The Phi Beta Kappa Association of Montana Essay Contest
The Phi Beta Kappa Association of Montana offers a $1,000 scholarship for the academic year 2016-17 for the winner of its essay contest.
ELIGIBILITY
Essay contest entrants should: 1) be a full-time student at the University of Montana; 2) have a declared major or minor in a department in the College of Humanities and Sciences; 3) have a minimum GPA of 3.75; 4) have attained junior standing (minimum 60 credits); and 5) have fulfilled all of their general education requirements before applying. Students will complete a short essay that responds to the following prompt:
As the PBK Society website declares, “For over two and a quarter centuries, the Society has embraced the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression. Laptops have replaced quill pens, but these ideas, symbolized on Phi Beta Kappa’s distinctive gold key, still lay the foundations of personal freedom, scientific inquiry, liberty of conscience, and creative endeavor.”
Write an essay of 500-750 words in which you contemplate the relevance of the Society’s principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression in the context of your own intellectual development at the University of Montana. In composing your essay, pay specific attention, using concrete examples, to the way your course of study has developed your ideas about, and experiences of: personal freedom; scientific inquiry; liberty of conscience; and creative endeavor. Be sure to include a descriptive title for your essay. Essays will be judged on eloquence, depth of intellectual engagement, and breadth of thought.
Applications will be due to the DHC by noon on Monday, May 2nd, and winners will be decided two weeks later.
APPLICATION
The completed scholarship application must include the following elements:
· Application cover sheet (see next page)
· Essay responding to prompt (500-750 words; 2-3 typed pages).
· Résumé (one page maximum) showing progress toward academic and career objectives
· Unofficial UM transcript showing grades through autumn 2015
· Name, department, and email contact information for two UM faculty members who can provide references upon request
If you have any questions about the PBK Essay Contest, please contact Prof. Ashby Kinch at
The Phi Beta Kappa Association of Montana Essay Contest
APPLICATION COVER SHEET
Application Deadline: noon on Monday, May 2, 2016
To apply for the Phi Beta Kappa Essay Contest, please provide the following information. Thisis a fillable form. Please enter the requested information and print out a hardcopy for submission to the DHC. Werecommend that you save a copy of the completed form.
Last Name: First Name:
Phone Number: Student ID# 790-
UM E-Mail Address:
Local Address:
Permanent Address:
Major: Second Major: Minor:
Are you currently a junior at the University of Montana? Yes No
Have you completed all of your General Education requirements? Yes No
If you checked “No,” please list any GenEd courses currently enrolled:
Indicate your total number of academic credits completed to date:
Indicate your cumulative Grade Point Average at UM:
Indicate your planned number of credits for next autumn semester:
Indicate your planned number of credits for next spring semester:
Application checklist:
This cover sheet
Essay (500-750 words) that responds to the prompt.
Résumé (one page maximum) showing progress toward academic and career objectives
Current UM transcript (an unofficial transcript is acceptable)
Name, department, and email contact information for two UM faculty members who can provide references upon request:
Faculty NameFaculty Name / Department
Department / Email
Student Signature: ______Date:
Submit this application to: Davidson Honors College, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812
If you have any questions about the PBK Essay Contest, please contact Prof. Ashby Kinch at
Revised April 2016