john f. kennedy profile in courage essay contest

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

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 .

Contest Topic: Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917 , the year John F. Kennedy was born. Include an analysis of the obstacles, risks, and consequences associated with the act. The essay may concern an issue at the local, state, national, or international level.

The contest deadline is January 12, 2024.

Visit the Profile in Courage Essay Contest section of the JFK Library website for more requirements, judging criteria, past winning essays, and additional information.

Registration and Submission

Please read Contest Topic and Information carefully before submitting your essay. Essays must meet   contest requirements to qualify for evaluation.

The Profile in Courage Essay Contest has upgraded its registration and submission technology, and we now use the SurveyMonkey Apply platform. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the Profile in Courage Essay Contest Coordinator.

Important Note: Before contacting the Profile in Courage Essay Contest Coordinator, please be sure to review the contest web pages and read over the FAQ section of the web site.

Email: [email protected]

Sep 1 2023 12:00 AM (EDT)

Jan 12 2024 11:59 pm (est).

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John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

One thing that quickly becomes apparent to high school students preparing for college is the burden of funding a four-year degree. Fortunately for college-bound students, there are numerous ways to reduce the cost of school. One of the most notable methods is pursuing a wide range of scholarships and awards. An award that students with exceptional writing and researching skills should consider is the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest.

About the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

In 1954, John F. Kennedy took a leave of absence from the Senate to recover from back surgery. Kennedy used that time to study the topic of political courage, which inspired him to later write the Pulitzer-Prize winning book Profiles in Courage —detailing the careers of eight Senators whom Kennedy believed demonstrated enormous courage when faced with pressure from their parties and constituents.  

Today, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest asks students to follow in Kennedy’s footsteps by researching and writing a creative original essay about an elected official who risked their career to take a stand on moral principles. The essay contest serves as a companion project to the Kennedy Library Foundation’s Profile in Courage Award, which honors elected officials who have demonstrated incredible political courage.

The winner of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest receives a $10,000 cash award and is invited to accept their prize at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts during the Profile in Courage Award events—with all travel and lodging expenses paid for. In addition to the award winner, the runner-up will receive a $3,000 award, the five finalists each receive $1,000 awards, and the eight semi-finalists are awarded $100 each.

In addition to the winners, ten students are selected for honorable mention and all participants receive a certificate of participation.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest Applicant Requirements

The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is available to U.S. high school students in grades nine through twelve. Students need to be enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or homeschool high school program in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., or a U.S. territory. The contest also accepts submissions from U.S. citizens attending school overseas.

How to Apply

In order to participate in the Profile of Courage Essay Contest, students need to be recommended by a teacher who will support and advise the student in the creation of their essay. Nominating teachers can be former or current teachers of the applicant, but must still be still teaching at the school the participant is enrolled in. Rarely, an exception may be made if a student is unable to be nominated by a teacher from their school. For applicants who are homeschooled, the parent or legal guardian can fill the role of a nominating teacher.

An applicant’s essay is required to describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official on the local, state, or national level who served between 1917 (the year of Kennedy’s birth) and the present. Essays need to be an original work of the applicant and fall between 700 and 1,000 words—citations and bibliography do not count toward the word count. Additionally, applicants should cite a minimum of five sources.

John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy, along with the senators featured in Profiles of Courage are not eligible subjects for essays. It’s also recommended to avoid writing about present or past presidents of the United States.

Past winners of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest are not eligible to participate again. Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and their family members are also ineligible for the award.

Tips on Applying For Awards

Don’t Miss Deadlines: Pay close attention to deadlines and don’t wait until the last minute to submit your essay. The Profile in Courage Essay can be submitted via email or traditional mail. If you decide to submit your materials via traditional mail, the application must be postmarked on its due date.

Follow Directions: The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest has specific rules about how many words are allowed, sources needed, what information needs to be included, and how sources should be cited. It would be extremely disappointing to write a winning essay only to be disqualified because you made a mistake like forgetting to include a bibliography.

