Harvard Prize Book Award
Harvard Prize Book
The Harvard Prize Book is awarded to outstanding students in the next-to-graduating class selected by the Executive Board of the Harvard Club of Ghana, based on academic excellence, exceptional personal qualities, significant contribution to school or community and a written response to an essay prompt. Each winner receives a personally inscribed copy of “The Harvard Book”, an anthology of essays written by Harvard alumni spanning three centuries.
Since 1910, the Harvard Prize Book has been an important way for Harvard Club members to help attract talented young people to Harvard and the opportunities in Cambridge. Harvard Prize Books are presented annually in more than 1,900 high schools around the world and are made available through generous donations from individual Harvard Club members. Harvard Prize Books are awarded without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or political beliefs. Through the Harvard Book Prize program, we, at the Harvard Club of Ghana hope to raise the visibility of Harvard University among local secondary schools in Ghana, and to encourage outstanding students throughout Ghana to consider applying to Harvard
Eligibilty
The eligibility for the book prize is secondary students in their penultimate year (SHS 2 / 11th Grade / Lower 6th Form ). Successful applicants must demonstrate a history of academic excellence, exceptional personal qualities, and significant contribution to school or community.
2025 Book Prize
The theme for the 2025 essay is as follows:
"Global citizenship is the idea that individuals have responsibilities beyond their national borders, fostering a sense of shared humanity and commitment to solving global challenges. Historically, global citizenship has been championed as a path to greater peace and economic prosperity around the world. However, in recent years, global citizenship has faced growing criticism as a potential threat to local communities, national identity, and traditional ways of life. In today's rapidly changing world, is global citizenship a relevant and beneficial concept, or has it become outdated? Why?"
Instructions:Your essay must be no more than 250 words, responding to the prompt above. Your essay may be either written (PDF, MS Word or other Text File) or recorded on video (MP4 preferred <25MB). You are welcome to use AI / GPT as a starting point or editor for your responses. However, the successful Prize Book awardees will be creative in demonstrating their capacity to express their own thoughts and their own voice, using technology as an aid.
Applications
To apply for the prize, your school must be enrolled in the program. To enroll a school in the 2025 Harvard Prize Book Program, school administrators are asked to kindly complete the School Application Form. Note that this year’s application requires a letter of recommendation to be emailed separately.Applications are currently open and will close on Friday, 4 April 2025. To submit your application, please fill out the application form and in addition have your Recommender send a Letter of Recommendation (less than 250 words) directly to [email protected] before the deadline.
To apply, you will need:
- Your most recent academic transcript
- A letter of recommendation, submitted separately
- List of extracurricular leadership positions
- List of awards and recognitions received
- Your prize essay
Winners
2023-2024
- Seli Akasreku (Legacy Girls' College)
- Tanefa Asem (The Roman Ridge School)
- Afia Atuobi (Aburi Girls' Senior High School)
- Karl Bainge (SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College)
- Hillary Bamfo (Ghana International School)
- Bernice-Lana Bennin (Wesley Girls' High School)
- Taiya Braimah (Legacy Girls' College)
- Hephzibah Gameli-Kwame (SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College)
- John Mensah (Ghana International School)
- Leila Yunus (East Airport International School)
2022-2023
- Angelica Marie Joseph (Ghana International School)
- Danica Damoah (Ghana International School)
- Joanita Sallah (The Roman Ridge School)
- Khamil Mogtari (The Roman Ridge School)
2021-2022
- Nigel Akwasi Sarpong (Ghana International School)
- Kwabena Adom Oteng-Agyei Kankam (Faith Montessori School)
- Damini Ahuja (The Roman Ridge School)
- Jharna Budhrani (Ghana International School)
2020-2021
- Carmila Owusu-Ansah (SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College)
- Brianna Boafo (Roman Ridge School)
- Kofi Darko (Morgan International School)
- Shambhavi Verma (Ghana International School)
- Valerie Ackon (Wesley Girls School)
2019-2020
- Katelyn Owusu (Roman Ridge School)
- Carl Awuku (Roman Ridge School)
- Afua Ansah (Achimota School)