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Top 64 Writing & Essay Scholarships in February 2024

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Learn about our editorial policies

Writing is an extremely important part of success in high school, college, and life in general. For some students, writing is also an intricate part of who they are and how they express themselves. If you are someone who loves English class and is genuinely excited about a new creative writing assignment, then you should keep reading! Writing scholarships, creative writing scholarships, and essay scholarships are great ways to put your talent to use.

Whether you are planning on attending community college, a four-year program, or graduate school, we’ve got opportunities for you. Keep on reading to learn about the top scholarships for writers and creative writers including eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines!

Why choose Scholarships360

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The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

  • The scholarship requires a fee to apply
  • The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
  • The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
  • Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
  • The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
  • The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
  • The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
  • There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
  • The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
  • There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS360 WINNERS

scholarship essay competitions 2023

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

Jack Furman

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

Morgan Breitschuh

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

Connor Godoy

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

Kyamani Atterbury

Winner of the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Scholarship

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

“Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers

“Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Maria Geiger

The “Mom to Scholar'' Scholarship for Mothers is open to mothers who want to begin or resume their journey towards earning a technical or college… Show More

The “Mom to Scholar'' Scholarship for Mothers is open to mothers who want to begin or resume their journey towards earning a technical or college degree. This scholarship is funded by Scholarships360’s own Maria Geiger, who started her journey toward a B.A. at the same time that her oldest son Will started college. Maria knows firsthand how challenging it is to raise a family, have a job outside the home, and attend college, but would not change the way she did things for the world. Mothers who have a desire to earn their college degree bring unique perspectives that greatly enhance their learning experiences; for some, motherhood is a vocation that enlightens like no other. If you are a mother over the age of 35 who feels that the time is right to begin your academic or career journey, please apply! Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

$40,000 BigFuture Scholarship

$40,000 BigFuture Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Open to US-based high school students in the classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship

“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Ok, so first question–why is this scholarship named the “Gutsy” Graduate Student Essay Scholarship? If you are enrolled in graduate school (during the 2024-25 academic… Show More

Ok, so first question–why is this scholarship named the “Gutsy” Graduate Student Essay Scholarship? If you are enrolled in graduate school (during the 2024-25 academic year) or have heard stories from those enrolled, you already know! “Gutsy” means courageous and determined, which nearly all successful graduate students are. Why else would one continue on with rigorous academics while often living on a shoestring? The rewards of graduate school are numerous, especially the more focused and advanced level of specialized study in your chosen field. Learning with like-minded people who share your passion is fulfilling, and the networking is awesome. The flipside of graduate school is the costly student loans to fund it. With this in mind, the "Gutsy" Graduate Student Essay Scholarship aims to help out a passionate graduate student who is actively looking for ways to fund their higher education journey. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Good luck on your educational journey, and we hope to read your application!  Show Less

Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship

Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

The "College Here I Come" Scholarship for Class of 2024 is open to just who you think: high school seniors graduating in the class of… Show More

The "College Here I Come" Scholarship for Class of 2024 is open to just who you think: high school seniors graduating in the class of 2024! Here at Scholarships360, scholarships are our passion–we know that you can never have enough of them! After all, scholarships are essentially “free money” to help fund your education. We want to help out a lucky high school senior who is just starting out on their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We hope that you apply and look forward to reading your application! Show Less

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500… Show More

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women aims to help women cover the costs of pursuing their dreams. Whether that dream is starting a business, learning a foreign language, or attending college on the path to fulfilling your dream, the scholarship will cover those costs and make your journey a little easier. No matter your goals, we want to help out a woman who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. In order to apply, simply write an essay about how the $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women will help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We encourage you to apply and look forward to reading your essay. Good luck! Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500… Show More

Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500 “Tuition Solution” Scholarship is meant for high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 or 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year who are looking for ways to fund their postsecondary education in STEM. In order to apply, you must write an essay about how your passion for STEM started and how the scholarship will help you fulfill your dreams. No matter which STEM field ignites your interest, we look forward to reading your essays. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Apply today - it’s time to cell-e-brate you! Show Less

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult… Show More

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult for students coming from low-income backgrounds or for those who demonstrate financial need. This is where our “A Helping Hand” Scholarship comes in! We're offering a $500 scholarship to help out a low-income student who is passionate about their higher education journey and is actively looking for ways to fund it. This award is open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 and 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year. In order to apply, students should submit an essay detailing how winning the scholarship would help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school students.

