Competition Results

2025 John Locke Essay Competition – Shortlist Announced

Participants are encouraged to check their personal accounts and email regularly for updates!

Congratulations to all students awarded Distinction or High Distinction in the 2025 Global Essay Competition!

2025 Season Winners

Grand Prize

  • Hosei Kishida, Shanghai American School, China

Junior Prize

  • Winner: Xibei Kuang, Pinehurst School, New Zealand

  • Second Place: Alissa Song, Kambala, Australia

  • Third Place: Iris Zhu, Bement School, USA

Economics Prize

  • Winner: Kit Young Tham, Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore

  • Second Place: Kevin Hao, Knox Grammar School, Australia

  • Third Place: Zhong Yang M. Yeh, Shanghai High School International Division, China

Philosophy Prize

  • Winner: Hosei Kishida, Shanghai American School, China

  • Second Place: Amanda Sun, Princeton High School, USA

  • Third Place: Qianyu Lin, Raffles Institution, Singapore

Politics Prize

  • Winner: William Zhou, Hunter College High School, USA

  • Second Place: Ziyi Wei, Westridge School for Girls, USA

  • Third Place: Du Xiaoya, High School Affiliated to Renmin University, China

History Prize

  • Winner: Yoo Jin Cho, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Australia

  • Second Place: Hannah Fareed, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan

  • Third Place: Quynh Anh La Le, Saigon South International School, Vietnam

Law Prize

  • Winner: Wu Youran, Nanjing Foreign Language School – British Columbia College, China

  • Second Place: Kayson Hu, Reddam House Sydney, Australia

  • Third Place: Lucienne Keyoung, Manhasset High School, USA

  • Third Place: Esme Vallois-Davies, Colchester Royal Grammar School, UK

Theology Prize

  • Winner: Hanyu Li, High School Affiliated to Renmin University, China

  • Second Place: Shivraj Sharma, Neerja Modi School, India

  • Third Place: Scarlet Strogov, South Orange Middle School, USA

  • Third Place: Quynh Anh La Le, Saigon South International School, Vietnam

Psychology Prize

  • Winner: Claire Yura Kim, Berkshire School, USA

  • Second Place: Arnav Pandey, Bangalore International School, India

  • Third Place: Hannah Kim, La Canada High School, USA

Recent Essay Competition Winners

2022 Season

All shortlisted participants were recognized. Special congratulations to Distinction and High Distinction winners.

Grand Prize

  • Benjamin Hu, Hotchkiss School, USA

Junior Prize

  • Winner: Xibei Kuang, Pinehurst School, New Zealand

  • Second Place: Alissa Song, Kambala, Australia

  • Third Place: Iris Zhu, Bement School, USA

Junior Prize Special Recognition

  • First Place: Zhuo Xicong, Chinese International School, Hong Kong

  • Second Place: Teresa Yan, PS/MS 219 Paul Klapper, USA

  • Third Place: Zhang Jianing, Huaiwei Christian Academy, USA

Economics Prize

  • First Place: Benjamin Hu, Hotchkiss School, USA

  • Second Place: Ren Ke, Youlingke, Beijing, China

  • Third Place: Zhang Yixi, Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University

Economics Prize Special Recognition

  • (As awarded to other shortlisted essays)

Philosophy Prize

  • First Place: Serena Teng, Milburn High School, USA

  • Second Place: Li Jinchuan, Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, China

  • Third Place: Li Weiwei, Magdalen College School, UK

Philosophy Prize Special Recognition

Politics Prize

  • First Place: Lin Pengzhe, Cranbrook School, USA

  • Second Place: Ma Xudong, Shanghai Bilingual School, China

  • Third Place: Wang Fengshuo, Allendale Columbia School, USA

Politics Prize Special Recognition

History Prize

  • First Place: Liu Yifan, Hong Kong Independent School Foundation

  • Second Place: Shi Xiaoyi, Shanghai Foreign Language School

  • Third Place: Dai Chenrui, Rui’an International School, China

History Prize Special Recognition

Law Prize

  • First Place: Gabriel Stoney, Rugby School, UK

  • Second Place: Chen Yifei, Wuxi Daqiao College, China

  • Third Place: Wei Donghong, Shenzhen International Education Institute, China

Law Prize Special Recognition

Theology Prize

  • First Place: Jonathan Pan, King’s School, Australia

  • Second Place: Zhu Xinyue, Simon’s Rock College, USA

  • Third Place: Chloe Huang, Westminster School, UK

Theology Prize Special Recognition

Psychology Prize

  • First Place: Shahmir Buhari, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan

  • Second Place: Park Suting, North London Collegiate School, Jeju, South Korea

  • Third Place: Samantha Shim, Phillips Academy, USA

Psychology Prize Special Recognition

Previous Seasons

2021, 2020, 2019 Essay Competition Results

  • Full lists available on request

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