The Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University is proud to celebrate and support student achievement through a range of annual awards, scholarships, and research grants.
Our programs recognize outstanding civic leadership, constitutional engagement, and academic excellence, empowering students to shape a brighter future for their communities, state, and nation.
#awards-scholarships
- First Place: $1,500
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
Context for Analysis
What is the role of data in making good evidence and policy making? Discuss the importance of using data in making policy decisions and how to ensure the accuracy of necessary data.
The goal of the competition is to generate discussion and raise awareness about the importance of accurate, unbiased data in a functioning democratic republic such as the United States. Without reliable data, policymakers cannot consistently make sound decisions. As a result, the manipulation of data and information represents a significant vulnerability for any republic. Unfortunately, this issue is often overlooked until the integrity of the data system is already under attack. Address these issues in your entry.
Some resources that might help:
Statistical Policy Directives of the Office of Management and Budget https://www.bls.gov/bls/statistical-policy-directives.htm
Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Seventh Edition https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/25885
What Protects the Autonomy of the Federal Statistical Agencies? An Assessment of the Procedures in Place to Protect the Independence and Objectivity of Official U.S. Statistics https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2330443X.2023.2188062
Essay Writing Prompt
What is the role of a federal statistical data system in maintaining a democratic republic? Discuss the risks associated with political manipulation of such a system and how those risks can be addressed.
Instructions and Notes:
- 10 pages maximum
- 12-point Times New Roman
- Standard margin size
- Include a title page with your name (do not include your name on any other page)
- Use parenthetical references (Washington 2024, 12) with a separate reference section for citations
- Only full-time FSU undergraduates allowed to submit
- Scholarships processed through Financial Aid and disbursed through Student Business Services
- Submitted essays are not allowed to use Artificial Intelligence platforms for their submissions. All submissions will be run through an AI Detector
- Please submit a headshot and one-paragraph bio with your submission
Deadline:
October 2nd, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
RESTRICTIONS: (1) Winners from the previous year cannot apply to this year. (2) Winners in one branch cannot reapply to that same branch later.
- First Place: $1,500
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
Context for Analysis
In his 1982 book, The Paideia Proposal, philosopher Mortimer Adler argued that all children are capable of learning and deserve the same quality of education—not just for individual success, but for the preservation of a free society. He insisted on a rigorous, liberal education for all, rooted in the development of critical thinking, communication, and moral reasoning. Adler believed a democratic republic requires an informed, thoughtful, and virtuous citizenry. David Hicks made a similar argument in his 1981 work, Norms and Nobility, in which he suggested education should serve the purpose of “ennobling of the masses.”
More recently, a coalition group released The Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education. Like Adler and Hicks, the Phoenix Declaration states, “America’s system of self-government is predicated upon an informed and virtuous citizenry.” To that end, the Declaration lays out seven principles that the authors believe “should guide American families, schools, and policymakers.”
Adler, Hicks, and the Phoenix Declaration stand in contrast to educational models that focus primarily on vocational training, test preparation, or career pathways. In a society marked by increasing polarization and technological change, these views on the purposes and roles of education raise vital questions about what kind of education can truly sustain liberty.
Essay Writing Prompt
What kind of education is necessary to preserve liberty in a democratic society? Drawing on Mortimer Adler’s Paideia Proposal, David Hicks’ Norms and Nobility, the Phoenix Declaration, ED. Hirsch’s The Schools We Need and Why We Don’t Have Them, and other educational thinkers or historical examples, discuss whether a liberal education is essential for freedom—or whether alternative models of education are equally or better suited to preparing citizens for self-government.
Be sure to support your argument with the text of one of the works cited above.
Instructions and Notes:
- 10 pages maximum
- 12-point Times New Roman
- Standard margin size
- Include a title page with your name (do not include your name on any other page)
- Use parenthetical references (Washington 2024, 12) with a separate reference section for citations
- Only full-time FSU undergraduates allowed to submit
- Scholarships processed through Financial Aid and disbursed through Student Business Services
- Submitted essays are not allowed to use Artificial Intelligence platforms for their submissions. All submissions will be run through an AI Detector
- Please submit a headshot and one-paragraph bio with your submission
Deadline:
Submissions opening soon...
