2025 Student winners received:

Cash prize: 1st place US$500; 2nd place US$250

Winner certificate 

Recognition at a virtual award event in May, 2025
Event was hosted by Dr. Paul Offit - VEC director, vaccine inventor and Hilleman biographer.
The event also included special guests and student winners reading their essays. 

2025 Teacher winners received:

A signed book written by Paul A. Offit, MD

1-year, complimentary membership to the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)

The Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest is a program of the Vaccine Makers Project (VMP), presented by the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (VEC). The VMP provides free school-based materials about the immune system, diseases, vaccines, STEM careers, and evaluating information.

Visit the VMP website. 
Visit the VEC website. 

Thank you to the co-sponsors of the 2025 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest:

2025 essay contest co-sponsor logos

We would also like to thank Mrs. Lorraine Hilleman for her support and participation in the contest. 

Essay Contest Resources

Visit these pages to find helpful essay contest-related resources: 

Student Resources 
Educator Resources 
Winning essays from previous years