jfk library 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 17, 2025.

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 2024 12:00 AM (EDT)

Jan 17 2025 11:59 pm (est).

Albuquerque Academy

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.

Can't find what you are looking for?

This will close in 0 seconds

Sharing teaching and learning resources from the National Archives

Education Updates

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.

Share this:

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

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!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Burnet Hill Elementary School
• Collins Elementary School
• Harrison Elementary School
• Hillside Elementary School
• Mt. Pleasant Elementary School
• Riker Hill Elementary School
• Mt. Pleasant Middle School
• Heritage Middle School
• Livingston High School
• Livingston Education Foundation
• COVID-19 Advisory Information

Empowering All to Learn, Create, Contribute & Grow

Academic Departments

Page navigation.

• Department Supervisors
• Business Education Overview
• AP Economics
• Virtual Enterprise
• Senior Internship Program
• Earn College Credit
• Business Honor Society
• Course Guide-Courses/Sequences
• Student Job Board
• English Overview
• National English Honor Society
• Health/Physical Education Overview
• LHS Health and Physical Education Course/Unit Sequence
• ALP Peer Leadership Program
• Week 1 Assignment
• Week 2 Assignment
• Week 3 Assignment
• Week 4 Assignment
• Week 5 Assignment
• Week 6 Assignment
• Week 7 Assignment
• Week 8 Assignment
• Week 9 Assignment
• Week 10 Assignment
• Week 11 Assignment
• Week 12 Assignment
• Week 13 Assignment
• Week 14 Assignment
• Week 15 Assignment
• 9th Grade Health
• New Driver Information
• 11th Grade Health
• 12th Grade Health
• Family & Consumer Science Overview
• Mathematics Overview
• AP Course Descriptions
• Summer Book Loan
• Graphing Calculators
• Review Materials for Students Taking ISLO Courses
• Mathematics Honor Society
• Performing Arts Overview
• Summer Assignments
• Visual Arts Department
• About the Curriculum
• Science National Honors Society Information
• Science Pathways Information
• Summer Science Opportunities
• Summer Coursework for Advancement
• Advanced Placement and Honors Course Descriptions
• The Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society of Livingston High School
• AP/Honors Course Applications
• Black History Month Programs and Resources
• Voter Registration
• Voice of Democracy
• JFK Profiles in Courage Essay Contest
• CSPAN StudentCam
• World of 7 Billion Video Contest
• United States Senate Youth Program
• Boys and Girls State Information
• U.S. Nationwide Holodomor Student Competition
• Department Philosophy
• AP Computer Principles
• Tech and Design 1
• Architecture 1
• Engineering CAD 1 Overview
• Visual-Graphic Commmunications 1
• Transportation Tech 1
• Stagecraft 1
• Electronics Fabrication
• Tech and Design 2
• Architecture CAD 2
• Engineering CAD 2
• Visual/Graphic Communications & Production Graphics
• Auto Mechanics & Tech
• Stage Craft 2
• Woods Technology 2
• Electronic Systems
• Projects and Accolades
• LHS Technology Alumni
• NJTEEA Video
• Shell Eco-marathon
• Visual Arts Overview
• TV Production
• Performing Arts Department
• World Language & ELL Overview
• 2024 Summer Assignments
• State Seal of Biliteracy at Livingston High School
• World Language Honor Societies
• Social Studies
• For Students
• History Competitions

Contest Information

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.  , the maximum word count is 1,000 with a minimum of 700, not including citations and bibliography. use at least five varied sources such as government documents, letters, newspaper articles, books, and/or personal interviews., the contest deadline is january 12, 2024., profiles in courage essay information  - please click on the link and select "content topic and information" tab to learn more..

• Questions or Feedback? |
• Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated) |

Kurgan Hourly forecast

Morning temperature of 8 °C, afternoon 19°, evening 17° and night 13°. Morning temperature of 47 degrees, afternoon 67°, evening 63° and night 56°.

Afternoon and night partly cloudy, morning clear, evening showers.

Updated 9/1 11:49 PM 23:49

The hourly local weather forecast shows hour by hour weather conditions like temperature, feels like temperature, humidity, amount of precipitation and chance of precipitation, wind and gusts for Kurgan.

Last visited

Nearest observations.

Dewpoint 4° 39°

Rel. hum. 90 %

Feels like +6° 43°

Pressure 1029 hPa 30.4 inHg 771.7 mmHg

Visibility 10000 m 6 mi

Nearest observations show current weather observations from your nearest weather stations.

Your favorites

• Visit Our Blog about Russia to know more about Russian sights, history
• Check out our Russian cities and regions guides
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to better understand Russia
• Info about getting Russian visa , the main airports , how to rent an apartment
• Our Expert answers your questions about Russia, some tips about sending flowers

Russian regions

• Chelyabinsk oblast
• Khanty-Mansi okrug
• Kurgan oblast
• Sverdlovsk oblast
• Tyumen oblast
• Yamalo-Nenets okrug
• Map of Russia
• All cities and regions
• Blog about Russia
• News from Russia
• How to get a visa
• Flights to Russia
• Russian hotels
• Renting apartments
• Russian currency
• FIFA World Cup 2018
• Submit an article
• Flowers to Russia
• Ask our Expert

Kurgan Oblast, Russia

The capital city of Kurgan oblast: Kurgan .

Kurgan Oblast - Overview

Kurgan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located on the border between the Ural mountains and Siberia, part of the Ural Federal District. Kurgan is the capital city of the region.

The population of Kurgan Oblast is about 805,500 (2022), the area - 71,488 sq. km.

Kurgan oblast flag

Kurgan oblast coat of arms.

Kurgan oblast map, Russia

Kurgan oblast - features.

Kurgan Oblast is located in the southern part of the West Siberian Plain. From west to east this region stretches for 430 km, the maximum length from north to south - 290 km. The climate is continental. The average temperature in January is minus 18 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19 degrees Celsius.

There are more than 3,000 lakes in Kurgan oblast. The largest rivers are the Tobol, Iset, Miass, Uy. Forests cover about 20% of the territory - 1,7 million hectares. The fauna is very diverse combining the forest, steppe and forest-steppe species.

Fertile soil is the main natural wealth of the region. Agricultural fields occupy about 40% of the territory. There are a lot of deposits of building materials as well as iron ore reserves (about 2 billion tons) and uranium (about 16% of all Russian uranium).

The basis of the local industry was founded when 22 plants were evacuated here from the western regions of the USSR during the Second World War. After the war, the following large enterprises were opened: Kurgan Machine-Building Plant, Kurgan Bus Plant, “AK Korvet”, Kurgan Chemical Engineering Plant, the plant for the production of medicines “Sintez”.

Kurgan Oblast is a kind of gateway to Siberia. The highway of federal significance “Baikal”, the South Urals Railway (the western part of the Trans-Siberian Railway), natural gas and oil pipelines cross the territory of the region. In the south it borders with Kazakhstan.

The largest cities and towns of Kurgan Oblast are Kurgan (304,700), Shadrinsk (73,600), Shumikha (17,000), Kurtamysh (16,300).

Landscapes of Kurgan Oblast

Nature of Kurgan Oblast

Author: Andrey Chijov

Endless fields of the Kurgan region

Author: Andrey Bogdanov

Forest in Kurgan Oblast

Author: Oleg Savona

Attractions of Kurgan Oblast

Kurgan Oblast is a nice place for cultural and educational, environmental, pilgrimage, and adventure tourism. The region has more than 1,000 objects of cultural and historical heritage.

One of the most original attraction of the Kurgan region is a forest planted in the form of a huge inscription “Lenin 100 years”. This inscription, located 130 km south of Kurgan near the village of Zverinogolovskoe, can be seen even from space (coordinates - 54.4194655,56.7821564).

The most popular resorts are “Medvezhye Lake” (“Bear Lake”), “Sosnovaya roshcha” (“Pine grove”), a children’s sanatorium “Gorkoye Lake” (“Bitter Lake”). Medvezhye is the largest salt lake in the region. Its water by healing properties is an analogue of the Dead Sea water. In Ketovsky district there is a natural monument “Prosvetskiy Arboretum”.

Most of the surviving monuments of history and architecture are places of worship. The following monuments are of federal significance: Dalmatovsky Monastery, Transfiguration Cathedral, Nikolskaya, Shirokovskaya and Pershinskaya churches, Church of Three Sanctifiers, Phlor and Lavr Church.

Dalmatovsky Holy Assumption Monastery is one of the main sites of cultural heritage in Russia. It was founded by Dmitry Ivanovich Mokrinsky in 1644. In Soviet times, the monastery was abolished and an industrial plant was located on its territory. In the 1990s, it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Transfiguration Cathedral (1771) in Shadrinsk was the first stone building in the town. It was built in the Ukrainian Baroque style influenced by classical and Russian architecture.

Most churches, objects of cultural heritage of the Kurgan region, were constructed in Baroque and Classical styles in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. The buildings associated with 13 exiled Decembrists are historical monuments - first of all the houses of Kuchelbecker, Naryshkin and Rozen in Kurgan.

Kurgan oblast of Russia photos

Pictures of kurgan oblast.

