The Platt Family Essay Contest was established in memory of Chuck Platt, co-founder and longtime Treasurer of The Lincoln Forum, and sponsor of its annual Platt Family Lincoln Essay Contest for college students.
The Platt Family Essay Contest is open to full-time, undergraduate students in an American college or university.
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Topic for 2023
“2023 is the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Does Abraham Lincoln deserve the title of ‘The Great Emancipator’? Why or why not?”
Contest Rules
Below are the rules of the Platt Family Essay Contest:
- The organizers designed the July 31 deadline to give these students time to finish their essays, if need be, after final exams.
- You do not have to be an American citizen, but you need to be attending an AMERICAN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY during the eligibility period.
- It is NOT open to high school students.
- Key question to consider; when we contact your college or university registrar, will they be able to confirm that you were enrolled as a full-time college student during the spring 2023 semester? If the answer is no, you are not eligible.
Eligibility
- The scholarship essay contest is designed for students who are FULL-TIME, undergraduate students in an AMERICAN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY during the Spring 2023 semester.
- The Lincoln Forum prior to the awarding of prizes will confirm the eligibility of entrants.
Deadline
The deadline for entry submissions is July 31, 2023
- Entries must contain a minimum of 1,500 and a maximum of 5,000 words.
- Applicants may submit essays via regular mail (postmarked by July 31, 2023) or via e-mail (time stamped before midnight July 31, 2023) to the address below.
- The essay must be typed and include a works-cited page or bibliography. Endnotes are suggested but not required.
- There is no application form for the contest. The essay and your contact information serve as your application.
- Applicants must include the name of their college or university with their entry and all contact information (regular and email address) must be put on the essay proper.
- Judging will take place during the fall. The three winners will be announced at The Lincoln Forum annual meeting in Gettysburg in November.
- Checks from The Lincoln Forum will be sent to the winners in December 2023. Appropriate identification will be required.
- They designed the scholarship prize money as a reward for academic excellence. Winners can use it for any purpose they desire.
Submissions
You can send your essay via email (archives@akspl.org) or via regular mail to the address below.
Don McCue, Director of The Lincoln Shrine in Redlands, California serves as coordinator of the Essay Contest.
If the above information does not answer your question, please contact:
Don McCue, Director — Lincoln Memorial Shrine
125 W. Vine St.
Redlands, CA 92373
phone: (909) 798-7632
e-mail: archives@akspl.org
Judging
The winners of the Platt Family Essay Contest will be chosen by the Scholarship Committee of The Lincoln Forum based on their submitted essay.
The first-place winner will be invited to attend the annual symposium of The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, PA in November.