The Wilcox Foundation
The Wilcox Foundation Annual Essay Contest
“Dedicated to the belief in education - desiring to
encourage learning about the History of Plymouth”
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Rules and Judging
Click here for 2026 Rules, Judging and Submission guidelines Application and Essay deadline for the Senior Class of 2026 essays is Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at midnight Please email completed essays to [email protected] ..................................................................... Scholarship Awards
There will be First place, Second place and Random Draw winners. First place will be a minimum of $2000; Second place minimum of $1500; After first and second place winners are selected, remaining essays are eligible for the Random Draw scholarships of $1000 each.
The Scholarships must be used for post-high school educational purposes. They are not renewable. Scholarship awards will be sent directly to your educational institution by the Wilcox Foundation. Please be sure the information you provide on your essay cover sheet is updated and accurate. Scholarship award certificates will be formally presented at your HS Honors Convocation. If your school does not have a formal presentation program, other arrangements will be made individually. |
Senior Class of 2026 Wilcox Foundation Essay Contest theme:
The Turning of the Centuries: Plymouth circa 1900 and 2000 The Wilcox Foundation essay contest began 25 years ago as the world experienced the turn of the century. In honor of the establishment of this exciting scholarship opportunity, this year's topic invites students to compare and contrast the last two "turns of the centuries"...the time surrounding 1900 and 2000. Essays should explore the history of Plymouth in response to changes in society and culture as the calendar pages flipped, and may include: prominent local figures, community response to innovation, changes in technology and transportation, typical family life, influential businesses, scientific and medical concerns, current trends in the arts - fashion, dance, music. Extra consideration will be given to essays that include a first person connection that includes information relevant to 1999-2000 transition: It may be about celebrations, time capsule inclusion documentation, museum - milestone collections. Students may choose someone they already know, or make a connection with a community leader, attend a relevant historical meeting, etc. Please email us for vetted contacts if needed. Students need to have questions prepared and submitted to this person ahead of time. They are to be treated as a resource. Click here to see a list of 2025 winners! Please see "Rules & Judging" Information at left for how to submit your essay. Please email [email protected] with any questions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RESOURCES The Plymouth Mail newspaper (later, the Plymouth Observer) is online through the Plymouth District Library’s website https://plymouthlibrary.org Get started with the Research and Learn tab. This is a great resource for advertisements and news articles on businesses, as well as notable social events. The Plymouth Historical Museum’s on site archives contains information on local Plymouth businesses and their owners. Call or stop in during museum hours and make an appointment to access these research resources! https://plymouthhistory.org Resource for Citation formatting https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html |
