Please consider entering Princeton Writes’ annual essay contest, which was inaugurated last year to encourage and recognize clear, creative, and compelling writing on the part of the University’s academic professional, administrative, and support staffs. This is a unique opportunity to express yourself outside the day-to-day confines of emails, spreadsheets, and reports, and even those who do not think of themselves as “writers” are warmly invited to participate.

This year’s contest focuses on diversity of all forms in our community. You are invited to write about your experience with the presence or absence of differences and the impact of that experience on you. In crafting your essay, you are encouraged to consider encounters with the faces, places, and spaces of Princeton and beyond.

Essays should address this topic in 750-1,250 words and must be submitted to pwrites@princeton.edu on or before February 1, 2016. The selection committee will award one prize of $1,000 and up to three honorable mentions. Contest details, as well as the essays of previous winners, can be found here.