Prizes and Scholarships

Undergraduate History of Philosophy Essay Prize

The Undergraduate History of Philosophy Essay Prize will be awarded to the best undergraduate essay submitted on any topic in the area of history of philosophy (where the history of philosophy is understood as including figures, texts, topics, and debates prior to 1950). The prize comes with a cash award of $500. The competition is open to all current CU undergraduates with a major or minor in Philosophy.

Past recipients of the Undergraduate History of Philosophy Essay Prize:

  • Kelly Dinneen (2019), “Freedom and Affection: Metaphysical and Moral Grounds for Duns Scotus’ Libertarianism”
  • Alison Weinberger (2020), “Correlation is not Causation: Understanding the Scope of Aristotle’s Teleology in Light of Physics II.8”
  • Rose Scotti-Burrows (2021), “A Modern Allegory of the Cave: Social Media and Misinformation”
  • Not awarded (2022)
  • Ellie McDonald (2023), "The Socratic Refutation: A Tool for the Paradigm-Challenging Elenchus”
  • John Whitten (2024), “Stoicism and Eternal Recurrence"

Morris Judd Undergraduate Essay Prize

The Morris Judd Undergraduate Essay Prize is awarded to the best undergraduate essay submitted on any topic in the values area. The prize comes with a cash award of $500 as well as formal recognition of the honor at the Department’s spring commencement ceremony. The competition is open to all current CU undergraduates with a major or minor in Philosophy.

The prize is named for Morris Judd, a former Instructor in the Philosophy Department at CU who taught a variety of courses including several in the values area.  The Department held Judd to be an outstanding teacher, but his appointment at the University was discontinued in the early 1950s when he refused to answer questions about whether he had ever been a Communist.  You can find more information about his story here:

Past recipients of the Morris Judd Undergraduate Essay Prize:

  • Toby Bollig (2018), “Is Circumventing the Euthyphro Dilemma by Appealing to God’s Nature Problematic?”
  • Rebecca Mullen (2019), “The Moral Access Problem and Identifying Moral Expertise”
  • Kelly Dineen (2020), "On the Uniqueness of Epistemic Buck Passing”
  • Not awarded (2021)
  • Britton Rufien, “An Objection to John Hick’s Soul-Making Theodicy” (2022)
  • Not awarded (2023)
  • Lindsey Harriman (2024), “An Assessment of Experientialism as the Most Successful Theory of Well-Being”

The Morris Judd Scholarship for Philosophy Majors

Undergraduate Philosophy majors at CU Boulder are eligible to apply for this scholarship (. In selecting recipients, the department will take into account academic excellence, contributions to the university’s philosophical community, and need. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged. The award amount is $2000 for one academic year.

A complete application for the Morris Judd Scholarship includes:

  • One Letter of Recommendation (from a faculty member in the Philosophy Department)
  • A One-Page (Single-Spaced) Personal Statement

In composing the personal statement, applicants should comment on their particular interests and projects in philosophy, as well as their post-college plans. In addition, they may elaborate on any special circumstances they would like the selection committee to consider, such as academic awards or honors, involvement in community outreach, bringing a unique or diverse perspective to the Department or the CU Boulder campus, and personal hardship or disadvantage (financial or otherwise).

The Morris Judd Scholarship is named after Morris Judd, who in the early 1950s was a faculty member in CU Boulder’s Philosophy Department. Although he was an outstanding teacher, his appointment was terminated when he and 50 other faculty members, staff, and students were investigated for alleged ties to the Communist Party.

Eligible students may apply for the Morris Judd Scholarship through the AcademicWorks portal, accessible through myCUinfo. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis, with applications due April 15.

Past recipients of the Morris Judd Scholarship:

  • Mattie McGarey (2018)
  • Alison Weinberger (2019)
  • Kelsey Grant (2020)
  • Ian Gaskins (2021)
  • Taylor Johnson (2022)
  • Ellie McDonald (2023)
  • Tess Kuczun (2024)

The Socrates Prize

The Socrates Prize is awarded each year at Spring Commencement to the undergraduate philosophy major(s) with the highest overall GPA.

Past recipients of the Socrates Prize:

  • Toby Bollig (2018)
  • Grey Shipman (2019)
  • Kieran Britt, Stephen Troy, and Alison Weinberger (2020)
  • Ben Deitsch and Charlotte Moore (2021)
  • Derek Horn (2022)
  • Henry Ediger and Aaron Gafari (2023)
  • Tyler Fredericks (2024)

The Paduano Family Scholarship

Undergraduate Philosophy majors at CU Boulder are eligible to apply for the Paduano Family Scholarship (). The scholarship is based on both merit and need, with need more strongly weighted. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged. The award amount is $1000 for next academic year, 2021/22.

A complete application for the Paduano Family Scholarship should include:

  • Major GPA
  • Overall GPA
  • Personal Statement (1/2- to 1-page, single-spaced)

In composing the personal statement, applicants should comment on their particular interests and projects in philosophy and elaborate on any circumstances they would like the selection committee to consider, including personal hardship or disadvantage (financial or otherwise), academic awards or honors, and involvement in community outreach.

Eligible students may apply for the Paduano Family Scholarship through the AcademicWorks portal, accessible through myCUinfo. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis, with applications due April 15.

Past winners of the Paduano Family Scholarship:

  • Charles Doremieux (2020)
  • Rose Scotti-Burrows (2021)
  • Grace Patrick (2022)
  • Ariadna Olivas (2023)
  • Laila Sefidkar (2024)