas on the topic of discussion.

The scholarship offers a first prize reward of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000, a third prize of $3,000, and two honorable rewards of $1,000 each.

The scholarship is offered by the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. It was founded in 1986 by Elie Wiesel and his wife Marion.

Scholarship Summary

Eligibility requirements.

• Eligible Grade: College Junior – College Senior
• Maximum Age: Any
• Required GPA : Any
• Geographic Eligibility: United States
• Gender: Any
• Race/Ethnicity: Any

Key Information of Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Study details, area of study, country of study, specific schools, application requirements.

Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest Timeline

Application Date open

Application opens usually in September.

December 29

Submission Deadline

The submission deadline is usually in December.

How to ace the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Show clear articulation and an ethical dilemma

Make sure your writing is spot on with great appealing diction. It will be great to hold the attention of the judges from start to finish when reading your essay.

Adhere to guidelines and carefully proofread essays

Every scholarship has its guideline, ensure to adhere strictly to it and carefully proofread for errors. You may want to invite an external eye to help you go through it.

Observe rules for Standard English usage in writing

Use an active voice while writing all through. Adverbs and exclamation marks should be avoided to an extent too. Don’t write in sentence fragments and remember a paragraph needs at least three sentences.

Show originality and imagination

Brainstorm and develop thought-out ideas that will help you stand out. These will make your writing unique in every sense. You may want to consult books on creative writing to help you develop such skills.

How the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is Judged

Essays will be judged on the quality of the writing, the clarity of the ethical problem or issue, the depth of the essay’s ethical analysis; and this includes, for example, reflections on matters of right and wrong, justice and injustice, and the implications of those reflections for society.

Why We Love the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Creative and meaningful

The essay contest explores ethical problems, questions, and issues in society and also seeks applicants’ opinions and inputs in tackling such. It brings out the artistic and creative skills in writing.

The scholarship has an honorary mention award

The scholarship offers a recognition reward of $1,000 to two students that may not end up among the top three positions.

All can compete

The competition is free and open to all undergraduate students across the US regardless of race, ethnicity, color, gender, and religion. Studying Abroad students can also apply if they meet all requirements.

5 Facts About Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Challenges global ethical issues

The Ellie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is an annual competition that challenges college students in the United States to submit essays on the urgent ethical issues that confront us in today's complex world.

Commitment to creating equality

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity has a mission to combat indifference, intolerance, and injustice through international dialogues and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding, and equality.

Contest has a total of five awards

The essay contest is open to full-time junior & senior undergraduates in an accredited United States four-year college/university. Five prizes are awarded to five winners

Tackles Social Issues

Since 1988, the foundation has held conferences in Jordan, Japan, Italy, Norway, Russia, Israel, and the U.S through its Nobel laureates initiative to bring together Nobel laureates from all disciplines and world leaders to discuss social problems and develop suggestions for change.

Honors humanitarians fighting injustice

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for humanity through its humanitarian award recognizes outstanding individuals, who dedicate their time to fighting indifference, intolerance, and injustice, and whose accomplishments are consistent with the goals of the foundation.

Additional Scholarships

Global citizen scholarship.

The annual Global Citizen Scholarships for international and DACA students enrolled at MPOWER-supported colleges and universities awards $10,000 as the grand prize.

Accenture Native American Scholarship Fund

The Accenture Native American Scholarship Fund offers five awards ranging up to $30,000 to undergraduate Native American and Alaska Native students.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics - Essay Contest

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Encourages college juniors and seniors to consider ethical issues in today’s world. The Elie Wiesel Foundation, spurred on by the atrocities of the Holocaust, was founded to combat injustice and to promote peace and equality. 

• Registered undergraduate full-time juniors or seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the US and Canada. 

Application: