2014 Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest

1st Prize $1500 | 2nd Prize $750 | 3rd Prize $500

Our Topic for 2014 – “Lincoln and the Hard Hand of War”

In 1864 the American Civil War became even more savage. Casualties rose and prisoner exchanges stopped. During William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea and Phil Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley campaign, civilian property was deliberately targeted. Was Lincoln in part responsible for this hardening and brutalization of war in 1864, or was it an unpreventable development–a consequence of war’s inertia? Should he have tried to mitigate it? Was this more brutal war and its hundreds of thousands of casualties and endless destruction justified in the effort to save the Union and destroy slavery – or was it not acceptable for any reason?

Contest Rules
  • Please examine the rules below closely before contacting The Lincoln Forum or the contest coordinator with eligibility questions.
  • The scholarship essay contest is designed for students who are FULL TIME, undergraduate students in an AMERICAN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY during the Spring 2014 semester. The July 31, 2014 deadline is designed 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 do 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 2014 semester? If the answer is no, you are not eligible.
  • The eligibility of entrants will be confirmed by the Lincoln Forum prior to the awarding of prizes.
  • Entries will be judged by the essay committee of The Lincoln Forum.
  • Deadline for entries is July 31, 2014
  • Entries must contain a minimum of 1,500 and a maximum of 5,000 words.
  • Essays may be submitted via regular mail (postmarked by July 31, 2014) or via e-mail (time stamped before midnight PST July 31, 2014) to the address below.
  • The essay must be typed and include a works-cited page or bibliography. End notes are suggested but not required.
  • There is no application form for the contest. The essay and your contact information serves as your application.
  • Applicants must include the name of their college or university with their entire 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 on November 18th. Checks from the Lincoln forum will be sent to the winners in December 2014 The scholarship prize money is designed as a reward for academic excellence. It can be used for any purpose the winner desires.
  • The essay can be sent via email ( e-mail: archives@akspl.org ) or regular mail to the address below.

Don McCue, curator of The Lincoln Shrine in Redlands, California serves as coordinator of the Essay Contest.

Visit the website:  http://www.thelincolnforum.org/scholarship-essay-contest.php

If the above information does not answer your question please contact: