In February of 2022, winners of the 2nd Annual BYU Humanities and Social Justice Competition presented their work at the BYU Humanities Center Colloquium Series. Winners were selected based on responses to the BYU “Statement on Belonging” and the related College of Humanities “Statement on Inclusion.” Principles from these documents include

Respect and value the contributions of people from backgrounds, religions, and cultures other than our own,
Be aware of hurtful words and phrases,
Learn about and understand different cultural traditions,
Acknowledge discomfort when participating in class discussions about difficult topics,
Speak up on behalf of those who may be hurt by harmful speech,
Show willingness to work in groups with people of diverse backgrounds,
Respond with humility and teachability when our words offend,
Approach these issues with sincerity, respect, and compassion, and
Express tolerance, love, and understanding.

We hope you enjoy these compelling and award-winning entries from our students. To see the Essay category winners, click here.