Proofread: Applicants for the Profile in Courage Essay Contest should work closely with their nominating teacher to ensure that they submit a clean essay free of grammatical, typographical, and spelling errors, along with making sure the essay flows and meets the submission requirements.

Research: In addition to researching for their essay, applicants should research past winners to get an understanding of what a winning essay looks like. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum maintains a list of winners and their essays on their website .  

Professional Appearance: When applying for any distinguished award, there’s a chance that your social media profiles will be looked at. Audit your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles and delete any content that could be potentially damaging. While you’re at it, make sure you have a professional-looking email address to correspond with.

Get Professional Help: CollegeVine helps students win awards. Our expert advisors can provide whatever assistance a student needs, whether it’s staying ahead of deadlines or crafting an exceptional essay.

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

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May 24, 2024

Sophomore Selected as Finalist in Profile in Courage Essay Contest

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced that Aarush Tutiki ’26 was named a finalist in the national John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students. In his essay, Aarush profiled Leonidas Dyer, former U.S. Representative of Missouri.

For this year’s contest, 2,313 essays were submitted from students in 50 states and Washington, D.C., and from U.S. citizens in Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Vietnam. The foundation selected one winner, a runner-up, five finalists, ten semifinalists, and eight honorable mentions.

The annual Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an essay on an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official. The contest is a companion program of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award™, named for Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Profiles in Courage , which recounts the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular decisions for the greater good.

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Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Today’s post comes from Esther Kohn, education specialist at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

In his 1956 book Profiles in Courage , John F. Kennedy recounted the stories of eight U.S. senators who faced dire consequences for standing up for the public good. Ostracized, rejected by voters, and even physically attacked, the elected officials in Kennedy’s Pulitzer prize-winning book put politics aside to do what they believed was right for the country.

A “Profile in Courage” essay is a carefully researched recounting of a story: the story of how an elected official risked his or her career to take a stand based on the dictates of the public good, rather than the dictates of polls, interest groups, or even constituents. The contest challenges high school students to discover new “profiles in courage,” and to research and write about acts of political courage that occurred after the 1956 publication of Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage .

The Profile in Courage Essay Contest requires young people today to grapple with big ideas:  How did Kennedy define political courage ? Which public figures have demonstrated political courage? Which local, state, and national elected officials have risked their careers to take a stand for what is right?

Visit the John F. Kennedy Library website for contest information, eligibility and requirements, prize information, judging criteria, curriculum ideas, past winning essays, and more.

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4 thoughts on “ profile in courage essay contest ”.

Can GED students participate? What an amazing opportunity! Thank you, GED IN FL

Yes, GED students under the age of twenty are eligible. For more information on eligibility please visit: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest/Eligibility-and-Requirements.aspx

Will you have a contest for adults? I’m 28. Jfk is my hero.

We’re happy to hear of your interest! We do not offer a contest for adults but you are welcome to submit a nomination for the Profile in Courage Award.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Events-and-Awards/Profile-in-Courage-Award/How-to-Submit-a-Nomination.aspx

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JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Offered by John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Multiple awards worth up to

Grade level.

High School Students

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 U.S. high school student with a love for U.S. history? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest! Each year, the contest awards up to $10,000 to winning applicants who submit 700 – 1,000 word essays following the year’s prompt. Each year’s prompt relates to U.S. history, with this year’s being: “ 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 scholarship is offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts.

If you love U.S. history and want to put your writing skills and history knowledge to the test, we encourage you to apply!

Eligibility information

This scholarship is open to students meeting the below eligibility criteria.

U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents

Political Science

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Application information.

To apply for this scholarship, students must submit an online application in addition to the below application materials. Bear in mind that applicants must also have a “nominating teacher” who are currently teaching at the same high school as the applicant. Nominating teachers are responsible for providing advice and support to the student throughout the application process.

1,000-word essay

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Winning the Profile in Courage Essay Contest - 10 Tips to Help You Win

Are you interested in politics? Do you like learning about heroes of the past? Do you enjoy writing or are you looking to strengthen your writing skills? Are you competitive or interested in winning $10,000 and a trip to Boston? Are you seeking an effective and creative way to strengthen your resume and college application?

Then take a look at the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest.

Essay contests can be a solid way to boost your academic profile while simultaneously improving your writing skills and learning more about a topic of interest. Having seen notable winners such as Pete Buttigieg, this recognized writing contest provides a great way for you to showcase your writing skills and initiative. In this blog post, we introduce the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest, the benefits of participating in writing contests, the logistics of the contest, and some tips to help you win!

Why should you participate in writing contests as a high school student?

Before we introduce the specifics of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest, it is important to review the benefits of participating in writing competitions as a potential college applicant.

As is with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest, writing competitions usually involve a topic related to real-world issues. The opportunity to write about these topics provides you a way to demonstrate to colleges and universities that you are socially aware and engaged with relevant topics.

Outside of the topic itself, participating in a writing competition is a unique addition to your application. It expresses to college admissions that you have an array of interests and talents and take initiative on your own time to pursue them.

Critical thinking and research skills are important assets to have in the college environment . Conducting in-depth research for the writing competition will allow you to refine these skills as well as convey to college admissions that you know how to conduct independent research.

Although participating in the competition is already a nice addition to your resume, winning or placing in a notable essay competition is a remarkable achievement that will further distinguish you from other applicants.

What is the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest?

In 1957, John F. Kennedy wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Profiles in Courage.” “Profiles in Courage” details the stories of eight United States senators who displayed courage by taking a moral stance on issues. The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest, following the theme of “Profiles in Courage”, asks students to explore the topic of political courage and write an essay on an elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born, and displayed these traits.

Is it Prestigious?

With notable former winners and almost $30,000 in cash prizes, this essay contest is sure to make an impressive mark on your resume. Additionally, the winner is invited to the 2024 Profile in Courage Award event at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation where they will be able to share space with important figures. Past winners of the Profile in Courage Award include former U.S. presidents such as Barack Obama and George H.W. Bush.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Opens Sep 1, 2023, 12:00 AM (EDT)

Deadline for registration form submission AND essay - January 12, 2024, at 11:59 PM (EST)

Results release date - April 20th, 2024

Winners will be notified by telephone and email

All participants will receive a letter containing the list of winners as well as a Certificate of Participation by the end of May

Who is Eligible to Participate?

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 are eligible.

U.S. citizens attending schools overseas can also participate

Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate

What do Winners Receive?

The contest awards its winners with hefty cash prizes up to $10,000, as well as a fully-funded trip to Boston with their family and teacher at the Profile in Courage Award ceremony. Every participant, regardless of the outcome, will receive a Certificate of Participation. Additionally, there are no other costs associated with the contest that you will have to bear as a participant.

How do I Nominate a Teacher?

The contest requires you to have a nominating teacher. The role of the nominating teacher is to provide you with guidance and support while you are writing your essay. Additionally, they must review your essay to make sure it is free of errors and matches all conventions

The winner and their nominating teacher will receive awards at the annual Profile in Courage Award ceremony held each May at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston (in case you need to incentivize your teacher). Your nominating teacher can be a former or current teacher but must still teach at your current school ( If you are home-schooled, your instructor can be your nominating teacher)

What are the judging criteria?

For a full breakdown of judging criteria, please make sure to visit the official website . Here is a brief overview of how the essays are judged.

55% of your final score is based on the content of your essay

Demonstrated understanding of political courage

Originality

Supporting Evidence

Source Material

45% of your final score is based on presentation

Quality of writing

Organization (structure, paragraphing, introduction, and conclusion)

Conventions (syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation)

What are Some Details About the Essay that I Should Keep in Mind?

