The Rudder Association
Annual Essay Contest &
Selfless Service Award Rules
This essay contest and selfless service award is open to all current students at Texas A&M University.
Submission date begins January 1, 2026.
Please read below for rules and submission details.
2026 Annual Essay Contest for The Rudder Association Information
The Rudder Association offers current Aggie students the opportunity to compete in its annual essay competition with prize money awards for the top 3 essays chosen. The essay contest extends from Monday, January 01, 2026, to Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 5 pm. This contest is open to all current undergraduate students attending Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Essay prompt:
Surveys show that college faculty are not very politically or ideologically diverse. Given this, how can universities promote a marketplace of ideas and ensure that students are challenged by a variety of valid perspectives on important issues?
Winners will be awarded a monetary prize and will be invited to read their work at the annual members meeting in College Station on February 28, 2026 from 9-3.
Prize Money 2026:
First Prize $1000, Second $600 and Third $400
Directions:
Essays should be no more than 1000 words, typed, double spaced and saved as a Word or PDF document. Submissions should include author’s name, class year, major, email, phone number and hometown. By submitting an essay, the submitter grants The Rudder Association all rights to the submission and accompanying files, free of royalties with the right to reproduce, distribute, or publish the submission.
Essays will be accepted by emailing this/these document(s) as an attachment to: admin@rudderassociation.org. Use "2026 Essay Contest" in the subject line. Please submit between January 1, 2026 and Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 5 p.m. Late entries will not be accepted.
Essays will be evaluated anonymously on their adherence to the prompt, logical development of ideas, persuasiveness, and utilization of facts and background information. Winners will be invited to attend the annual members meeting in College Station, Saturday, February 28, to receive their prize money and may be asked to read their submission.
Michael R. Beggs '68 Selfless Service Award
Information
Submission essays are evaluated anonymously on their logical development of ideas, persuasiveness, true representation of the subject’s service to the community and utilization of facts and background information.
To be eligible for the Michael R Beggs '68 Selfless Service award, an Aggie student must:
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Have displayed a high degree of the core value of Selfless Service.
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Have no academic, honor, or conduct violations.
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Have performed service to improve the quality of life and promote the welfare of others (i.e., humanitarian/charitable causes) during the nominee’s enrollment at Texas A&M University. Service is to be considered based on the nominee’s efforts—not the overall effort of the organization associated with the service.
To nominate a student you feel meets/exceeds these qualifications, you must be a current Aggie student at Texas A&M in College Station. You must create a document that shares the true character and service exhibited by a current undergraduate student at Texas A&M University in College Station. Your submission must be under 1000 words and be saved as a Word or PDF document attached to an email to admin@rudderassociation.org. Submissions will be accepted via email by using the subject line, "2026 Selfless Service Nominee" during the period of Monday, January 1, 2026 until Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 5 pm.
Essays will be evaluated anonymously on their logical development of ideas, persuasiveness, true representation of the subject’s service to the community and utilization of facts and background information. Winners will be contacted and invited by February 14 to receive their certificate and $2,000 award at The Rudder Association Annual Members Meeting on February 28, 2026 at Pebble Creek Country Club in College Station.
