Brimhall Essay Contest
The BYU Student Alumni Association and descendants of former BYU president George H. Brimhall honor the founders of Brigham Young University each year at Homecoming with the Brimhall Essay Contest. The competition is designed to encourage high levels of scholarship among BYU students and promote understanding and appreciation of BYU’s mission and legacy and the challenges of its great founders.
THIS YEAR'S FOUNDER: Martha Jane Knowlton Coray
HOMECOMING THEME: Lean into Light
“The school depends not on man, or any set of men. God planted it, and we are but gardeners to take care of it.” –George H. Brimhall
PRIZES
1st Place: $3,000 and published in BYU Magazine
2nd Place: $2,000
3rd Place: $1,000
Honorable Mention (3 awarded): $500
GUIDELINES
The essay must establish a connection between:
- The honored founder
- The 2023 Homecoming theme
- Personal reflections
RULES
- The contest is open to all full-time BYU undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Fall Semester 2023.
- Essays should be approximately 750 words.
- Your name must not appear anywhere on your essay.
- Submit your essay online here.
- Essay submission deadline: Thursday, September 28, 2023, by MIDNIGHT.
HELP
FAQs
-
Toggle ItemDoes my essay have to be exactly 750 words long?
No. Your essay should be approximately 750 words long. This is about the length that BYU Magazine will allow for publishing. Be aware that BYU Magazine will likely edit the winning essay for publishing.
-
Toggle ItemWhat format should I use for citations?
Because this is an essay, you may choose any accepted formatting citation style you like. Citations of the winning essays will be checked. However, the citations for the winning essay will not be printed in BYU Magazine.
-
Toggle ItemCan I submit my essay late?
No. The submission deadline is firm.
-
Toggle ItemWhat is considered full-time?
Full-time for undergraduate students is 12+ credits and for graduate students is 8.5+ credits. For less than 8.5 credits, graduate students must petition for full-time status through the Graduate Studies Office.
-
Toggle ItemWhen will the winners be notified?
The winners will be called on October 6, 2023. All other entrants will be notified by email on the same day.
-
Toggle ItemCan I get feedback on my essay from the contest judges?
Unfortunately, due to the large number of entrants, this is not possible.
-
Toggle ItemIn what format should I submit my essay?
Essays must be submitted online as a PDF or Microsoft Word document.
-
Toggle ItemTo be eligible, do I have to be attending classes on campus during Fall Semester?
In past years, this has been the case. However, entrants may now be full-time online-only students.