The essay should review an act of political courage performed by a U.S. elected official who served after 1917

In the spirit of “Profiles in Courage”, acts of political courage are characterized as times when elected officials went against the grain and risked their careers to take a moral stance.

Essay Requirements

Length - between 700 - 1,000 words (excluding citations and bibliography)

Number of sources - a minimum of five sources

Sources can be government documents, letters, newspaper articles, books, and even personal interviews

Essays must include a bibliography

Accepted formats include APA, MLA, or Turabian

Please make sure to review their official guidelines

10 Tips to Help You Win

Originality (Avoid writing about very common officials) A large part of their judging criteria is originality. The judges are looking for essays that stand out and offer fresh perspectives. Specifically, they are looking for essays that have an original choice of a U.S. elected official whose story is not widely known. If you choose a well-known official, it is important to provide a unique, fresh perspective on their story. Ideally, they recommend choosing a local official such as a city councilor or school board official. They have even provided a list of officials to avoid writing about. To get an idea of what kind of stories previously won, visit this page .

Have an Understanding of Political Courage Ensure you thoroughly comprehend the concept of political courage, as defined in "Profiles in Courage." Your essay should highlight situations where elected officials took a moral stand, even if it risked their careers. This understanding is important in demonstrating the elected official's bravery. One way to gain a deep understanding of political courage would be to read “Profiles in Courage” or the chapter summaries .

Conduct Extensive Research and Diversify Your Sources The guidelines require at least 5 sources, but when selecting sources, do not strive to just satisfy the minimum requirement. Find sources that help drive your story and emphasize the specific act of political courage. Choosing a diverse set of sources from different mediums can help keep your story interesting and really bring it to life. Additionally, make sure to properly cite your sources.

Write Clearly and in an Engaging Manner The bare minimum is to make sure you are using proper syntax and conventions. Not satisfying this will make it hard for the judges to read. Additionally, make sure you make it natural for the judges to read. It should be fluid and concise to allow them to really be drawn into your story. To check your writing, try methods like reading it out loud to avoid long sentences.

Work Closely with your Nominating Teacher Your nominating teacher can be a great resource to help with every step of the process. Make sure you pick a teacher that you have a good relationship with and is knowledgeable on the subject. This way they will be able to help you with everything from finding sources to making sure the essay is well-written and engaging. Additionally, make sure to thank your teacher (they are taking the time to help you)!

Stay Focused on the Act of Political Courage This contest is about highlighting specific acts of political courage by elected officials. You only have 700 - 1,000 words to tell your story. You should make sure you are dedicating this space to highlighting this elected official's act of political courage rather than turning your essay into a comprehensive biography of the official. Background information is good, but you should concentrate on the relevant background information and the key moment where they displayed political courage and explore the context, consequences, and significance of that act.

Seek Feedback and Revise Throughout the Process Before submitting your essay, make sure to constantly proofread and revise (do not just wait to do this for the final draft). Ask your nominating teacher, friends, and family for feedback consistently throughout the process. This way you will be able to get a diverse range of perspectives and identify areas of improvement throughout the process.

Interview The Elected Official or Their Peers/Family As previously mentioned, since the judges are looking for originality, it is a good idea to consider writing about a local elected official. Having sufficient sources is necessary, but interviewing the local elected official, their family, or their peers can be an effective way to add a unique element to your story. This extra dimension will make your essay more engaging and show the judges and college admissions board you are dedicated to your work.

Craft a Captivating (and Natural) Introduction The judges will be reading many essays, so it is important to make sure you grab their attention from the beginning. Your introduction should make the reader want to continue reading as well as set the stage for the rest of your essay. You can employ classic introduction techniques such as using an intriguing anecdote, a thought-provoking quote, or a compelling question related to political courage. It is important to make it sound natural as well. Sometimes when using one of these techniques to “grab the reader’s attention”, the introduction can sound somewhat contrived. Make sure you strike a balance between engaging the reader and staying true to your tone and topic.