RESTRICTIONS: (1) Winners from the previous year cannot apply to this year. (2) Winners in one branch cannot reapply to that same branch later.
- First Place: $1,500
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
Context for Analysis
Public universities are expected to serve as places where individuals with diverse beliefs, backgrounds, and values can learn from one another. At the same time, disagreements over political, social, and moral issues have led to debates about how universities should balance freedom of expression, inclusion, institutional values, and campus order.
Essay Writing Prompt
What role should liberty of conscience should play in shaping the culture and policies of public universities, and what responsibilities to students, faculty, and administrators have to promote civil discourse?
Instructions and Notes:
- 10 pages maximum
- 12-point Times New Roman
- Standard margin size
- Include a title page with your name (do not include your name on any other page)
- Use parenthetical references (Washington 2024, 12) with a separate reference section for citations
- Only full-time FSU undergraduates allowed to submit
- Scholarships processed through Financial Aid and disbursed through Student Business Services
- Submitted essays are not allowed to use Artificial Intelligence platforms for their submissions. All submissions will be run through an AI Detector
- Please submit a headshot and one-paragraph bio with your submission
Deadline:
Submissions opening soon...
RESTRICTIONS: (1) Winners from the previous year cannot apply to this year. (2) Winners in one branch cannot reapply to that same branch later.
- First Place: $1,500
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
Context for Analysis
Coming soon...
Essay Writing Prompt
Coming soon...
Instructions and Notes:
- 10 pages maximum
- 12-point Times New Roman
- Standard margin size
- Include a title page with your name (do not include your name on any other page)
- Use parenthetical references (Washington 2024, 12) with a separate reference section for citations
- Only full-time FSU undergraduates allowed to submit
- Scholarships processed through Financial Aid and disbursed through Student Business Services
- Submitted essays are not allowed to use Artificial Intelligence platforms for their submissions. All submissions will be run through an AI Detector
- Please submit a headshot and one-paragraph bio with your submission
Deadline:
Submissions opening soon...
RESTRICTIONS: (1) Winners from the previous year cannot apply to this year. (2) Winners in one branch cannot reapply to that same branch later.
2025-26 COMPETITION WINNERS:
First Place - Mikayla Robinson
Second Place - Juanse Gutierrez
Third Place - Alexandra Falvella
- First Place: $1,500
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
Context for Analysis
According to Gordon Wood, one of the most prominent historians of the American Revolution,“consent of the governed” was one of the most important issues of the Revolution. According to him, “Among the many self-evident truths in the Declaration of Independence is the assertion that governments derive their just powers from ‘the consent of the governed.’ By consent of the governed, the Americans in 1776 meant the people giving their consent to the actions of government through the process of representation, since… no one believed the people at large could govern themselves.” Americans came to believe that representation in the British Parliament was inadequate for their needs.
Some resources that might help:
1) https://constitutioncenter.org/essays/the-consent-of-the-governed
2) https://constitutioncenter.org/education/classroom-resource-library/classroom/john-locke-profile
3) The Social Contract in America: From the Revolution to the Present Age by Mark Hulliung.
4) The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn.
5) The American Founding and the Social Compact, edited by Ronald J. Pestritto and Thomas G. West.
6) The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 by Gordon S. Wood
7) The Consent of the Governed by Robert G. Livingston and John C. Thompson.
8) The Consent of the Governed: The Lockean Legacy in Early American Culture, by Gillian Brown
Essay Writing Prompt
Do the governed still give consent in America? Would founders from the American Revolution agree that the American people are adequately represented in their national government today? Why or why not? Students should use primary-source documents and secondary scholarship to support their arguments.
