Are you a Yoder Scholar?
The Yoder Scholars competition takes place during Honors Weekend, held each February. Participation is not required for entrance into the honors program; all students who meet the requirements for the honors program are invited to Honors Weekend and are eligible to enter EMU as honors students. Only those who wish to participate in the Yoder Scholars competition need to complete the Yoder Scholars tasks.
About the competition
Each year only a few honors students are selected as Yoder Scholars and rewarded with EMU’s highest academic award: a full-ride scholarship for all four years.
The EMU honors faculty conduct the Yoder Scholars competition, rigorously evaluating candidates’ academic performance, community and extra-curricular involvement, creativity, clarity of thought, and leadership potential. Participation in the competition requires candidates to construct a portfolio of their high school achievements, write a series of essays, and meet with a member of EMU honors faculty for a one-on-one interview.
Application process
Be sure to apply to EMU by November 1! By mid-November the EMU admissions office will send detailed instructions to all honors applicants who have expressed interest in the Yoder Scholars competition. Applicants need to have the following submitted/postmarked by January 16:
- Two creative essays (see details below)
- An example of a completed academic paper that includes the evaluation and/or comments of the teacher who assigned the paper.
- A resume indicating school, church and civic involvement
- Two forms of reference (choose one person from each group): 1) your senior English, math or science teacher and 2) your guidance counselor, pastor/youth pastor, or employer.
- An updated copy of your transcript that includes grades from the first semester of the current school year.
The application process will culminate with an interview with a member of the honors faculty during Honors Weekend. Winning candidates are notified by late February of their selection to be a Yoder Scholar, and they have until March 15 to accept or decline the award.
Guidelines for essays
Complete the following two essays:
1. A 400-word essay that answers the following question: Samuel Beckett said “We are all born Mad, some remain so.” Are you Mad?
2. A 100-word essay that addresses this question: If you were a shoe…?
Your 100-word essay should be modeled after the ‘Life Is Short – Autobiography as Haiku’ essays featured for years in the Style section of the Sunday Washington Post.
The guidelines for this essay are simple, but the writing is not: The haiku must not exceed 100 words; the haiku should be up close and personal. The challenges are great. Writing 100 words is difficult, requiring more thought than needed for writing a longer essay.
The haiku is specific rather than generic: It is a small window into the soul of the writer. The haiku does not summarize, moralize or preach: it is what it is; it is left to the reader to experience what the writer has experienced rather than being told how the haiku should be experienced.
Your essays should be typed and double-spaced. Please do not name your high school, self or home area in the essay. Put your identification number on the first page of each essay. Do not put your name on the essay. Your identification number will be sent to you by EMU, or you may contact your admissions counselor to get it.