John Kirshner Essay Prize

The John Kirshner Prize is awarded annually to a Senior for an outstanding critical analytical essay in history. This award, among the most prestigious offered at Lincoln-Sudbury, is given in memory of John Kirshner of the Class of 1963. John was an avid student of history both at Lincoln-Sudbury and in college; and though history did not become his profession, it remained an important part of his adult life. The award is in the neighborhood of two thousand dollars.

Essays must be submitted to the Coordinator of the History Department on or before the last day of school in April. They must be double spaced, in print, show a good command of the English language, and an ability to handle the apparatus of scholarship. The body of the essay should be a minimum of fifteen pages in length. The essay may be new or it may be based on previous work. Four copies of the essay must be submitted, one with the author's name and three without. Essays must be well bound to ensure the pages will not come apart.

The results will be determined by judges who are not members of the faculty of Lincoln-Sudbury. The decision of the judges is final. In making their decision the judges will consider originality, thoroughness, breadth and depth of research, and aptness of style. In the event that no essay meets the judges's standards, no prize will be awarded.

Copies of essays which have been awarded the Kirshner Prize are available in the school library, and should be consulted by any student considering the submission of an essay.