Profile in Courage High School Awards
Scholarship Sponsored by John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Overview
Description: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum honors the memory and public service of the thirty-fifth President of the United States. It presents exhibits on President Kennedy’s life, leadership, and legacy and maintains archival collections for research on mid-20th century politics. The Library also hosts an annual student essay contest that encourages scholarship on political courage. Visitors can tour the museum and students and scholars may request access to the research collections.
- Institution dedicated to JFK’s legacy and public service.
- Museum exhibits and archival research collections available.
- Hosts an annual essay contest focused on political courage.
Eligibility
Eligibility: The contest is open to U.S. high school students in grades 9–12 in public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under 20 enrolled in correspondence/GED programs in the fifty states, D.C., or U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas. Past winners, finalists, and employees of sponsoring organizations (and their families) are not eligible. The nominating teacher listed on the submission must meet the contest’s eligibility requirements.
- Eligible: grades 9–12, GED/correspondence under age 20, U.S. citizens overseas.
- Ineligible: past winners/finalists and sponsor employees and their families.
- Nominating teacher must be provided with the submission.
Requirements
Submission Requirements: Essays must be original work, contain 700–1,000 words (citations and bibliography excluded), and include a minimum of five sources. The contest deadline falls in January at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time; late, misdirected, ineligible, or incomplete submissions are the entrant’s responsibility. Essays will be screened for AI assistance and other forms of plagiarism and may be disqualified for violations; submissions should not include identifying information in the uploaded file name. By entering, participants grant the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation ownership of the essay and consent to potential printing or display of winning entries.
- Word count: 700–1,000 words; citations/bibliography excluded.
- Minimum of five sources required; fewer sources will disqualify the entry.
- Deadline: January at 11:59 PM Eastern; no responsibility for late or incomplete submissions.
- Original work only; AI use or plagiarism leads to disqualification.
- Essays become the property of the Foundation and may be published or displayed.
Essay Subjects
Description: Essays must describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917. The act may be at the local, state, or national level. Certain topics are disqualified or will lower a submission’s score—these include John F. Kennedy and his immediate family, the senators featured in Profiles in Courage, past award recipients (unless describing a distinct act of courage), and commonly chosen subjects that reduce originality. Specific exclusions include essays about John Lewis (Profile in Courage Lifetime Achievement recipient) and essays that recount the act for which a past recipient already received the award.
- Focus: political courage by an elected U.S. official serving in or after 1917.
- Exclude JFK, Robert F. Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy, and certain Profiles in Courage subjects.
- Writing about past award recipients is disallowed unless describing a different act of courage.
- Original, uncommon subjects are favored in judging.
Source Material
Research and Citation: Essays must include at least five cited sources and use parenthetical citations within the text. A bibliography is required in an accepted format such as APA, MLA, or Turabian. Failure to list five or more sources will result in disqualification. Proper citation and documentation support the essay’s credibility and are essential to meeting contest requirements.
- At least five sources required; fewer than five will disqualify the essay.
- Use parenthetical citations throughout the essay.
- Include a bibliography in APA, MLA, or Turabian format.
Nominating Teachers
Role and Eligibility: Every student must list a nominating teacher who provides guidance and reviews the essay for grammar, syntax, and contest compliance before submission. Nominating teachers are typically current or former teachers at the student’s high school; in limited cases, exceptions are made for students unable to secure a current teacher. Parents or legal guardians may serve as nominating teachers for homeschooled students, and a past high school teacher may serve if they confirm their role by email to [email protected]. The first-place winner and their nominating teacher will be invited to the annual Profile in Courage Award ceremony at the Kennedy Presidential Library.
- Nominating teacher must be listed with the submission and must review the essay.
- Teachers usually are current or former high school teachers; limited exceptions apply.
- Homeschooled students may use a parent/guardian or a previous high school teacher who confirms their role via email.
- First-place winner and nominating teacher are invited to the award ceremony.