Four students have been honored at Elon College for their essays in the fifth annual Philip Carret Endowment Thomas Jefferson Essay Contest. The contest, which was open to all Elon students, invited essays on Jefferson’s presidency from the perspective of a U.S. citizen at the beginning of the 19th century.
The first-place essay was written by Stephanie Newbold, a senior majoring in public administration and political science. Her essay was titled “Mapping an American Landscape: Jefferson’s Challenge.” She received a $1,000 prize and will be a guest at a special banquet hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation this summer at Monticello, Jefferson’s home at Charlottesville, Va. Newbold, a senior from Elizabeth City, N.C., is the daughter of Henry and Martha Newbold. She also took first place in last year’s contest.
The second-place essay was written by Kristin Anne Manglitz, a freshman majoring in political science. Her essay was titled “‘We are all Federalist. We are all Republicans.’ An Evaluation of Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency.” Manglitz, the daughter of Michael and Mari Manglitz of Columbia, Md., received a $600 prize.
Two essays tied for third place. They were written by Carrie Strunsky, a freshman sport medicine major, and Carey Bostian, a freshman business major. Strunsky’s essay was titled “Respected and Ridiculed: Jefferson in the Eyes of His Contemporaries,” and Bostian’s essay was titled “Thomas Jefferson’s Impact on America and the Survival of the Republican State Through the Louisiana Purchase.” Strunsky is the daughter of David and Vicki Strunsky of High Point, N.C., and Bostian is the daughter of David and Carol Bostian of Newton, N.C. They each received a $200 prize.
The essays were judged by Elon faculty members James Barbour, Betty Morgan, Clyde Ellis and Rosemary Haskell.
Carret was a noted businessman and financier who died in 1998 at the age of 101. He gave a $40,000 endowment to sponsor the annual essay competition at Elon.