All University of Kansas students actively pursuing interests in Russian, East European and Eurasian studies in any KU academic program are eligible to submit an essay of 2,000 words on any topic dealing with the region. The essay should be a "think piece," not a formal research paper. It should explore a key issue relevant to the region based on any discipline. For example, students could explore the causes and consequences of the recent political changes in the region, discuss the implications of Europeanization on national languages and literatures, the role of religion today, or compose an essay on another topic. Students may use papers from KU classes, but submissions must be reformatted to meet the following criteria: typed, double-spaced, and in 12-point font size.

Submit an anonymous version of the essay to Mr. Bill London in 320 Bailey Hall by 5:00 pm on March 23, 2009. A committee will evaluate the essays and select the winning entry. The winner will receive $500, a book of his or her choice, a certificate, his or her name on a plaque, and a useful line on the resumé. The winner will also be invited to present the paper at the final REES Brown Bag of the academic year.

If you have further questions regarding the topic or submission, please contact Bill London in 320 Bailey, at 864-4236, or by e-mail at crees@ku.edu.

The REES Essay Competition is supported by an endowment generously contributed by Professor Roy D. and Betty Laird.

Previous Winners

CREES has honored the late Dr. Roy D. Laird, a longtime member of the REES and Political Science faculties, and Mrs. Betty Laird, whose support makes this prize possible, with a special display outside the main office. The plaque in the display bears the names of all previous winners of the Competition.

1995 - Paul Sutherland (REES MA), "United We Stand, Divided We Get Rich: The Woes of Alexander Isayevich."

1996 - R. Brannan Cass (REES MA), "The Russian Orthodox Church: A Time of Troubles."

1997 - Sheri Deeter (REES MA), "Nationalism: Bane, Boom, or Blur?"

1998 - Jennifer Cook (REES MA), "Ecological and Health Aspects of the Transition Period."

1999 - Paul Wanke (History), "Western Influence on post-Communist Russia."

2000 - Matthew Schmidt (REES MA), "The Spiritual and Moral Costs of Transition in Russia."

2001 - Uroš Petrović (Sociology), "There Goes Yugoslavism, Here Comes South Slavism."

2002 - Patrick Crabb (REES), "New Opportunities: The Impact of the Pope's Visit to Ukraine."

2003 - Lindsey Collier (Slavic/REES) "An International Dilemma: Russia vs. Chechnya."

2004 - Adrian Erlinger (REES MA) "Shock Art and Orthodox Thugs: Politics and Contemporary Art in Russia."

2005 - Brooke Waldron (REES MA) "Serbian Orthodox Church."

2006 - Peter Tosco (REES MA) "An Impasse to Peace: A Look at the Continuing Deadlock in the Kurile Islands Dispute."

2007 - Michelle Tran (REES co-major) "Beyond Disney: The Poetry and Magic of Soviet Animation, 1962-1990.”

2008 - Brett Chloupek (Geography, Ph.D. candidate) "Slovakia’s Gypsies: Centuries of Problems, Few New Solutions."