The Dorothy Schneider
United Nations Essay Contest
The United Nations Essay Contest was endowed by Dorothy Schneider, St. Louisan, Red Cross worker, college English instructor, and author of the U.N. resolution to create United Nations Day. The contest consists of two categories: one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students.
Only currently enrolled students at the University of Missouri-St. Louis are eligible to enter.
The theme of 2025's contest is backlash, relevance, and future proofing.
Undergraduate essay prompt:
The United Nations turns 80 years old this year. What do you think its biggest accomplishment has been during its 80 years, and is it worth celebrating? As a birthday present, what is one gift you would give the United Nations to make it better for the next 80 years?
2025 Undergraduate Contest Winners
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1st Place - Nanami Akeda
Committee Notes – This essay wowed the judges with a reflection on personal experiences that was seamlessly weaved into responses to the prompt. It is a fully crafted narrative that is well written and fully addressed all questions posed by the prompt.
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2nd Place – Scarlett Grimes
Committee Notes – This essay impressed the judges with its novelty and unique approach to evaluating the successes and shortcomings of the United Nations. The judges unanimously came away from the essay saying, “this essay taught me something I did not know before.”
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3rd Place – Alice Garcia
Committee Notes – This essay stood out to the judges for its identification misinformation as a significant problem and giving the gift of a possible solution to the United Nations. It is well written and thoroughly engaged with the prompt.
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Honorable Mention – Lyn Collver
Committee Notes – The judges were impressed with this essay’s response and were particularly struck by the arguments surrounding decolonization as well as the current structure of the permanent Security Council. It is thorough and well-written. The judges express their sincerest congratulations on a thoughtful and exceptional essay.
Graduate essay prompt:
The United Nations is experiencing a series of significant crises- of legitimacy, funding, and involvement. What are the underlying causes of these crises, and what, if any, are the potential solutions? As it turns 80, is the United Nations still useful, progressing towards its purpose, or are there other avenues and institutions better suited to ensuring peace, stability, development, and cooperation?
2025 Graduate Contest Winners
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1st Place - Jersie Cox
Committee Notes – The judges found this essay to be well written, detailed in its arguments, and were particularly struck by its engagement with sources. The author clearly identifies both problems and potential solutions in a concise manner, providing hope, pragmatism, and a recognition of reality.
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2nd Place – Rachael Carpenter
Committee Notes – This finely crafted essay balances a personable tone with somber reflections on problems, while providing some solutions which advocate for individual and collective responsibility. The author identifies a core strength of the UN: as a place for convening, and while convening may not always lead to consensus, there is power and possibility in the convening itself.
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3rd Place – Dyamond Bradford
Committee Notes – The judges appreciated this essay’s thorough interaction with the prompt, as it identified several unique problems, their causes, and solutions. It thoroughly engaged with sources. The author identifies both the structure of the security council and a lack of independent or enforceable funding mechanisms as key constraints on the United Nations’ ability to be effective moving forward.
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Honorable Mention – Sejla Ceric Omeragic
Committee Notes – The judges enjoyed reading this essay, which wove in narratives of the responsibility to protect with funding challenges and the issue of the veto power of the P5. It is a very good essay, and the judges wished to congratulate the author on a thoughtful, engaging response.
