Faith at Work Prize

The Faith at Work Prize honors and rewards a student who portrays and inspires the integration of the Christian faith in the business world. Students should demonstrate how they or another person meshes their lives in Christ with their business practices.

The 2022 award is a $1,500 cash prize. All students majoring in business are eligible to apply, including graduating seniors.

The application deadline is March 30, 2022.

A Living Legacy

As a professor committed to supporting students' efforts to live for Christ in the business world, Margaret Edgell launched the Faith at Work Prize in 2011. She funded and steered the project through the first two years of its pilot phase with a view to the prize becoming an enduring legacy to benefit Christian students committed to faith integration in business. Margaret went home to the Lord she loved and served on October 17, 2012. The prize continues as an ongoing memorial to her life and service.

Submission criteria

Applications may be submitted as a written essay of 5,000 to 6,000 words, a presentation of 25 to 30 slides, or a video of five to seven minutes.

These are the specific points by which your submission will be evaluated:

• Clearly indicates that personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ in the business world is the driving force behind the actions or attitudes depicted in the story; and
• Focuses on the chosen attitude or action and related understanding or outcome and not on a lengthy personal testimony of faith.

That is, the submission primarily depicts application of faith in Christ and Christian principles even while being clear that impetus to action or insight is informed not simply by useful business ethics or savvy people skills but by awareness of God’s undergirding strength and wisdom informing all that is good.

• Shows evidence of action or attitude that actively and substantively builds both the Kingdom of God and an aspect of the business arena as well.

The submission may involve an individual, a team or work group, or an organization.

• Uses clear, articulate, and effective means of expression in conveying this example of what faith integration is and can be.
• Tells a story that is highly likely to inspire students to follow Christ in the business world.

That is, it is not merely a personal recounting with a tone of reporting but has an element of drawing the reader in with the potential of triggering thought about his/her own work life.

Submission categories

Submissions can be one of three broad categories—projects, stories, or a business evaluative tool. Leveraging a course project is encouraged.

1. Projects:
   Projects are discrete, time-bound undertakings by students wishing to accomplish a clear and specific goal for a given audience, community, or organization. For example, mentoring an entrepreneur in a specific business start-up or connecting overlooked farmers or artisans to markets.
   
   
2. Story or biography:
   This could be a short biography of a manager who is exemplary at bringing his or her Christian values into his or her business life. These could be case studies of how a person’s faith is lived out in the business arena. For example, a biography of the owner of Chick-fil-A and how his faith has inspired his business practices and what impacts these have had on his bottom line.
   
   
3. Business evaluative tool:
   A formal tool that enables businesses to evaluate how they are building the Kingdom and improving business practices. This tool helps businesses realign themselves according to Christian business principles.

How to apply

Submit your materials along with this completed submission form by email to Elena Gill at eag28@calvin.edu.

You can also drop off your submission to the Calvin University School of Business office in North Hall 167.

Application deadline is March 30, 2022.

Questions?
Contact Elena Gill at eag28@calvin.edu.