IEW Essay Contest

Share your story in celebration of IEW at Emory.

If you would like to be involved in the planning of the IEW Essay Contest, please reach out to global@emory.edu.

2026 IEW Essay Contest

In an increasingly interconnected world, education has the power to bring people, cultures, and communities together. International education allows students to encounter different perspectives, challenge assumptions, develop empathy, and discover shared values across cultural boundaries. Reflecting on the theme “Wise Hearts, Global Minds: Building Bridges Through International Education,” you are invited to write an essay exploring how international education can help develop both wise hearts and global minds.

Access the official contest flyer HERE.

Contest Rules and Details 

You may choose (but are not required) to respond to one or more of the questions below.

1. Describe a time you encountered a cultural difference or challenge during an international education experience. How did navigating this challenge contribute to your personal growth and understanding of the theme "Wise Hearts, Global Minds"?

2. Reflect on an international education experience you have had in the past. How did this experience change your perspective and deepen your understanding of another culture?

3. Drawing on your own observations or experiences, discuss how the principles of a globally minded education can be applied to address a pressing local or global issue that you are passionate about.

Format: Your essay should be between 500 to 750 words, typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, in Microsoft Word or an editable document and adhere to the contest guidelines and rules. We encourage you to draw upon your identity, personal anecdotes, specific examples, lived experiences, and thoughtful analysis to craft a compelling and insightful essay.   

Winners: The review committee will select one graduate student winner and one runner-up, and one undergraduate winner and runner-up. 

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on October 9, 2026. 

Prizes: 

Graduate First-place Winner Prize: $500

Undergraduate First-place Winner Prize: $500

Graduate Runner-Up Prize: $250

Undergraduate Runner-Up Prize: $250

Essay Contest Guidelines: 

1. Must be written in English; 
2. Include a title and a cover sheet with the author's name and contact information;  
3. No identifying information should be within the essay itself; 
4. Only one essay may be submitted per person; 
5. All aspects of the Emory Honor Code will be enforced, citing any references or copyright materials where relevant; and 
6. AI Tools (e.g. Chat GPT, Grammarly) can be used to edit a draft, but not to formulate ideas or write an initial draft. If used, AI tools must be credited at the conclusion of the essay.
7. Read the detailed list of official rules here. 

SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY

List of the 2025 Winners and Runner-Ups:

Undergraduate Winners

Mufei (Fiona) Li ​​

​Undergraduate ​First-Place Winner​: "Frizz and Freedom"

Yash Kamdar​

Undergraduate Runner-Up: "An Anthem I Couldn’t Sing, A Lesson I Won’t Forget"

Graduate Winners

Pragya Thapa​

Graduate First-Place Winner​: "One World, Many Voices: Learning Across Borders"

Alapa Odugbo

Graduate Runner-Up​:"One World, Many Voices: The Marketplace Where Learning Speaks" 

Past IEW Essay Contest Winners

 

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