The Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics administers an annual Ethics Essay Contest. Essays are judged on the basis of clarity, appropriate use of ethical ideas, theories and principles in addressing and clarifying the topic; depth, insight and creativity of analysis; thoughtfulness and plausibility of supporting arguments for position taken.
Winners from 2024
"The Relevant History and Medical and Ethical Future Viability of Xenotransplantation", Morgan Janes
Artificial Intelligence Could Probably Write This Essay Better than Me, Claire Martino
The Ethicality of Gene Alteration In Human Embryos, Alyssa Scudder
Winners from 2023
Environmentalism: Flint Michigan Water Crisis, Zamzam Mohammed
Winners from 2022
De-extinction: A Hopeful Dream or Hopeless Nightmare, Meikeila M. Kincaid
The Dilemma of Banned Books: Questioning the Ethics of Censoring Literature in Schools, Kyle King
Winners from 2021
The Erotic Criterion of Mutual Surrender: how to accommodate for our dynamic natures within socio-systemic structures., Jessica Jean Kurkowski
Black Lips Don't Turn Blue: A Womanist Critique of Discriminatory Language in Medical Education, Alison Lawrence
Pandemics: Expediting Medications Through the Trial Period for the Greater Good, Lauren Raike
Cyberbullying and Punishments (Concentrating on Kerala Women), Aksa Roy
Winners from 2020
Cambridge Analytica: The Scandal on Data Privacy, Carissa Boerboom
America's Out-of-Style Pastime, Brian J. Duffley
Living With Moral Schizophrenia, Rachel Hecke
Disease Mongering: How Sickness Sells, Vanessa C. Iroegbulem
Healthcare Systems in Ethiopia, Hawarit Mohammed
Winners from 2019
The Ethical (Or Not So Ethical) Story Behind Your Bar Of Chocolate: The Untold Tale Of A Distressed Ghanaian Farmer, Nadia Ayensah
Health for All: Using Utilitarianism to Require Childhood Vaccinations, Hannah Vercellotti
Winners from 2018
Riding to the Future, Paige Fornek
Ethics and Cost-Effectiveness of Naloxone, Allison Groch
Sex Robots: Negative Impact Towards Society, Jeraldine Hernandez
Ethical Dilemma of Alzheimer's Disease and Informed Consent, DaeNia La Rodé
Winners from 2017
The Ethical Debate on Drones, Anne Hopkins
An Ethical President Elect?, Cameron MacKenzie
The Ethical and Economic Concerns of Physician Assisted Suicide, Wade M. Smith
Winners from 2016
The Ethical Issues of Dumping Electronic Waste in India, Krista E. Dawson
Sexual Morality and Owning Our Own Bodies, Sarah E. Foreman
Abortion in Paraguay Case Study, Eileen A. Ruppel
Winners from 2015
Presumed Versus Explicit Consent in Regards to Organ Donation, Natalie A. Lamy
Ethical Concerns & Misconceptions in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Makenzie Logan
Embryonic Stem Cell Research, the Ethics, and the Alternatives, Ben Rudy
The Search for Justice in a War-Filled World: Implementing the Just-War Theory, Hannah Schaefer
My Water, My Rights: Ethics and Implications of Water Privatization, Rachel Vandermyde