Washburn University, Clark University to host joint essay competitions

    Topeka, Kan. – Washburn University, in conjunction with Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, has announced a new essay competition for its students focused on economic and social trends.

      The Paul Family Foundation is sponsoring the competitions. The essays will be judged by faculty at the respective institutions and the top three students at each university will earn a scholarship of up to $10,000.

      The sponsors’ hope is that students will be stimulated to identify current U.S. national economic and social trends, posit the most likely impact of these trends by 2025, hypothesize how these trends will impact the student’s professional careers and speculate how the student hopes to contribute to the future of those trends in the United States. 

      “The Washburn University and Clark University essay competitions will engage undergraduate students all across campus and give them the opportunity to broaden their critical thinking skills about topics important to themselves and to our country," said JuliAnn Mazachek, vice president for academic affairs. “Washburn University is thankful for the vision and financial support from the Paul Family Foundation for their support of the Washburn essay competition.”

    Clark and Washburn Universities have shared a very similar history. Both institutions began in the late 19th century and have had ties to Worcester, Massachusetts. The institutions’ earliest benefactors, Jonas Clark and Ichabod Washburn, were successful businessmen who recognized and valued the importance of education. Their financial generosity assured the universities could survive in a perilous time. From their founding, both institutions welcomed students regardless of racial, ethnic or religious background.

     A commitment to student learning is embedded in both Clark’s and Washburn’s respective vision and mission statements, and both institutions are exceptional teaching universities that offer a broad liberal arts education based on critical thinking and communication skills.

     “We are excited that our students have this unique opportunity to give thoughtful consideration to how some of the day’s most compelling issues might shape their own destinies—through both a personal and global lens,” said Sebastián Royo, provost at Clark University. “I expect we’ll see a sophisticated level of analysis and reflection emerging from these essays.”

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