George Wharton Pepper Prize Application Instructions
Applications open on December 19, 2025.
Please follow the steps below to ensure completeness of your application. You will receive an email confirming your submission has been received. Only complete applications will be considered.
As you are working on your application please keep in mind that the Pepper Prize Selection Committee will review your complete application, including your CV and your responses to the essay questions, in choosing the 10 finalists. Ultimately, the Lafayette College community will be presented with the responses to the essay questions for the finalists, so they can choose a winner.
1. Please keep the following statement in mind as you are completing your application for the 2026 George Wharton Pepper Prize: “The Lafayette Ideal is a well-rounded, educated member of the senior class who adds to a sound academic record, noteworthy participation in college activities and student life, which contribute to the advancement of the College on and off campus. Academic brilliance or athletic prowess alone is not the criterion for selection as a Pepper Prize recipient.”
2. Please complete all of the required information in the 2026 George Wharton Pepper Prize Application, found HERE. Please be sure to complete each question, including your biographical information, your Personal Statement and your responses to the 2 short essay questions. Please note that there are word limits on your Personal Statement (300 words or less) as well as your responses to the short essay questions (200 words or less).
3. Please provide a CV (example here) and upload it at the bottom of the 2026 George Wharton Pepper Prize Application. Please note that your CV can be as many pages as necessary to include all of your information. However, please list each activity/experience only once, in the category of your choosing.
4. Please provide all information as concisely and clearly as possible.