Holley Ethics Essay Contest

Registered undergraduates who have been admitted to the School of Business, and graduate MBA students are encouraged to participate in an essay contest in coordination with the 2012 Bertrand P. Holley Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Lecture Series. 

For a printable .pdf of the essay rules and information, click here.

Awards

Undergraduate Business School

1st Prize ~ $500
2nd Prize ~ $300
3rd Prize ~ $200

Graduate MBA Students

1st Prize ~ $500

Eligibility

  • Registered undergraduates who have been admitted to the School of Business, or
  • Graduate MBA students

Essay Topic

"BP" (Beyond Petroleum)
Case may be obtained by clicking here.  Permission to use the case for this contest has been granted by the authors, O. C. and Linda Ferrell of the Univ. of New Mexico. No other use by students or faculty is permitted.

When writing:

  • Focus on sustainability
  • Respond to the questions at the conclusion of the narrative
  • Articulate with clarity your ethical analysis and comment upon what impact the case has had on you


What The Readers Look For

  • Clear articulation and genuine grappling with an ethical dilemma
  • Carefully proofread essays
  • Observation of rules for standard English usage (grammar, punctuation, mechanics)
  • Thoroughly thought-out, tightly focused essays
  • Originality and imagination
  • Eloquence of writing style
  • Intensity and unity in the essay
  • Two readers will evaluate each essay and follow a common rubric
  • The written essay will have a value of 80% of the total score


Essay Format

  • In 1500-2000 words (undergraduate students) or 2000-2500 words (graduate students), you are encouraged to raise questions, single out issues and identify dilemmas
  • Essays may be written in the formal or informal voice, but most importantly, an individual voice should be evident
  • The essay should be developed from your point of view and may draw from historical, literary, philosophical, psychological, sociological, or theological sources
  • Essay must be the original, unpublished work of one student (one essay per student)
  • All essays must have a title and be written in English
  • Essay should be typed in a 12-point, easily readable font (such as Times New Roman), double-spaced with 1-inch margins and numbered pages


Deadline

All essays must be submitted by February 27, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. CST in order to be judged

Submission of Materials

  • Submissions will be judged anonymously
  • Place your name on the submission and submit same to mdwilson@eiu.edu
  • Entries must be submitted by email
  • No paper or hard copy submissions will be accepted


Oral Presentation

  • An oral presentation related to the essay and valued at 20% will be required as part of the contest
  • Oral presentations, 5-7 minutes in length, will be evaluated by the readers in the Roberson Auditorium, Lumpkin Hall 2030, at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2012

 

School of Business
Bertrand P. Holley
Business Ethics & Social Responsibility Series

This essay contest is part of the Bertrand P. Holley Business Ethics & Social Responsibility Series.  Dr. Bertrand P. Holley served as a distinguished and dedicated business professor at Eastern Illinois University for over 43 years. The Bertrand P. Holley Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Fund was established in order to perpetuate the ideals of Dr. Holley who was committed to advancing social responsibility.

Business ethics education is a vital part of the integrative learning experience, as it:

  • Encourages honesty & transparency in the workplace
  • Transforms corporate/organizational culture
  • Fosters characteristics essential to leadership
  • Recognizes that laws alone are never enough
  • Engenders sound corporate governance
  • Emphasizes the social responsibility of businesses
  • Focuses on ways to improve conditions for wealth creation
  • Imparts principles of “moral courage”

 

This event is co-sponsored by Beta Gamma Sigma.  The Mission of the International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to foster personal and professional excellence, to advance the values of the Society, and to serve its lifelong members.