Faith & Reason Scholarship

THOMAS MORE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Faith & Reason Scholarship Contest 2024

In his Motu Proprio declaring St. Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, Pope St. John Paul II observed:

Whenever men or women heed the call of truth, their conscience then guides their actions reliably towards good. Precisely because of the witness which he bore, even at the price of his life, to the primacy of truth over power, Saint Thomas More is venerated as an imperishable example of moral integrity.

To a student of the Great Books of Western Civilization, the martyrdom of St. Thomas More recalls the condemnation of Socrates, a pre-Christian witness to “the primacy of truth over power.”

Like More, Socrates fulfilled his civic duties. Like More he combined his public service with even greater dedication to reflection, conversation, and philosophy. And like More, he was finally condemned by his fellow citizens for failing in his duties as a citizen. In his defense, Socrates argued that, far from being a threat to the city, the life he led—a life of examining himself and others—was the greatest service to it.

In proclaiming St. Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, St. John Paul was responding to “the need felt by the world of politics and public administration for credible role models able to indicate the path of truth at a time in history when difficult challenges and crucial responsibilities are increasing.” In the same spirit, I am pleased to announce the 2024 Faith & Reason Scholarship Essay Contest. Applicants are invited to consider Plato’s Apology of Socrates and to submit an essay of 3 to 4 pages in answer to the question: Was Socrates a good citizen? If so, how and why so? If not, how and why not?

Essays must be submitted by January 1st.

In Christo Rege

William Edmund Fahey, PhD
Fellow & President

Rules and Eligibility

The Faith & Reason Essay Contest is open to all incoming freshmen applicants at Thomas More College.

Awards:

One full tuition scholarship for four years.
Five half tuition scholarships for four years.
Seven $3,500 scholarships for four years.
All other participants will be eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship for four years.

A Completed College Application:

All students wishing to submit an essay for the Faith & Reason Essay Scholarship Contest must also complete and submit a full College Application. The online application can be started here. A complete application must include two letters of recommendation, high school transcripts, and a completed online application.

A Completed Essay:

Essays should be three to four pages typed, double-spaced, with 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins on all sides. Essays must include a cover sheet listing the applicant’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail, high school graduation date, and age.

Admissions Interview:

Students applying for the scholarship must schedule an interview with an Admissions officer. Interviews will be conducted either in person or via Zoom, and should be scheduled after submitting a completed application and essay to the College. Schedule your interview by calling the Admissions office at (603) 880-8308 or emailing admissions@thomasmorecollege.edu.

Method of Submission:

All completed Faith & Reason Essays and College applications must be submitted by January 1st, 2025. Completed essays can be e-mailed to admissions@thomasmorecollege.edu, submitted online, or mailed to the College at the following address:

Admissions Office
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
6 Manchester Street
Merrimack, NH 03054

Faith & Reason Submission Form

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