Senior Michael Marlier took top honors, senior Elizabeth Scott placed second and freshman Andrew Holmberg placed third in Elon's sixth annual Thomas Jefferson Essay Contest. Details....
Students in this year’s competition were invited to write an essay that explored the differences and similarities between the views of Jefferson and Adams on the role of government in American’s lives. They were also asked to consider the contribution the two presidents’ debates have made to our contemporary understanding of American democracy. Ten students entered this year’s competition.
Marlier received a $1,000 prize for his essay, titled “Connections and Contradictions in Democratic Ideology: Juxtaposing Jefferson and Adams.” He is an economics major from Charlotte, N.C. and plans to enter the Peace Corps following graduation.
Scott’s essay was titled “Recent History: Applying the Ideologies of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to Post-September 11 America.” She is an English major from Palm Bay, Fla. She received a $600 prize.
Holmberg’s essay was titled “Thomas Jefferson and John Adams: Defining the Role of Governent.” He is from Charlotte, Vt. and is leaning toward a business major. He received a $400 prize.
The annual essay competition was endowed by the late Philip Carret, a noted businessman and financier who died in 1998 at the age of 101. He gave a $40,000 endowment to sponsor the annual essay competition at Elon.
The competition is coordinated by registrar Mark Albertson and John Burbridge, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Judging of the essays was done by James Barbour, associate professor of economics, Clyde Ellis, associate professor of history, and Betty Morgan, assistant professor of political science.