NOTE: The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 1. 

The Susan L. Weidenbach Essay Contest

This contest is sponsored by the Susan L. Weidenbach Fund and is open for submissions from any W course in the current semester. The winner receives a cash prize. For Spring 2024, participants should submit one essay that represents your best work from your W class this semester. 

The essay must include your name, your professor's name, the class for which the essay was originally written, and the date it was originally submitted on the first page. If the essay does not fit these parameters, it will not be accepted. 

Your essay should be sent as a PDF to Dr. Jennifer Juszkiewicz, the director of the Writing Proficiency Program, at the WPP email address: wpp@saintmarys.edu by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1.

The Sister Franzita Kane Essay Contest

This contest is sponsored by the Susan L. Weidenbach Fund and is open for submissions from any course written in the past year. The winner receives a cash prize. For Spring 2024, all current students are encouraged to submit their best work (15 page max) in the following categories. You may submit in more than one category, but essays considered in previous semesters are not eligible for consideration. Winners will be notified early in the summer and awards will be sent via mail. 

  • Peace & Justice: Focus on practical or theoretical strategies, or the promotion of peace and justice.
  • Literature: Present research on a literary topic or offer an analysis of literary work. 
  • Sciences and social sciences: Entries in this category should foreground purpose and logical development of an argument in any area of science or social science. 
  • Comprehensive/Nursing Advanced W: A sample (15 pages max) of a senior comprehensive or nursing Advanced W  project that is still coherent and compelling after the edit. 
  • Open: Entries in this category may explore any topic not covered in the other categories, but it must be an essay. 

The essay must include your name, your professor's name, the class for which the essay was originally written, and the date it was originally submitted on the first page.

Your essay should be sent as a PDF to Jennifer Juszkiewicz, the director of the Writing Proficiency Program, at the WPP email address: wpp@saintmarys.edu by noon on Wednesday, May 1.