Instructions and Notes:
- 10 pages maximum
- 12-point Times New Roman
- Standard margin size
- Include a title page with your name (do not include your name on any other page)
- Use parenthetical references (Washington 2024, 12) with a separate reference section for citations
- Only full-time FSU undergraduates allowed to submit
- Scholarships processed through Financial Aid and disbursed through Student Business Services
- Submitted essays are not allowed to use Artificial Intelligence platforms for their submissions. All submissions will be run through an AI Detector
- Please submit a headshot and one-paragraph bio with your submission
Deadline:
Submissions opening soon...
RESTRICTIONS: (1) Winners from the previous year cannot apply to this year. (2) Winners in one branch cannot reapply to that same branch later.
2025-26 COMPETITION WINNERS:
First Place - Brittany Tito
Second Place - Sofia Arango
Third Place - Jasmine Tavares
Award Amount: $2,000 (Three recipients per academic year)
Description of Award
The Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University recognizes three undergraduate students annually for their exceptional civic character and leadership. This award honors individuals who have addressed meaningful challenges through teamwork, service, and a demonstrated commitment to improving the university community.
The IGC Civic Leadership Award seeks students who exemplify a strong civic-minded spirit, exhibit impactful leadership on campus, and show clear potential to continue contributing positively to civic life and democratic engagement in the future.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for the IGC Civic Leadership Award, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Be a full-time undergraduate student currently enrolled at Florida State University’s main campus and in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Have demonstrated significant leadership on campus through service, collaboration, and a commitment to improving the University community.
- Exhibit qualities associated with future leadership success, including effective teamwork, problem-solving, and the ability to inspire others to take action.
- Not have previously received the IGC Civic Leadership Award.
- Demonstrate a clear commitment to civic values through their leadership activities.
- Have attended at least two Institute for Governance and Civics events within the past 12 months.
Nomination Process
Faculty, staff, peers, or students themselves may submit nominations. The Institute for Governance and Civics will begin accepting nominations in Spring 2026.
Instructions and Notes:
- Nominations must include specific examples of the nominee’s leadership contributions and their impact on the campus community.
- Submissions may not use Artificial Intelligence platforms in the preparation of nomination materials.
- The nomination form should clearly articulate how the nominee embodies the values and principles outlined in the eligibility criteria.
- Academic transcripts are reviewed solely to verify eligibility and academic standing.
COMPETITION WINNERS:
Catalina Grieco
Tanay Warrier
Sophia Vizoso
Funding Available: Varies based on project needs
Description of Grant
The Institute for Governance and Civics is committed to supporting student-led research that aligns with its mission and purpose. This grant provides funding for graduate research projects that contribute to governance, civic engagement, and public policy discourse. Examples of eligible research areas include polling and public opinion, legislative and policy analysis, civic technology, electoral systems, economics, education, First Amendment issues, and the American founding and constitutional tradition. Proposals should demonstrate clear research objectives, academic rigor, and potential community or scholarly impact.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be a full-time graduate student currently enrolled at FSU’s main campus and in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- The research project must align with the mission and focus areas of the IGC.
- The applicant must have a faculty member serving as the Primary Investigator (PI) overseeing the research.
- Funding must be allocated to an appropriate university account ending in 140 (e.g., xxxxxx-140).
Funding Available: Varies based on project needs
Description of Grant
The Institute for Governance and Civics is committed to supporting faculty research that aligns with its mission and purpose. This grant provides funding for faculty research projects that contribute to governance, civic engagement, and public policy discourse. Examples of eligible research areas include polling and public opinion, legislative and policy analysis, civic technology, electoral systems, economics, education, First Amendment issues, and the American founding and constitutional tradition. Proposals should demonstrate clear research objectives, academic rigor, and potential community or scholarly impact.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be a faculty member at FSU’s main campus.
- The research project must align with the mission and focus areas of the IGC.
- The applicant must be serving as the Primary Investigator (PI) overseeing the research.
- Funding must be allocated to an appropriate university account ending in 140 (e.g., xxxxxx-140).