MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin System President Raymond Cross has announced three undergraduate student winners of the annual UW System Liberal Arts Essay Scholarship Competition.
Now in its 10th year, the competition was established to support and promote student learning and liberal education throughout the state’s public university system. This year’s essay prompt invited students to discuss a time in their college educations when they made connections between a humanities class and a science class that resulted in unexpected and meaningful insights.
Three students have been honored for writing outstanding essays:
- Amanda Ali Taha, UW-Fox Valley, “Is Everything Science?”
- Madeline Gore, UW-Madison, “My Script”
- Jasmine McClure, UW-Milwaukee, “Through Tongues and Time”
Winners will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to help fund the remainder of their undergraduate education. Honorable mentions were awarded also to two student writers: Meagan Kelly, UW-Madison, and Erin Ross, UW-La Crosse.
“Twenty-five students from 11 UW institutions took up the challenge to write essays for this year’s competition, resulting in thoughtful and creative connection-making across the humanities and sciences,” Cross said. “The essays serve as timely – and inspiring – reminders of the quality of UW students and the critical role our institutions play in educating the citizenry of the future.”
The annual competition, which is funded by private funds, is part of the UW System’s Liberal Education Initiative, which seeks to make the goals and outcomes of liberal arts education accessible and valuable to all UW students, regardless of major or degree program. Through a partnership with the Association of American Colleges & Universities and its national campaign, Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP), the initiative further seeks to spark public debate about the kinds of knowledge and skills that are needed to prepare today’s students for their future roles as citizens.
For more information about the initiative and to see the winning essays, visit our Liberal Education site.