The Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility at Southern Methodist University is delighted to announce the winners of the 2023-2024 Graduate and Undergraduate Ethics Essay Prize. This prestigious annual contest is dedicated to fostering ethical awareness, creative thinking, and profound introspection among SMU students. Through this competition, we aim to inspire students to deeply engage with complex ethical issues, develop their capacity for moral reasoning, and cultivate a thoughtful and imaginative approach to real-world dilemmas. By encouraging these values, the contest seeks to nurture a generation of leaders who are not only intellectually adept but also committed to the principles of integrity and public responsibility.
This year’s competition invited participants to explore ethical issues through two distinct approaches. The first approach encouraged students to reflect on a personal ethical issue they had encountered. They were asked to describe the ethical dilemma in detail, providing relevant context and examining the factors that contributed to its complexity. Students delved into their decision-making processes, considering the influence of personal values, moral principles, and ethical reasoning. They then reflected on the lessons learned from the experience and how it influenced their understanding of ethics in real-life situations.
The second approach focused on analyzing a contemporary societal issue of significance. Participants examined the ethical dimensions, implications, and potential solutions related to the chosen issue. They were encouraged to consider the broader collective impact, potential conflicts of interest, and the ethical responsibilities of individuals, institutions, and organizations involved. Essays presented well-reasoned arguments supported by relevant ethical theories and principles.
We are excited to announce that, for the first time, our collection of essays is now available for public download on our website. The winning essays have not been edited by Maguire Center staff and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Center or its affiliated parties.
Undergraduates
First Prize
Cooper Jennings Shapard
“Fake It ’till You Make It: The Morality of Con Mans”
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Second Place
Anna Kelley Zielke
“Understood: Is Connection the Ethical Response to a Polarized Society?”
Majors: Dance Performance and Political Science
Third Place
Andrew McClure
“The Struggle with Assisted Suicide, For and Against”
Majors: Finance and Philosophy
Honorable mention
Silas Hartman
“How Just is the Just Transition?”
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Graduates
First Prize
Sara Beth Becker
“Invisible Ethics and Justified Hypocrisy: The Biopolitical Basis of Anti-Transgender Activism”
Medical Anthropology Masters Student
second place
Maria Guadalupe Castaneda Tellez
“A Mother’s Lessons to Her Sons: The Significance of Learning About Genocide”
Liberal Studies Ph.D. Student
Third Place
Adeeb Abdul Taher
“Questioning the Morality of the Realm of the Iron Bars”
Computer Science Masters Students