The George Gund Award is a $2,500 cash prize awarded annually at Honors Day for an exceptional essay that examines the American form of republican government as set forth in the United States Constitution. This substantial prize is given for an essay that is original, nuanced, informed by the student's studies, argued well and elegantly composed.
This year, to ensure the integrity of this prize and to encourage greater participation, writers will compose their essays in a limited time period and proctored environment on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 1 - 3:30 p.m. in Chalmers Library 320. Students should bring a laptop. The essay must respond to the prompt that will be provided that day. The prompt will relate in some way to the principles of the Declaration of Independence, in relation to the republic that has emerged 250 years later.
All students enrolled this semester, regardless of class year or major, are eligible to participate. Submissions will be anonymized before being read by a panel of faculty who determine if there is a winner or winners. Athletes with competition on Saturday, February 14, or students qualifying for extra time or a quiet space through the Office of Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS), should notify the Center for the Study of American Democracy (CSAD) of their intention to participate no later than February 7 by emailing powersn@kenyon.edu so an alternative arrangement can be made.
History
The George Gund Prize was created in 1952 by George Gund H'50, longtime trustee of the College, chair of the Finance Committee, father of Graham Gund, '63 and former chair of the Cleveland Trust Company.