Sissy Farenthold Trailblazers for Justice Undergraduate Writing Contest
The Rapoport Center invites submissions for a new undergraduate writing prize on human rights and social justice with an emphasis on reproductive justice, environmental justice, and peace. Undergraduate students may submit papers prepared for a course, excerpts of an undergraduate thesis, or essays written especially for the contest. The First Prize winner will receive a $500 scholarship and all finalists’ papers will be considered for publication in the Rapoport Center’s Working Paper Series or Human Rights Commentary.
About the Contest
Eligibility: Submissions must be solely authored by undergraduate students in good standing at the University of Texas at Austin, including students who will graduate in May 2024. Submissions with multiple authors are not eligible for the prize. Submissions which have been written, either in part or in whole, with generative artificial intelligence tools are not eligible for the prize. Submissions must be primarily in prose format and should be between 2,500 and 4,000 words, including citations, endnotes, appendices, and headings.
Paper Themes: Submissions should relate to at least one of three themes that guide the Sissy Farenthold Fund for Peace and Social Justice: “Reproductive Justice,” “Peace,” and Environmental Justice.”
About Sissy Farenthold
Frances Tarlton “Sissy” Farenthold was a trailblazing Texan who dedicated her life to exposing and responding to injustices as a lawyer, legislator, and global leader in human rights. She continues to serve as a role model and inspiration to generations around the world. This writing contest is designed to encourage new generations of UT Austin students to connect Sissy’s work to today’s human rights and justice issues. Learn more about the life and legacy of Sissy Farenthold.
Application
To Apply: Students should submit their paper identifying which theme or themes they are addressing. Student names and all personal identifying information must be removed through the online portal. To maintain the impartiality of the judgment process, students should also indicate any UT faculty, staff, or graduate students who have previously read the paper they are submitting.
Qualified students should submit their papers via our online application system.
The anonymized submissions will be judged on the following (non-exhaustive) criteria:
- Strength, logic, and originality of thesis and reasoning;
- Thoroughness of research;
- Clarity and organization of writing;
- Technical precision, including discipline-appropriate citations;
- Engagement with the relevant Contest theme(s).
Timeline
- Submission window opens: April 15, 2024
- Submission window closes: midnight, Monday, May 13, 2024
Deadline
May 13, 2024
Contact
For any questions, please contact Cooper Christiancy at cchristiancy@law.utexas.edu.