For over 20 years the University of Kansas Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies has organized the Laird Essay Competition. All University of Kansas students actively pursuing interests in Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (REES) in any KU academic program are eligible to submit an essay of approximately 2,000 words on any topic dealing with the region. The annual essay contest is named after the late Dr. Roy D. Laird, a longtime member of REES and Political Science faculties, and Ms. Betty Laird, whose support makes this prize possible. In honor of the award’s 20th anniversary, the Laird Essay Competition was split into two categories: undergraduate and graduate. The competition calls for students to write a “think piece,” rather than a formal research paper. It should explore a key issue in any discipline relevant to the region. For more information please see: https://crees.ku.edu/laird-essay-competition