Call for Submissions: Jessie O'Kelly Student Essay Contest

The Program in Rhetoric and Composition invites students to submit to the Jessie O'Kelly Student Essay Award, which recognizes U of A undergraduate students for writing exemplary essays in first-year composition courses.

The award's monetary prize is $500. Submissions are due April 15, 2022.

The criteria for essay submission:

• Student must be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and continue enrollment in Fall 2022.
• Student must have been a freshman or sophomore when taking the composition course.
• Student must have taken the composition course in 2021, Spring, Summer or Fall.
• Essays must have been written for a major assignment in Composition 1 or 2, Technical Composition 2 or Honors Composition 1 or 2.
• Essays must be formatted in MLA, APA or other accepted academic style, incorporate outside sources and demonstrate skills in originality, organization, argumentation and language.
• Students should include their University ID number with each submission.
• Students may submit more than one essay.

Submit essays via email at rhetcomp@uark.edu by noon on Friday, April 15, and include student ID. Essays will be judged by Program in Rhetoric and Composition teaching staff, who will select winners.

The Program in Rhetoric and Composition is proud to recognize outstanding student writing. Please contact LewEllyn Hallett at 479-575-2248 or lhallett@uark.edu if you have any questions.