THE HATFIELD PRIZE
The Hatfield Prize is awarded annually to three student-faculty pairs.
Each pair conducts research on a social policy that impacts the well-being of children, families, and communities. This semester-long research project culminates in a policy report published by the Center for Public Justice.
The Prize will be awarded to three student-faculty pairs. Students receive a $5,000 award; faculty advisors receive a $1,500 award.
Apply by midnight on Tuesday, November 1
Why Apply? Student Prize winners will:
Receive a $5,000 Prize
Conduct academic research and write a policy report to be published by the Center for Public Justice
Integrate your faith with a justice issue that you care about
Work closely with an academic advisor to conduct thorough research
Receive editorial support and policy expertise from the Center for Public Justice team
Be connected with opportunities to present your research at relevant conferences and events
The 2020 Hatfield Prize recipients at orientation in Washington, D.C. (L to R) Anna Cole, Daniel Montoya, and Katie Bogle.
The Hatfield Prize is open to Christian sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled at a four-year college or university. Students are required to partner with a faculty advisor who will support their research and writing. The Prize will be awarded to three student-faculty pairs. Students receive a $5,000 award; faculty advisors receive a $1,500 award.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
The Center for Public Justice (CPJ) seeks research proposals that examine a social policy that impacts the well-being of children, teens or families. Priority will be given to applications that propose innovative research on domestic social policy issues that include, but are not limited to: the social safety net (ex. unemployment insurance, TANF, WIC, the child tax credit, public housing), criminal justice reform, juvenile justice reform (ex. juvenile probation reform), family caregiving, domestic human trafficking, consumer protection, and workforce development. CPJ welcomes research proposals that focus specifically on the disproportionate toll that a social policy or the absence of a policy may have on people of color and on under-resourced communities.
Students will examine the issue at a federal level and will situate it within a local context by conducting original research in the community in which their campus is located. This can include a particular town or city in close geographic proximity to campus, or the county in which the campus is located. Research must examine government’s role in addressing the policy issue as well as the distinct role and contributions of civil society institutions, including secular and faith-based organizations, businesses, houses of worship, and schools.
THE RESEARCH PROCESS AND REPORT
Students will work closely with their faculty advisor and the Center for Public Justice team throughout the spring semester. This includes a January orientation to become acquainted with the Center for Public Justice and its expectations for the research. This year’s orientation will be virtual due to COVID-19.
Student-faculty pairs are required to have a monthly meeting via phone/video conference with the Center for Public Justice team to discuss their ongoing research and writing.
Students will be responsible for completing multiple rounds of revisions on their written work.
There are two final products:
A 7,500-10,000 word policy report that is accessible to a wide audience, including peers, professors, pastors, practitioners, and policymakers.
A 1,000 word op-ed to be published on Shared Justice or local media outlets.
The Center for Public Justice will work with recipients to identify appropriate venues for presenting their research. Past Prize recipients have presented their research in a variety of settings, including but not limited to: The Christians in Political Science Conference, The North American Association of Christians in Social Work’s Annual Convention, the Henry Symposium on Religion and Public Life, and the Texas Hunger Initiative’s Together at the Table: Hunger & Poverty Summit.
The 2020 Hatfield Prize Reports. The 2021 reports will be published in September 2021.
“Receiving the Hatfield Prize and working with CPJ and my faculty advisor was one of the most empowering and impactful experiences of my four years in college. ”
2018 recipients Dr. Paul Brink and Jordan Bellamy (Gordon College). Photo by Mark Spooner.
FACULTY ADVISOR EXPECTATIONS
1. Provide your student with your CV and a 500 word or less statement answering: “Why are you interested in participating in this research? How do you intend to support your student in his or her research ” This will be included in your student’s application package.
2. Attendance at January’s virtual orientation (details forthcoming).
3. A commitment to guide the student in their research from January to June 2022. This includes meeting monthly with the student, assisting the student in engaging with stakeholders in the community, and providing resources and editorial feedback throughout their research and report writing process.
3. Communicate with the Center for Public Justice team monthly via phone or video conference.
PUT YOUR CITIZENSHIP INTO PRACTICE
2019 recipients present at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty’s Annual Summit. (L to R) Dr. Stephanie Boddie, Shannon Que, Ana O’Quin and Shared Justice Program Director Katie Thompson.
Students will utilize a public justice framework to communicate their research and recommendations. Public justice is the guiding principle for government’s work. This framework, as articulated by the Center for Public Justice holds that “Government is authorized by God to promote what is good for human flourishing” and is uniquely tasked to promote policies that contribute to the common good. However, public justice also requires that government upholds “the ability of other institutions and associations to make their full contributions to human flourishing”; in other words, government must be committed to institutional pluralism, recognizing that many of the most formative institutions of which we are a part — like the family, Church, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, and businesses — all uniquely contribute to human flourishing.
“The Hatfield Prize prioritizes collaborative research between faculty and students, pairing a student’s passion with a professor’s experience. This, combined with the Center for Public Justice’s hands-on engagement, has made for an incredibly enriching experience. ”
FAQs
What is the Center for Public Justice?
The Center for Public Justice is an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to policy research and civic education. Our mission is to equip citizens, develop leaders, and shape policy in pursuit of our purpose to serve God, advance justice, and transform public life. Shared Justice, which runs The Hatfield Prize, is the Center for Public Justice’s initiative for Christian 20- and 30-somethings.
Who is the prize named after?
The Hatfield Prize is named in honor of the late Senator Mark O. Hatfield, who served as a United States senator from Oregon for three decades, and was known for his principled Christian faith and for his commitment to working across difference to find common ground. Read more about Senator Hatfield here.
What HAPPENS AFTER I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. The Center for Public Justice will review applications and conduct interviews with finalists via Zoom. Award recipients will be notified in December.
Where should my research focus?
Your research should examine a domestic social policy in the context of the community that your campus is located in. This can include a particular town or city in close geographic proximity to your campus, or the county in which your campus is located. For examples, see the “Engage” sections of the 2021 and 2022 reports.
What is the time commitment for the hatfield prize?
The Hatfield Prize requires a significant time commitment from both students and faculty advisors. Applicants should view the time commitment as comparable to that of an independent study. Unlike a report or paper submitted for a class, students will be required to make several rounds of revisions on their reports. Students should also anticipate spending a significant amount of time in the community interviewing relevant stakeholders.
Who is eligible to apply?
To apply, students must be a sophomore, junior, or senior with a GPA of 3.0 or above at a four-year college or university and must be enrolled as a full-time student in the spring 2023 semester. Students of all majors are invited to apply. The Hatfield Prize is written from a distinctly Christian perspective and student applicants must be Christians.
I am a student at A University in canada. can i apply?
Unfortunately the scope of this research project is limited to the United States.
Will there be an opportunity to present my research?
The Center for Public Justice will work with students to identify appropriate venues and conferences for presenting their research. Past Prize recipients have presented their research in a variety of settings, including but not limited to: The Christians in Political Science Conference, The Henry Symposium on Religion and Public Life, and the Texas Hunger Initiative’s Together at the Table: Hunger & Poverty Summit.
Questions? Contact Emily Fromke, Program Director of Shared Justice, at emily.fromke@cpjustice.org
WITH THANKS
The Hatfield Prize is made possible through the generosity of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