Country life in the Kurgan region

Abandoned church in Kurgan Oblast

Author: Sergey Likhota

Cathedral in the Kurgan region

The questions of our visitors

• Currently 2.94/5

Rating: 2.9 /5 (160 votes cast)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What do you mean by an "elected official"? What is the difference between an official who is elected and one who is appointed?   The contest requires that the subject of your essay be about an official who is publicly elected by the people of the United States. Representatives and Senators at the state and national level, mayors, and city council members are some examples of elected officials. The whole concept of political courage revolves around an understanding of the risks and pressures that elected officials face and the difficult choices that politics often present: choices between conscience and public sentiment, between moral principles and electoral success.  Supreme Court Justices and the Attorney General of the Unites States are examples of  appointed  officials, as are the 14 Secretaries that make up the President's Cabinet. The President appoints the 14 Secretaries from the executive department, who must then be confirmed by a majority vote (51 votes) of the Senate. Appointed officials are not elected by the people of the United States and therefore are not eligible subjects for your essay.   
• What is political courage? How do I know if an elected official has demonstrated political courage?  The contest requires that you write about an elected official who has acted or is acting courageously to address a political issue at the local, national or international level. Focus on what is meant by courage as it relates to politics and write about an elected official who has followed their conscience to the possible detriment of their career.  An act of political courage involves three elements: 1) an elected official who takes a stand based on their beliefs; 2) the actions of the official serve the public interest or benefit the greater good, and 3) the official’s stand is at odds with their constituents, or with interest groups instrumental to their success.  The best way to deepen your understanding of political courage is to read  Profiles in Courage . In addition, our website provides many resources:  excerpts from the first chapter  of  Profiles in Courage , stories of past  Profile in Courage Award recipients , and  Past Winning Essays . You can also review the  criteria for judging  to assess whether or not your essay describes an act of political courage.   
• Is the essay a biography of the elected official?  The essay is not a biography of the elected official. It is a focused analysis of an act of political courage that proves how the elected official risked their career to take a stand for the public good. You may weave in biographical information, but your essay should focus on the actions or political positions of the elected official and what consequences they faced as a result of those actions or positions.  
• Can I write about current or past presidents of the United States?   Although the president of the United States is an elected official, and in many cases displays political courage, we recommend that you do not write about a current or past president. Judges carefully evaluate the subject of each essay to assess whether it is a thoughtful and original choice. We encourage participants to write profiles of subjects whose stories are less well known than that of a president of the United States. This is an opportunity to profile an official in your town, state or region, or a leader who has addressed an issue of great concern to you. (John F. Kennedy is ineligible as an essay subject.)   
• How do I know if an essay subject is an original choice? We recommend that you avoid writing about essay subjects on this list of most written about subjects . We encourage participants to write profiles of subjects whose stories are less well known than that of a president of the United States. This is an opportunity to profile an official in your town, state or region, or a leader who has addressed an issue of great concern to you. (John F. Kennedy is ineligible as an essay subject.) Refer to  Past Winning Essays  to see examples of original essay subjects (we recommend that you do not write about a past winning essay subject.)  
• Why does the registration form require that I state the name of a "nominating" teacher? Who can I ask to be my "nominating teacher"?   The role of your nominating teacher is to provide you with support and advice during the writing of your essay. They are also required to read your essay before you submit it. If you should be selected as the first-place winner, you and your nominating teacher, as representatives of your school, will be invited to receive awards at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston.  Your nominating teacher can be a former or current teacher who is currently teaching in your high school. Usually, students ask their English or History/Social Studies instructors to be their nominating teacher. In very few cases we will make an exception if a student is unable to ask a teacher from their high school to be their nominating teacher. The parent or legal guardian responsible for the instruction of home schooled students can also serve as a nominating teacher.   
• How long should my essay be? What is the minimum and maximum number of words required?  Your essay must be at least 700 words, but no more than 1,000 words.   
• Are citations and the bibliography included in the word count?   No. The 1,000 word maximum refers only to the text of your essay. The words in your citations and bibliography are not counted.   
• Do I need to cite my sources and include a bibliography?   You are required to cite your sources throughout your essay and to include a full bibliography. If you paraphrase the thoughts and words of someone else or if you quote them directly you must reference the source in your essay and include a full citation of the source in your bibliography. A failure to cite your sources and to include a bibliography at the end of your essay will automatically disqualify you. Please refer to  Guidelines for Citations and Bibliographies  for accepted formats for citations and bibliographies.   
• How many different sources should I use to research my essay?   You must use at least five sources. Winning essays include primary source material such as government documents, speeches, and letters. They incorporate evidence from a variety of sources such as newspaper and magazine articles, information from reliable internet sites, books, videos and personal interviews.  In evaluating the reliability of a website, students should identify the authors and contributors. The best essays are those that have depth of perspective and are well argued and supported.   
• When will I be notified of the status of my essay and whether or not I've been selected as a winner?   All students will be notified of their status in writing by the end of May. The winners and finalists will be contacted by telephone and in writing by April 30.  
• Will my essay be judged differently if I participate individually versus as part of class project?   In terms of how your essay is judged, there is no difference between choosing to participate individually or as part of a class project. On the registration form, only mark the box, "class project," if your teacher engaged the class in either a curriculum activity about political courage that culminated with the writing of an essay and/or had students submit rough drafts before mailing the final draft to the Essay Contest. Whether you participate individually or as a part of a class project, we strongly encourage you to submit a rough draft to your teacher so that they can read over it and make suggestions for improvement.   
• What is the Profile in Courage Award and how does it relate to the Profile In Courage Essay Contest?  The Essay Contest is a companion activity to the Kennedy Library Foundation's annual  Profile in Courage Award , which honors elected officials who have demonstrated exceptional political courage. The Award was created by the Foundation in 1989 and the Essay Contest was created in 1994. Both the Award and Essay Contest winner are honored at the Profile in Courage Award Ceremony, which takes place in May at the Kennedy Library in Boston.