Annual WGS Essay Contest
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

MARIA PULZETTI AND JESSE GILLIAM AWARD

for the best undergraduate essay focused on women, gender, and/or sexuality written during the 2024-2025 academic year.
 

ZORA NEALE HURSTON AWARD

for the best graduate essay focused on women, gender, and/or sexuality written during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Both awards carry a cash prize.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 3 pm

Students may submit their own work or a faculty member may submit outstanding papers. A student need not be a Women, Gender & Sexuality major or minor to be eligible.

Authors are limited to a single submission.

There is a minimum page requirement of 15 pages, and a maximum submission length of 50 pages. Please limit submissions to a full-length senior seminar paper or one chapter or excerpt from a senior thesis or dissertation.

Submissions under 15 pages or over 50 pages will not be given consideration.

Please submit the paper electronically to wgsuva@virginia.edu and include the essay contest cover sheet.