“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship

“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career… Show More

At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career interests and aspirations. That is why we are offering the “Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship. This scholarship aims to support all current postsecondary students, regardless of the type of education they are pursuing. Thus, no matter your own unique educational path, we hope you apply for this $500 scholarship. In order to apply for the “Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship, students must submit an essay about their career ambitions. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship

“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range… Show More

Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range of students in a wide range of majors. If starting your postsecondary education at a community college is right for you, we have a scholarship just for you! The “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship aims to financially support community college students who are passionate about their higher education journeys and actively looking for ways to fund it. In order to apply for the “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship, students must submit an essay explaining how earning their degree at community college will help them achieve their educational and career goals. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application!  Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship

“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter… Show More

The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter students from attending. If you’re in a situation similar to this, we may just have the perfect scholarship opportunity for you: the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship! With this scholarship, we aim to help out a lucky undergraduate student (enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year) who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. The scholarship is open to any U.S. citizen who is enrolled as an undergraduate at a four-year university in the U.S. during the 2023-24 academic year. In order to apply, submit an essay explaining how earning your bachelor’s degree will help you achieve your educational and career goals. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

Ocean Awareness Art Contest

Ocean Awareness Art Contest

Offered by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

Are you an 11 - 18 year old who has a passion for saving the environment and/or the ocean? Additionally, would you like to make… Show More

Are you an 11 - 18 year old who has a passion for saving the environment and/or the ocean? Additionally, would you like to make a statement about the impact of climate change through writing, artwork, or even dance? You might consider applying for the Ocean Awareness Art Contest! Dedicated to encouraging the next generation to get involved in ocean conservation (and environmentalism as a whole), the contest asks its applicants to create a piece of artwork that reflects an impact/aspect of the current environmental crisis and its effect on the ocean. Each year has a specific theme to focus on, with this year being climate change. If you would like to make a statement about climate change’s impact on the ocean through art, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

Minecraft Scholarship

Minecraft Scholarship

Offered by Apex Hosting

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the… Show More

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Minecraft Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship offers $2,000 to one applicant who best writes about how Minecraft can positively influence one’s education and career development. The scholarship is offered by Apex Hosting, a Minecraft server provider dedicated to supporting both new and experienced server administrators. If you’re a high schooler or college student with a love for Minecraft, it’s time to put your passion to good use and apply to the Minecraft Scholarship! Show Less

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Offered by Unigo

Are you a big fan of The Walking Dead, or maybe Z Nation? Ever thought about what you would do in the case of a… Show More

Are you a big fan of The Walking Dead, or maybe Z Nation? Ever thought about what you would do in the case of a zombie apocalypse? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship! Each year, this scholarship awards $2,000 to the applicant who, in 250 words or less, best describes their escape plan if there were a zombie outbreak at their school. The scholarship is offered by Unigo in hopes of helping some creative, zombie-obsessed students pay off some of their postsecondary education. If you’ve been inspired by the zombie shows and movies from the past few decades and have come up with a plan of your own, we encourage you to apply to the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship! It’s due exactly when you’d expect: on Halloween. Show Less

Creative writing scholarships

Are you a writer who loves fiction, poetry, and screenplays? If so, you can put those talents to use by applying for creative writing scholarships.

Creative writing scholarships are a subset of writing scholarships that support students who enjoy writing poetry, fictional stories, plays, and generally using their imagination to guide their writing.

