Discover

The Discover Prize in Chicago, IL

Promoting Scholarship, Ideas and Action Surrounding
Global Women’s Issues and Empowerment


On November 10, 2011, Womenetics will host the Global Women’s Initiative: Creating the Ripple Effect in Chicago, IL. This symposium is designed to inspire action and collaboration among business, nonprofit, academic and public policy leaders, and to inspire action that will make a difference in the lives of women and girls around the globe. This event will convene some of the most recognized experts on global women’s issues for discussions regarding the global status of women, the United States’ efforts to impact the well-being of women worldwide, and the public and private initiatives underway aimed at helping women control their destinies.

Discover Financial Services has partnered with Womenetics to encourage future leaders to learn about these topics. We invite college students to discuss one of the following questions in an essay of 2,500 words or less, for the opportunity to win one of five prizes. In addition, a separate 200-word essay on what you will do with the prize money should you win is required. The prize money is intended to finance education, travel or other opportunities that may lead to further understanding of these important global issues.

1st Prize: $5,000 and an invitation to attend and be recognized at the Womenetics’ Global Women’s Initiative luncheon and symposium on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago, IL. In addition, the winner is invited to attend a VIP Reception with featured speakers and other top business, academic, nonprofit and policy leaders the evening before the event. The first place winner will also win a trip to the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on June 6, 2012.

2nd Prize: Four additional essayists will win $1,500 and recognition at the Womenetics Global Women’s Initiative, as well as an invitation to the VIP Reception with featured speakers and other top business, academic, nonprofit and policy leaders the evening before the event.

To enter, essay and registration form must be received by email and in printed copy by 5 pm on Friday, September 16. Essays must be typed and spaced 1.15, restate the essay question at the start of the paper and be sent electronically to womenetics@thewychegroup.com, and a printed copy with the completed registration form must be sent to Womenetics Essays, 3500 Valley Road, Atlanta, GA 30305. A link to the registration form can be found below. Finalists will be notified via email by October 21, 2011. All five finalists will be introduced and the winner will be announced at the Global Women’s Initiative luncheon on November 10 in Chicago.

To be eligible, Womenetics invites any registered undergraduate student (male or female) who is a legal U.S. resident in an accredited college or university to compete for ten financial and two travel awards by writing a 2500-word essay on one of nine given questions. A separate 200-word essay on how the student intends to use the award money must also be included. Selection will be based on thoroughness of answer to the essay question, quality of research, clarity of writing and neatness of presentation. Appropriate citations and footnotes are required. The Honorable Melanne Verveer, United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, will select the top prize winner for each award on a non-discriminatory basis. All award decisions are final.

Students are invited to enter both the Georgia-Pacific Prize and Discover Prize competitions; however, if selected for one prize, the student is automatically ineligible for the other. Finalists will be responsible for their own travel costs to and from the Global Women’s Initiative in Chicago, but attendance is not required to be selected as the winner. Questions may also be directed to womenetics@thewychegroup.com.

LINK
Deadline: September 16, 2011