Our student receives honorary mention in the John Hick Essay Competition

September 16, 2026

What happens when an idea you explore in class, in conversations or through everyday life at UWC Maastricht turns into something that reaches a much wider audience?

For Year 13 student David, that happened through writing. David received an Honorary Mention in the third Annual John Hick Essay Competition for his essay, From Theological Comparison to Practical Engagement. His piece was also selected for publication in the June 2026 edition of Interreligious Insight, the journal of the World Congress of Faiths.

In the essay, David looks at interreligious understanding from a very practical angle: not just how people with different beliefs talk to one another, but how they can actually work together.

He connects that question to his own experience at UWC Maastricht, reflecting on moments where students from different religious and non-religious backgrounds came together around shared responsibilities and common goals. His central idea is simple but powerful: people do not have to agree on everything in order to understand one another, cooperate and act with care.

Writing has been important to David for a long time. The journal describes him as a student from Lalitpur, Nepal, who enjoys writing and debate and who sees writing as a way to explore ideas that are sometimes harder to express in conversation.

We’re really happy to see his work recognised and published beyond our own community. Congratulations, David!