Conclude with an Impact Finally, it is important to conclude with something that will round off your essay well, drive your story home, and give the judges something to think about. Again, they will be reading many essays, so an impactful conclusion is an effective way to leave a lasting impression on the judges. Make sure to summarize the significance of the elected official's act of political courage and the impact it had. You can also connect it to broader themes or contemporary issues.

One more option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re looking for the opportunity to do in-depth research on various topics in literature or linguistics, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs , selective online high school programs for students I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

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Agree with you. In my opinion, strong SOPs are where I freely state my plans and ambitions that the program will help me achieve. To fully express my motivation, I used a sop writing service which helped me convince the committee that the application was truly important and necessary for me. Believe me, despite its small size and apparent simplicity, finding good SoP examples has proven to be quite a challenge. This is where professional help from a trusted resource played an important role. I interacted quite extensively with the authors, which ensured that I produced a brilliantly written document that truly conveyed my personality and goals.

While essay competitions can certainly be a great way to improve your academic profile while improving your writing skills and learning more about a topic of interest, I am currently looking for a reliable resource for help. I need a team of writers who are familiar with the intricacies of the application process. Of course, there are a huge number of different wording editing services, but I prefer to choose wisely, since I only need a reliable one.

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Profiles In Courage John F Kennedy Essay

The Museum will close early on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. and will reopen for regular admission on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest Winner Describes Police Reform in New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2021 Media Contact: [email protected] www.jfklibrary.org

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest Winner Describes Police Reform in New Jersey — Winning Essay Profiles Camden, New Jersey Mayor Dana Redd’s decision to disband and reform city’s police force —

