Lili Fabilli and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize
Established in 1970
2009-2010 Topic: Whose University?
- Description. The Lili Fabilli and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize is awarded for the best essays of 500 words or less on a topic chosen by the Committee on Prizes. Open to students, faculty, and staff of the Berkeley campus. For complete information read the General Rules.
- Prize Amounts. A total of $3,000 is divided at the judge's discretion. Federal financial aid regulations require that all awards received by a student can not exceed their financial aid need as determined by a Congressional formula. It is possible, therefore, that the cash award for a Prize could reduce some component of a needy student’s package of financial aid awards. In these cases, the Financial Aid Office attempts first to reduce loan or work aid; fellowships, grants or scholarships are only reduced as a last resort.
- Deadline. Submissions must be hand-delivered by the author to the Undergraduate Scholarships, Prizes and Honors Office, 229 Sproul Hall, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2009. The author's name must not appear on the entry.
- History of the Prize. In a letter dated April 13, 1970, Eric Hoffer wrote to the Regents of the University of California: "I intend to give to the Berkeley campus of the University of California at least $10,000 in July, 1970. The income of the fund shall be devoted to providing an annual prize or prizes for 500 word essays written by students, faculty, or staff at the Berkeley campus of the University. The sole critteria for the prizes shall be originality of thought and excellence in writing. This fund shall be known as the Lili Fabilli and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize." Hoffer felt very strongly that every idea could be expressed in a few words. Hoffer's own remarks follow:
2008-2009: 17 entries, Linda Finch-Hicks, Jacob Mikanowski, Kofi Boakye and Jeremy Suizo ($750 each)
Topic: Rock, Paper, Scissors
2007-2008: 42 entries, Joseph Cadora, Jacob Mikanowski and Xialou Ning ($1000 each)
Topic: In Defense of Sloth
2006-2007: 18 entries, Samuel
E. Pittman ($1500) and Xiaolu Ning ($1500)
Topic: Whatever You Say,
Say Nothing
2005-2006: 28 entries, Karen Sullivan, Jacqueline Palhegyi, and Zachary Gordon ($1,000 each, all students) Topic: Looking Forward to Looking Back
2004-2005: 34 entries, Erin
Cooper, student; Lawrence Ruth, staff; Sandra Wulff, staff ($1,000 each)
Topic: What I'd Really Like to Do Is . . . . .
2003-2004: 22 entries, first
prize Casey Dominguez ($1000); second prize Ken Prola ($750); third prize
Ana Martinez ($500); fourth prize Sarang Dalal and Michele Rabkin ($375
each)
Topic: What Were They Thinking?
2002-03: 24 entries, First place-Ana Martinez, student ($750) and Michael
Rancer, staff ($750); Second place-Julie Rodriguez, staff and Carol Wood,
staff ($500 each)
Topic: Self-Deception, Benefits and Consequences
2001-02: 70 entries, Eric Walton, undergraduate; Joanne Sandstrom, staff;
Joseph Kim, undergraduate; Nellie Haddad, staff ($750 each); Honorable
Mentions-Jimmy Tran, undergraduate; Carol Wood, staff; Lynley Lys, undergraduate;
Karen Lam, undergraduate
Topic: If Only
2000-01: Zack Rogow $1000,
Ken Chen, Cassandra Dunn, Zachary Gordon and Pat Soberanis ($800 each) Topic: Are Books Dead?
1999-00: 22 entries, awarded to Casey Knudsen ($1,000); runner-up prizes
awarded to Amanda Cundiff, Eric McGhee, Serban Nacu, and Sissel Waage
($500 each)
Topic: Networks
1998-99: 58 entries, first place prizes awarded to Kathryn Renee Albe,
Paul Klein, Joanne Palamountain, Sissel Waage, and Zack Rogow ($500 each)
Topic: Brushstrokes
1997-98: 34 entries, first place prize awarded to Virginia Matzek ($1,250);
second place prize awarded to Dominic Ang ($750)
Topic: Where There is Light...
1996-97: Kathy Gether
Topic: Hello 2000