OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 10, 2007—The Independent Institute announced the winners of the 2007 Olive W. Garvey Fellowship contest this week. The six recipients, who answered the question, “Is foreign aid the solution to global poverty?” in essay form, were awarded prizes ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

This year, our panel of distinguished, independent judges included Dr. Alberto Benegas Lynch, Jr. of the National Academy of Science in Argentina, Professor Gerald Gunderson of Trinity College, and Professor Yuri Maltsev of Carthage College. After reviewing over 600 applications from more than 50 countries, they selected the six entries best able to address the challenge question.

With prizes totaling over $20,000 for 2007, our scholars included:

Junior Faculty Winners

First Prize ($10,000) Peter Leeson
BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism
George Mason University
Second Prize ($5,000) Jason Sorens
Assistant Professor
University at Buffalo, SUNY
Third Prize ($1,500) Art Carden
Assistant Professor
Rhodes College

Student Winners

First Prize ($2,500) John Parker
University of Alabama
Second Prize ($1,500) James Estes
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Third Prize ($1,000) Juan Ramón Rallo
Universidad de Valencia

Since 1974, the internationally acclaimed Olive W. Garvey Fellowship contest has awarded fellowships biennially to outstanding college students and junior faculty through a competitive essay contest that explores the meaning and significance of economic and personal liberty.

Sponsored by the Independent Institute and founded by the late business leader, educator, author, and philanthropist, Olive W. Garvey, the Fellowship program has awarded over $120,000 to 59 winners.

Garvey Fellows go on to become some of the finest of scholars, business and civic leaders, and journalists—applying and advancing public knowledge and appreciation for the ideas of individual liberty and personal responsibility.

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