BOSTON – The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that Anna Dougherty, a sophomore at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey , has won the national John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students . The winning essay describes the political courage of Dana Redd, the first black woman to serve as mayor of Camden, New Jersey. Mayor Redd faced fierce opposition when she made the difficult decision to disband her city’s police force to form a county-run police department. Dougherty writes that by standing firm in her unpopular choice, Mayor Redd took personal and professional risks to make Camden safer for its residents. Dougherty concludes that Redd’s act of political courage benefitted the city of Camden, as crime rates decreased after the new country-run department was established. The essay contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and generously supported by John Hancock . [Click here to read the winning essay.] The annual Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official. The contest is a companion program of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award™, named for Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage , which recounts the stories of eight US senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular decisions for the greater good. This year, 2,290 essays were submitted from students in fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, and from US citizens in China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.  “Today more than ever it is critical for our future leaders to understand the concept of political courage and its importance in our democratic society. It is heartening to have thousands of young people participate in the Profile in Courage Essay Contest to learn about the challenges of elective office and the importance of taking difficult stands for the greater good,” said Rachel Flor, Executive Director of the Kennedy Library Foundation. “We are thrilled that Anna has discovered this pivotal moment of political courage in our country’s history and congratulate her for this extraordinary accomplishment.” “It is an honor for John Hancock to join the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in inspiring today’s youth to learn about the importance of public service and courageous leadership,” said Thomas Samoluk, Head of External Affairs & Investigative Services at John Hancock, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Board Member and Development Committee Chair. “We congratulate Anna Dougherty for this well-deserved recognition and celebrate the thousands of students who submitted essays about public officials who have made a difference at all levels of government.” Dougherty will receive a $10,000 scholarship award for her accomplishment which is a joint award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and John Hancock.  Dougherty participated in the contest as part of a class project. Her nominating teacher, Marlena Pittman, integrates the contest into her curriculum; over 1,200 of her students have submitted essays since 2005.   When asked about her essay subject, Dougherty explained that she profiled Mayor Redd because she “wanted to learn more about a politician who made change happen locally. ” Dougherty added, “ She is an inspirational person whom I believe more people should know about. Her work on police reform intrigued me as I hope to work in the criminal justice field as a medical examiner one day." Dougherty has been a Girl Scout for eleven years and is currently working toward her Gold Award with a focus on addressing learning disabilities. She plays the clarinet, piano, and violin, and has participated in musical theater. At her high school, she has sung in the choir and run on the varsity cross country team. She has participated in her school’s French Club and looks forward to traveling to France with her class in 2022. She has previously volunteered for her parish’s literacy program as well. Dougherty’s nominating teacher, Ms. Marlena Pittman, will receive a John F. Kennedy Public Service Grant in the amount of $500 to be used for school projects that encourage student leadership and civic engagement.   Sadie Bograd , a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar in Lexington, Kentucky , was selected as the second-place winner for her essay on Zach Koung, School Board Member of Howard County, Maryland.  She will receive a $3,000 prize for this recognition. Five students were recognized as finalists in the competition: Declan Brady , a junior at The Wheatley School in Old Westbury, New York , for his essay on Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., former US Representative, Louisiana; Rena Chen , a junior at the High School of American Studies at Lehman College in Bronx, New York , for her essay on Mark Grisanti, former US State Senator, New York; Matthew Najemy , a senior at Wayland High School in Wayland, Massachusetts , for his essay on Joe Manchin, US Senator from West Virginia; Tilly Robinson , a junior at Bloomington High School South in Bloomington, Indiana , for her essay on Jennifer McCormick, former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Indiana; Jai Singh , a junior at UWC ISAK Japan in Nagano, Japa n, for his essay on Tom Rice, US Representative, South Carolina. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 prize. Eight students were recognized as semifinalists: William Boucher , a senior at École Jeannine Manuel in Paris, France , for his essay on Caldwell Butler, former US Representative, Virginia; Julia Clavi , a junior at Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Connecticut , for her essay on José Canales, former US Representative, Texas; Matthew Kotcher , a sophomore at Latin School of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois , for his essay on Adam Kinzinger, US Representative, Illinois; Matthew Kuster , a junior at Collegiate School in New York, New York , for his essay on Ben West, former Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee; Abigail Nickelson , a junior at Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana , for her essay on Richard Ogilvie, former Governor of Illinois; Isabella Peckinpaugh , a senior at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana , for her essay on Steve Stieglitz, former School Board Member of East Allen County, Indiana; Pavan Venkatakrishnan , a sophomore at Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington , for his essay on John M. Spratt, former US Representative, South Carolina; and Nicolas Wyszkowski , a junior at Valley Regional High School in Deep River, Connecticut , for his essay on Lowell Weicker, former US Senator, Connecticut. Each semifinalist will receive a $100 prize.  Ten students received honorable mention and are listed, along with winners, finalists, and semifinalists at www.jfklibrary.org/essaycontest . The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation created the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 1989 to honor President Kennedy’s commitment and contribution to public service and to celebrate his May 29 th birthday. The award is presented annually to public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences. The award is named for President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage .  A distinguished bipartisan committee of national, political, and community leaders selected the winning essay. Martha Minow , 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University, former dean, Harvard Law School chairs the 15-member committee. Committee members are Stacey Abrams , former Georgia House Democratic Leader, David Axelrod , Political Strategist and Founder, the Institute of Politics at The University of Chicago; Joaquin Castro , Congressman, (D-TX 20th District); Carlos Curbelo , former US Congressman, (R-FL 26 th District); Christopher Dodd, former Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America, former US Senator (D-CT); Adam Frankel , Senior Advisor to Emerson Collective and Fenway Strategies, former Speechwriter to President Barack Obama; Sherrilyn Ifill , President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Caroline Kennedy , Honorary President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; Marne Levine , Vice President of Global Partnerships and Business Development, Facebook; Claire McCaskill , former US Senator (D-MO); William H. McRaven , Admiral, USN (Retired); Beth Myers , Principal, Buckminster Strategies; Ronald L. Sargent , Chairman, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; Jack Schlossberg , grandson of President Kennedy. This contest is supported by John Hancock , one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock supports more than 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and education savings plans.  

* * * The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation  is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Kennedy Presidential Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.