Call for Submissions: The 2023 Maguire Ethics Essay Prize

Calling all writers! The Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility is hosting its third annual Maguire Ethics Essay Prize, an essay competition open to all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at SMU. CCPA’s very own Rita Kirk currently serves as the William F. May Endowed Director of the Maguire Ethics Center. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity; graduate submissions are due March 31, 2023!

The Maguire Ethics Essay Prize competition encourages the development of ethical discernment, imagination, and thoughtful reflection among students. In writing the essay, students will be challenged to consider the role of ethics in their lives. Participants will also have the chance to showcase topics they feel are important and win significant prize money.

The Maguire Ethics Essay Prize is an open ethics-topic contest. To be considered, students’ essays should describe an ethical issue that they have encountered and examine the lessons learned from that experience. For example, you may have been influenced by a class you took, a professor who inspired you, a piece of art that evoked a response, a law that affects you, a meaningful research experience, some moral quandary you have faced, or something that provides you with peace and happiness. The possibilities are endless, and there is no “right” ethics essay topic.

Essays Will Be Judged on:

• Clear articulation and genuine struggle with an ethical dilemma
• Originality and imagination
• A demonstration of robust ethical analysis and moral reflection
• Quality of writing
• Adherence to guidelines and careful proofreading

Submission Requirements

• Maguire Ethics Essay Prize entries must be submitted in a Microsoft Word document file attached to an email to maguire_ethics@smu.edu.
• The title of the Microsoft Word document file must be the entrant’s last name only (e.g., LastName.docx).
• Essays should be 4,000-6,000 words, not exceeding 6,000 words.
• Essays must be original and written by a single author, typed in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced.
• Each entry must include the author’s contact information.
• The first page of the single Word document file must be the cover page, which must include the author’s name, address, telephone number, email address, current classification (e.g., First Year, Second Year, etc.), anticipated graduation date, and essay word count (excluding cover page and references). This information must be included on the cover page only; essays including the author’s name on the other pages will not be reviewed.
• Only your first submission will be accepted; further submissions will not be read.
• References must be included; plagiarism will lead to disqualification.
• ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED MUST BE NON-CONFIDENTIAL, as these essays may be published.
• Employees of the Maguire Ethics Center (and their immediate family members) are not eligible to participate in the contest.

Winning submissions for the 2023 Maguire Ethics Essay Prize will be shared widely and will be prominently featured on the Maguire Ethics Center’s website and social media! For more information regarding eligibility and submissions, please email Rylee Bailey, program coordinator for the Maguire Ethics Center, at rbbailey@smu.edu.