Fall Reflection Challenge

Calling All 2026 DukeEngage Participants!

DukeEngage has always been about transformational experiences…

ethical dilemmas that defy easy answers;
unexpected discoveries;
missteps that become lessons;
difficult conversations;
relationships that reshape our understanding;
moments of growth that continue long after the summer ends.

These moments challenge our assumptions, deepen our understanding, and open new possibilities.

As you wrap up your summer, we challenge you to identify, reflect on, and share the experiences that shaped you, through writing, imagery, spoken word, or another creative medium.

The Contest

We invite you to share the experiences, questions, relationships, and insights that shaped your summer by entering the DukeEngage Fall Reflection Contest.

You can enter by yourself, with your DukeEngage group, or both!

Format

It’s up to you:

Submit a 200-word idea for an oral story (like the ones we heard at Convocation)*
Polish up a reflective essay
Put together a 10-slide photo essay with thoughtful captions
Create a compelling Ignite talk
Or share any other original work (e.g., musical composition, poem)

Prizes

Best entry in each category — $200
Best entry overall — $350 for you, and $350 for your partner organization!

Deadline

11:59 p.m. Eastern, September 1st (2026)

Submit essays, Photo essays, Ignite talks, or any other original work here.

*Submitting a 200-word pitch for an oral story? We’ve got resources to help. Consider joining one of the storytelling workshops below to develop and refine your story. Entrants selected to share their stories at the Fall Reunion will receive one-on-one coaching from Jeff Polish of Durham’s The Monti in September!

Originality and Use of AI

The DukeEngage Fall Reflection Contest is intended to showcase your own reflections, insights, experiences, and creative work. Because the purpose of the contest is personal reflection and storytelling, submissions must be your original work and may not be generated, drafted, rewritten, or substantially edited using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Limited use of AI for minor administrative or technical purposes (such as spell-checking, formatting assistance, or transcription of an oral story) is permitted. However, the ideas, reflections, language, analysis, and creative expression in the submission must be your own.

By submitting an entry, you affirm that your work complies with these guidelines.

FAQs

Can you enter even if you’re studying off campus this fall? Yes! If selected, we’ll help you share your work here.
Can entries be group creations? Yes! (If a prize is awarded to a group, it will be divided evenly between entrants.)
Can you (or your group) submit more than one entry? Yes! Just complete the entry form multiple times.
Can you enter as an individual AND with a group? Yes!
What makes a good entry? We’re looking for observations and insights about your experience, reflection on prior understandings, and evidence of growth–personal, academic, or civic (as a member of society).

Need a Spark? Find Your Story.

If you’re studying on campus, join one of these storytelling adventures—and earn an extra chance to win the Fall Reflection Contest.

1. The Workshops

Whether or not you’re entering the contest, you’ll leave with a story you can use anywhere—from conversations with friends to future job interviews.

In these interactive sessions with Leah Torrey of Duke’s Say the Thing project, you’ll:

Discover what makes a story unforgettable
Pinpoint the moments from your DukeEngage experience that best show what you learned
Experiment with ways to tell your story so people lean in to hear more

You’ll walk out with new insights, fresh ideas, and maybe even your winning Reflection Challenge entry.

Dates and times TBA

2. The Booth

“Hear your own wisdom, see your own insight, and uncover exactly that thing you never knew you knew” by participating in a rad experiment called the Booth.

Step inside, pick a timeless question, and record your two-minute answer on a private touchscreen kiosk. Your video goes straight to your inbox—no one else sees it.

It’s a quick, thought-provoking way to capture your own insights, spark ideas for the Reflection Challenge, and score an extra entry in our random prize drawing.

Sample prompts:

Where are you most at home? → During DukeEngage, where was that?
Tell a story about courage. → How did you show it this summer?
Your two-minute life story. → Your two-minute DukeEngage story.

Entering the contest, attending a workshop, trying out the Booth, and attending the Reunion each earn you one entry into a random drawing for cool prizes!

Helpful tips:

On pitching an oral story. Our theme for the challenge is hope: Has something about your DukeEngage experience sparked new hope for the future? (It’s not necessary to have your story fully fleshed out – submit a 200-word idea, sign up for a workshop if you can, and our celeb storytelling coaches will work with you to develop it.)

On what we mean by critical reflection and what makes a great reflective essay. Past examples here.

On how to curate an amazing photo essay (Up to 10 photos, in PowerPoint. Use the Notes field to include 2-3 sentences summarizing your insights and reflections on the photo, and if possible, record a voice-over of you reading these reflections. Also in the Notes field, state the location, what is happening in the photo, and names and roles of identifiable people.)

On one way to create a photo essay—possibly as a group, with a great coach and the possibility of getting it published here at Duke

On how to create an Ignite talk (See FAQs. Audio and video are allowed, but see cautions.) Use PowerPoint, and use the Notes field for your script. Be sure to follow the Ignite formula of 20 slides, 15 seconds each, and run through your talk once for yourself, to make sure the timing will work if you’re selected! For a bit more guidance, see Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps.

Questions? dukeengage@duke.edu