The United Nations (U.N.) 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 awards scholarships to UMSL students whose essays place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in both the Undergraduate and Graduate categories.
Scholarship recipients will receive awards of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000, respectively.*
*By participating in the contest, you acknowledge that the names of contest winners may be shared with the UMSL community and published on the UMSL website. Winning essays may be published and made available for public viewing and reading.How To Apply:
To be considered, submit your essay through the Kuali application form by 11:59 p.m. CST on October 31, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The theme for 2026 is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”
Undergraduate essay prompt:
The United Nations is an organization that hopes to deliver for all. In what ways has it fallen short, and how would you transform it into an organization that would help it deliver for all more effectively?
Graduate essay prompt:
Focusing on this theme, analyze how the United Nations can strengthen its legitimacy and restore trust in our rapidly changing world. What reforms or changes are needed for the UN to remain credible and responsive to global challenges?
- Essays must be submitted by October 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
- Essays must be entered directly into the text box provided in the Kuali Application form.
- Essays must be submitted by a currently enrolled University of Missouri–St. Louis student.
- Essays must be free of all identifying information, including the student's name, student ID number, and any other personal identifiers.
- In accordance with the Student Standard of Conduct, essays may not be produced in material or substantial part through the use of artificial intelligence tools or other technologies that generate artificial content.
- Essay must be written by the submitter without the use of generative AI tools for brainstorming, drafting, writing, editing, paraphrasing, summarizing, or generating citations. Spell-checking tools may be used for basic spelling and grammar checks, but authors must disclose any such use.
- After entering your essay, you must complete your submission by selecting the "Submit" button.
- Upon successful submission, you will receive a confirmation email from Kuali Notifications (no-reply@kuali.umsl.edu).
- All essays will be evaluated through a blind review process and independently scored by reviewers.
- Awards will be presented in both the Undergraduate and Graduate categories. Each category will recognize 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, and Honorable Mention recipients.
- All participants will be notified through Kuali Notifications once the review process has been completed.
- Contest winners will be recognized and presented with a certificate at Friendsgiving.
- 2026 Friendsgiving Event Details: Tuesday, November 17 | 5:30–8:30 p.m. | EdCollabitat
