HBU Bible, Art, and History Museums

A Piece of the Past Museum Essay Contest

HBU A Piece of the Past Essay Contest
“A Piece of the Past” Museum Essay Contest was inaugurated in 2010-2011 to encourage student research into the artifacts of the Dunham Bible Museum, the Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Southern History.

Funding for the contest has been generously provided by The Joella and Stewart Morris Foundation and Mr. Isaac Heimbinder.

How to Enter the 11th Annual “A Piece of the Past” University Museum Essay Contest, 2020-2021

GRAND PRIZE – $1,500
   Plus ADDITIONAL PRIZES IN FIVE CATEGORIES:
  1. Museums of Southern History & Decorative Arts      1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250
  2. Dunham Bible Museum                                                      1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250   
  3. Fine Arts /Contemporary Art Museums                        1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250
  4. Topic: “Perseverance in Times of Great Trial”            1st place: $500; 2nd place:  $250                   
  5. Best Freshman/HBU Academy Essays                            1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250

Plus: 25 Honorable Mention student awards                     $50 each

Sponsored by

THE JOELLA AND STEWART MORRIS FOUNDATION & THE MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN HISTORY

ELIGIBILITY:

All current HBU, HBU Academy students (including HBU December 2020 graduates), and HBU applicant students are eligible for the grand prize, categories 1-, and the honorable mention awards. Only HBU undergraduate freshmen and HBU Academy students are eligible for category 5.  Only applicants to HBU are eligible for category 5.

Submission deadline is March 26, 2021!

View Submission Guidelines 2020-21
HOW TO ENTER
  1. CHOOSE AN ARTIFACT OR ARTWORK
    You may choose any artifact or work of art in any of the five museums. Excluded are explanatory displays.  Museum staff will be available to help orient students to the museum collections and to discuss possibilities. The Museum of Southern History, the Dunham Bible Museum, and the Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts are all located in the Joella and Stewart Morris Cultural Arts Center. The Fine Arts and Contemporary Art museums are located in the University Academic Center (UAC).
  2. CHOOSE A MENTOR
    You may ask a HBU faculty member to formally serve as mentor for your essay. He or she will give you guidance and feedback on your work.  You are not required to have a mentor, but the support will help.  And if you win an award, your mentor will too!
  3. WRITE THE ESSAY:
    Write a 1,000 to 1,250-word essay  on your chosen artifact or artwork.  Full essay  guidelines are available at www.hbu/museums or from Dr. Anthony Joseph at ajoseph@hbu.edu.
  4. SUBMIT THE ESSAY:
    To submit your essay, you must be enrolled in the “Museum Essay Contest” course page on Blackboard. Follow these instructions to enroll in the course: Step 1: Go to “hbu.blackboard.com” and login with your HBU OneLogin information. Step 2: Click on the “My Courses” tab and find the “Course Search” navigator. Step 3: Type in the course “Museum Essay Contest.” Step 4: Once the course pops up, click the drop box next to the class name and select ‘Enroll’ (pick “Org 2” if “Org 1” also appears).  Step 5: Select ‘Submit.’ Step 6: You’re In!  Once you are enrolled, select the Contest 2020-2021 folder and submit your paper to the appropriate category folder. The deadline will be Friday, March 26, 2021, 11:59pm.

AWAIT JUDGMENT
The judges will evaluate the essays (including quality of the scholarly research, argument, organization, writing style, and documentation). The judges reserve the right to disqualify essays that do not meet the basic minimum requirements described in the essay guidelines.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE…

TOPIC CATEGORY: Essays which address the topic, “Perseverance In Times of Great Trial” will be considered in the topic category as well as the category of the museum in which the artifact or artwork is exhibited.

FRESHMAN CATEGORY/HBU ACADEMY CATEGORY: The winning freshmen/HBU Academy essays will be selected from the essays submitted in the three museum categories. Freshman status will be accorded to students with fewer than 32 earned college credit hours at the beginning of Fall 2020. Any student enrolled in the HBU Academy for either semester of the 2020-2021 academic year is eligible for this category.

NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS/PAST SUBMISSIONS: Students may submit up to three essays but no more than one in a single museum category.   Essays that have won Honorable Mention awards in the past may be resubmitted for consideration again this contest year.  Essays that have previously won 1st, 2nd, or Grand Prizes cannot be submitted again.

2020 Winners – 10th Annual Piece of the Past essay Contest

 Plus the following Honorable Mention ($50)

Marissa Campisse, Daniel Dicken, Linh Dinh, Alan Omar Garay, Diana Gonzalez, Caroline Gillispie, Hailey Harvey, Daniel Idowu, Michael Knapton, Tieu Phuong Nguyen, Obianuju Favour Onyenso, Brandon Patterson, Renee Peters, Erik Pho, Esther Pouluse, Anissa Sanchez, Jayden Seals, Zeinah Wafi, Kayla Wilson, Alvina Zia

UNIVERSITY MUSEUM ESSAY CONTEST
***ALL-TIME EARNINGS LIST***TOP TWELVE
1.Nicholas Van Cleve$3,000 (2012-2015)
2. Jonathan Richie$2,500 (2015-2017)
3. Andrew S. Jimenez$2,250 (2013-2014)
3. (tie) Corrie McCloy$2,250 (2016-2018)
5. Katrina Bolman $1,550 (2018-2019)
6. Victoria Thorpe $1,500(2019)
7. Katie L. Kuhlman$ 1,100 (2011-2014)
8. Alexander B. Hale$ 1,000 (2016-2017)
9. Andrew W. Adler$ 750 (2011-2012)
9. (tie) Kyra Brown $ 750 (2014-2015)
11. Cody Pepper $600 (2013)
12. Gabrielle Thomason$ 550 (2018-2019

View a list of prior winners