Gerstung Award 2009

The 2009 Gerstung Award Competition is now open. The award is a personal plaque, name posting on the Gerstung Award Board in the Humanities Building, and a monetary recognition of $100. Eligibility for the award is restricted to Loyola College seniors who are members of the Pre-Law Society and who have an overall GPA of 3.3 or above. Seniors who are eligible and who would like to be considered for the award should submit an essay on the following question, and the essay must follow the specifications listed below the question.

    The Question:

    Reasonable people differ. Take a point of contest or controversy in case law. Giving each side equal treatment, explain the legal reasoning and values that inform the two conflicting viewpoints. Note that your essay will be evaluated on the strength with which you advocate each position.

    Deadline for Essay: Monday, April 13, new(1)Wednesday, April 15, 2009 [See Below]
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SPECIFICATIONS

      The essays must adhere to the following specifications:

       

  • Maximum length: 7 pages
  • 12 point font
  • Normal margins, no smaller than 1 inch.
  • Typed, double-spaced
  • Properly documented according to a recognized style sheet
  • No identifying words (anonymity)

In addition:

  1. Two copies of the essays and one up-to-date college transcript should be submitted in hard copy (not e-mail) to William Kitchin, Department of Political Science, Beatty Hall 306A, or Phyllis Krivak, Secretary to the Department of Political Science, Beatty Hall 317, no later than 4 PM, MONDAY, April 13,
     new(1)Wednesday, April 15, 2009    .
  2. On one copy of the essay, you should have a title page with the title of the essay, your name, e-mail address, and telephone numbers (local and permanent). On the other copy of the essay, you should have no identifying information at all. Dr. Kitchin and Ms. Krivak will then forward the anonymous essay to the anonymous reader who will read the essays and make the award determination.
  3. In addition to the two copies described under # 1 above, one electronic copy should be submitted to prelaw@loyola.edu; put Gerstung Award Paper in the subject line of the e-mail. If the subject line is not correct, the paper will not be routed correctly and might not be considered to have been received.
  4. Late submissions will not be accepted.
  5. Note that failure to follow these directions can result in disqualification. Thus, essays in which the author’s identity is communicated to the reader will be disqualified.

The Gerstung Award, established in memory of and in honor of Judge Robert J. Gerstung, is given annually to the student who best exemplifies Judge Gerstung’s commitment to the law as a profession of honorable men and women. Judge Gerstung was a judge on the District Court of Maryland from 1971 to 1994 and taught in the Department of Political Science from 1955 until 1994. He was well recognized for his high intellect, his love for the law, his devotion to God and country, his great sense of humor, and his avid interest in politics. The Gerstung Award consists of a monetary award and a plaque. Past recipients’ names are on the Gerstung Plaque in the Humanities Building. See other information at the Gerstung Award Page.