The Challenge
Encourage the development of writing skills and thoughtful, well-organized essays by first class midshipmen in the warfare areas of their service selection.
Contest Highlights
- Each year first class midshipmen are assigned the task of composing an essay exploring a topic related to their warfare service selection—i.e., air, surface, submarine, Marines. These essays should be no longer than 2,000 words.
- The essays are submitted to the Naval Academy’s Professional Development Division as part of the Capstone Program.
- The Naval Institute will read, evaluate, and judge up to 30 of the top essays.
- Each warfare service selection community selects its top essays to forward to the Institute for consideration for 1st Prize in its respective community.
- First place winners will be chosen from each of the five areas of air, surface, submarine, Marine Corps, and other.
- The winning essays are considered for publication in Proceedings.
History of the Contest
In 1999 the Naval Academy Class of 1945 entered into an agreement with the U.S. Naval Institute to conduct the contest on an annual basis. Funding for the awards was made possible with an endowment originating with a gift from the Commander William Earl Fannin estate. Commander Fannin was a member of the Class of 1945.
Awards:
1st Prize Air
$800 + One-year USNI membership
1st Prize Surface
$800 + One-year USNI membership
1st Prize Submarine
$800 + One-year USNI membership
1st Prize Marines
$800 + One-year USNI membership
1st Prize Other
$800 + One-year USNI membership
Ceremony
Prize winners are recognized as part of a ceremony during Commissioning Week at the Robert Crown Sailing Center. A representative of the Naval Academy Class of 1945 will be invited to assist in the award presentation.