Peter Peckard Prize Winner 2023
Congratulations to Ms Caitlin Rajan, a Human, Social, and Political Sciences undergraduate at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, for winning the Peter Peckard Memorial Prize 2023. Her essay 'Shouldering Bales, Shouldering Burdens: Unpacking Fashion’s Global Waste Crisis' impressed the judging panel with its academic rigor, decolonial argument, and focus on human exploitation in the fashion industry.
The Master of Magdalene, Sir Christopher Greenwood, 2023 Peckard Prize winner Ms Caitlin Rajan, and the Master of Trinity Hall, Ms Mary Hockaday at prize giving ceremony.
The Peter Peckard Memorial Prize was established in honor of one of Magdalene's most distinguished eighteenth-century Masters, Dr Peter Peckard and was endowed thanks to the generosity of two Magdalene Members. The prize is awarded annually for an essay or similar composition discussing egregious forms of human exploitation in the world today and the actions needed to eliminate it.
The judging selection committee highlighted the very strong field of submissions and commented on Caitlin's winning essay: "We commend the winner for bringing to the fore a pressing issue of human exploitation, following the vision of Peter Peckard’s original challenge. We were deeply impressed by the academic rigor and research of the essay and by its persuasive decolonial argument. Caitlin's essay importantly relayed the voices of the exploited while also placing the issue within a wider scope, particularly in its interaction with the hidden human costs of the climate crisis."
A prize-giving ceremony recognising Caitlin’s outstanding work took place last week. Caitlin, photographed here with the Master of Magdalene, Sir Christopher Greenwood and Master of Trinity Hall, Ms Mary Hockaday, received the £1000 prize at a celebration dinner hosted by the Master, Senior Fellows, and members of the judging committee.
The College would like to extend its warmest congratulations to Caitlin along with thanks to all who entered this year’s competition.