For ALL students in grade 12, college, and graduate school
Next Entry Deadline: September 20, 2024
Cash Prizes
Annual Grand Prize
$25,000
1 Winner
1st Place
$3,000
2 Winners
2nd Place
$2,000
3 Winners
3rd Place
$1,000
3 Winners
Essay Topic
Robert Stadler is a brilliant scientist, but also one of the chief villains in the novel. What motivates his major decisions over the course of the story, and in particular, his hostility to Galt? How do these decisions and the way he meets his end relate to the theme of the novel, and why would the author have chosen a brilliant scientist as one of the villains to convey her theme?
Judging
Essays will be judged on whether the student is able to argue for and justify their view—not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged.
Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased four-round judging process. Judges are individually selected by the Ayn Rand Institute based on a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Ayn Rand’s works.
To ensure the anonymity of our participants, winners’ names are unknown to judges until after essays have been ranked and the contest results finalized.
Rules
- The Ayn Rand Institute’s (ARI’s) Atlas Shrugged essay contest is open to all students worldwide, except where void or prohibited by law.
- Entrants must be enrolled as a high school, college, or graduate student at some point during the year in which the contest is being held. ARI reserves the right to make exceptions to this rule, on a case-by-case basis, for international students or for students with nonstandard school years. Verification of school enrollment will be required for all winning entrants.
- Students are permitted to submit no more than one entry to the contest, provided that they meet the eligibility requirements outlined above and have not previously won first-place in the contest.
- Essays must not include any personally identifiable information (name, email, school, et cetera). Your entry may be disqualified should such information be discovered in the essay.
- Essays must be written in English only, and be between 800 and 1,600 words in length. Spelling errors and/or written corrections (by anyone) found in the essay will count against the final grade and should be omitted before submission.
- Essays must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
- Essays must not infringe on any third-party rights or intellectual property of any person, company or organization. By submitting an essay to this contest, the entrant agrees to indemnify ARI for any claim, demand, judgment or other allegation arising from possible violation of someone’s trademark, copyright or other legally protected interest in any way in the entrant’s essay.
- Essays must be submitted electronically through ARI’s online application portal. If you are unable to submit your essay electronically, please contact us at essays@aynrand.org.
- Essays must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the entry deadline. ARI reserves the right to provide contest deadline extensions on a case-by-case basis when deemed appropriate.
- All entries become the property of ARI and will not be returned.
- All entrants consent to participate in a video interview should ARI deem it necessary for the purposes of verifying eligibility, confirming entry information, or conducting any other relevant assessments related to the contest. Entrants understand that participation in such interviews is voluntary but may be required to determine eligibility status, and agree to make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests within a timeframe as specified by ARI.
- All entrants will be notified of the final results via email within three months of the contest deadline.
- Winners are responsible for providing their mailing addresses and other necessary information under the law in order to receive any prizes. Prizes must be claimed within six months of the results being announced.
- Winners agree to allow ARI to post their names and school information on any of its affiliated websites.
- Winners agree to record a short video testimonial about their experience reading Atlas Shrugged, and consent to ARI’s sharing of said video with donors who make the essay contest possible.
- Winners agree to participate in interviews and allow ARI to use quotes and take photographs or videotapes of them.
- Winners also grant to ARI the right to edit, use and reuse said products for non-profit purposes including use in print, on the internet and all other forms of media.
- Winners release ARI and its agents and employees from all claims, demands, and liabilities whatsoever regarding the above.
- Winners will be solely responsible for any federal, state or local taxes.
- Employees of ARI, its board of directors and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.
Entry Process
You will receive an e-mail acknowledging receipt of your entry within 24 hours. If it has been at least 24 hours, and you still have not received e-mail notification, please first check your junk or spam folders and then e-mail us at eduprograms@aynrandinstitute.ca. Please do not re-submit your essay.
