Julian Clement Chase Prize for Research Writing on the District of Columbia
Application Guidance for Undergraduate Research Writing Prize
The Julian Clement Chase Prize for Research Writing on the District of Columbia celebrates bold writing that creates and shares knowledge and engages with audiences about life in DC, past, present, and future. The prize honors the transformative experience that researching with and about DC communities can bring to GW undergraduate writers.
All GW undergraduate students are eligible, and the winning submission receives $1,000. Entries are reviewed by a committee composed of GW faculty, students, alumni, and community members. Sponsored by the University Writing Program.
The due date each year is May 15 (11:59 pm EST). Winners are notified in summer and honored at the Chase Prizes Ceremony in the fall.
Prize criteria
The Chase Prize founders value appetite–a hunger for & responsiveness to the city of Washington, DC; boldness–commitment to a new idea; the striving toward humane excellence with discipline and integrity; the joining of community with other (re)searchers; and the weaving together of university and city. For a fuller sense of these values, please read The Intentions of the Founders.
Projects from across the disciplines are welcome, for example:
- Humanities and social sciences students might write about D.C. in terms of place, history, neighborhoods, communities, cultures, and local politics.
- Please note: Journalism projects should apply for the Chase Creative Writing Prize. Public service projects should apply for the Chase Community Impact Prize.
- Visual and performing arts students might engage D.C. in terms of its artistic expressions or convey research related to art they have created through engagement with the District.
- Natural and applied sciences students might submit research projects addressing environmental, ecological, infrastructural, or quality of life issues for D.C. residents.
We understand research broadly to include interviews, surveys, fieldwork, observation, archival work, data collection, auto-ethnography, engagement with prior scholarship, and many other forms. The writing might be directed to an academic audience, the general public, or any other audience. Length and format are open.
Co-authored projects are encouraged. All co-authors must complete the application together. We can only process awards for authors whose full contact information is provided. In the reflection portion of the application, authors should make clear what each contributed and how they collaborated on the project.
To Apply
Prepare a single PDF that includes the following, arranged in this order, then follow further instructions below.
- The Project (no page limit). If written for a course, the project may simply remain in that state, but you are welcome to revise it and reformat it to your liking before submission. The project title and author(s) name(s) must be on the first page; no cover page is required.
- Reflection (2 page limit, single spaced, 12 point font of your choice). How did researching and writing about the District of Columbia shape your understanding and experience of the city? How did your engagement with DC as a specific place shape the project itself? What else might you say about your relationship with DC as a GW student? (For co-authored projects, the reflection can be co-authored or have separate sections for each author.
- If the project was written for a course, please include the professor’s assignment prompt (no page limit).
- Name the PDF following this format: LastName_BriefTitle_2025.PDF. For co-authored projects, use the last name of the first listed author.
- BriefTitle should be a two- or three-word version of your project title.
- Complete the online form linked below. Co-authored projects need to have all authors complete the form together one time; do not submit multiple forms. At the end of the form, you will attach your PDF. You will receive email confirmation of your application.