Founder's Day Essay Contest
Every October, we mark the birthday of Simmons' founder, John Simmons, with an essay contest and celebration.
Submit your essay for Founder's Day
Our undergraduate students are invited to participate in an essay contest as part of the celebration of John Simmons' birthday – our Founder's Day.
The winner will be invited to read their essay at the Founder's Day celebration on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 and will be awarded a $1000 prize.
Essay Prompt: Celebrating 125 Years of Simmons!
This year’s Founder’s Day Essay Contest is part of our celebration of Simmons’ 125th Anniversary. For the past 125 years, Simmons alumnae/i have challenged the status quo, broken down barriers, and helped to create a more just world. As we honor the many contributions of this institution and the remarkable Simmons trailblazers, visionaries, and leaders who have shaped and continue to shape our University and our world, from 1899 to today, we’d like you to think about our motto for this celebration: “Founded for Equality, Built for Now.” Specifically, we invite essays that consider what equality looked like then, at Simmons' founding in 1899, and how Simmons fosters it now, 125 years after its founding.
Essay Submission and Deadline
Submit your essay of 750-1000 words (with the subject line "Founder's Day Essay Contest") to [email protected] by Wednesday, October 16. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm on October 16; please submit your essay as a Word or a Google doc.
Previous winners
- 2024: Abigail Gill '26
- 2023: Sonia Vader '27
- 2022: Jamie Lee ’23
- 2021: Starleina Murphy '23
- 2020: Brooke Zahine '24
- 2019: Pragyee Nepal '21
- 2018: Delaney Gagnon '21
Questions?
Contact the Provost's Office ([email protected]) or Associate Provost Hager ([email protected]) for more information.