BYU undergraduate students are encouraged to enter contest that pays tribute to David H. Yarn, a former chair of the philosophy department.
In the bustle of every winter semester at BYU, the philosophy department holds the David H. Yarn Scholarship Essay Contest. Undergraduate students in any program are encouraged to submit their best work for a chance to win a cash prize and be published in the department’s bi-annual journal Aporia.
The contest is named after Professor David Yarn, who began teaching at BYU in 1946. He taught religion and Philosophy, and eventually became the chairman of the department and the dean of the College of Religious Instruction. Throughout his career he was a model of intellectual humility and meaningful mentorship. These are some of the same qualities that the BYU philosophy program wants to instill in its students. After Yarn retired in 1985, the philosophy department created the essay contest to commemorate his service.
Contest submissions will be judged by a panel made up of members of the philosophy department. The cash prizes are $1000 for first place, $750 for second, and $500 for third.