Here are the top creative writing college scholarships that you can apply for:

HelpTeaching.com Scholarship

  • Eligibility: High school and college students who submit a educational short story or informational article (400-800 words) for young students
  • Amount : $1,000
  • Deadline: June 1st of every year

Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest

  • Eligibility: Teens aged 9-12 who write about their own cancer journey or a family member in a maximum of 1,500 words.
  • Deadline: Late March

YouthPLAYS New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights

  • Eligibility: Students 19 years old or younger who submit an original one-act play between 10-40 minutes in length (10-page minimum). Multiple winners may receive up to $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS.
  • Amount: $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS
  • Deadline: Early May

National High School Poetry Contest

  •   Eligibility:  U.S. high school students who submit a poem 20 lines or less that is unpublished, the sole work of the entrant, and not entered in any other concurrent contest.
  • Amount: Up to $500.
  • Deadline:  Rolling

The Narrative Prize

  • Eligibility: Students who submit a short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction.
  • Amount: $4,000
  • Deadline:  Mid-June

Also see:  Top writing summer programs for high school students

College-specific creative writing scholarships

Some colleges and universities may also offer specific scholarships and financial aid to students with a talent in creative writing! Check with the colleges on your list for these college-specific creative writing opportunities!

Note that some of these scholarships may have requirements for winning students that stipulate that they take a certain number of creative writing classes when enrolled in the college.

Kenyon Writing Award

High school seniors can apply for this scholarship program at Kenyon College which offers up to $15,000 per year of merit based aid. It is based off of your portfolio and does not take into account financial need, high school GPA , or other factors. Submissions typically have to be in by January of your senior year.

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Barbara Caras Memorial Scholarship for Film Students

The scholarship is open to students in Sarasota or Manatee County, Florida who have completed at least one full year at an accredited Florida College and are majoring in Film, Computer Animation, Creative Writing, Motion Design, or Illustration. Five recipients will earn a $2,000 award. The application deadline is July 31st of the current year.

Lycoming College Creative Writing Scholarship

The scholarship is open to students majoring in Creative Writing at Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA and must submit five poems and/or a short story not to exceed ten pages. Six recipients will be selected and can earn up to $3,000. The scholarship deadline for the Fall 2023 Class is March 1, 2023.  

Arkansas Tech University Gwaltney Scholarship

The scholarship is open to ATU students who submit individual works of fiction to the Department of English. Recipients earn a one-time cash award every year. The deadline to submit your entry is 2 weeks before the end of the spring semester.

Lake Forest College Carnegie English Essay Contest

The contest is open to first-year students of Lake Forest College who plan to study English either through the literature or creative writing track and submit an essay, between 500 and 1,000 words answering a designated prompt. Four winners will be awarded $2,500 annually. Submission deadline is March 1, 2023.

Austin Peay State University Creative Writing Scholarships

The scholarships are open to undergraduate and incoming APSU students who email a 10-20 page manuscript of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction, to Lakota Withrow at [email protected] . Awards are for $600 or $1,200. The deadline to apply is March 18th.

Scholarship essay resources

When it comes to writing and essay scholarships, your writing skills will be put to the test. You’ll have to adapt your writing to specific styles in order to effectively and succinctly communicate your ambitions and potential. We have a host of resources to help you perform well in this arena and stand out from the crowd.

  • How to start your scholarship essay (with examples)
  • How to write a “why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay
  • What’s the best scholarship essay format?
  • How to write a 250 word essay
  • How to write a 500 word essay
  • How to write an essay about yourself

Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships

Do i have to major in english to earn a writing or essay scholarship, where can i get help proofreading my scholarship essays, how much should i write if there is no word limit on the application, explore these other scholarship categories:.

  • Scholarships for English majors
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  • Top scholarships for high school seniors
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  • Top scholarships for women

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7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

  • 7-minute read
  • 28th December 2022

Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.

In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.

1. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023

Who may enter:

This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).

Contest description:

●  The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.

●  They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.

●  Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.

●  You may submit published or unpublished work.

Entry fee: USD 22 per entry

●  Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).

●  The top 12 entries will be published online.

Official website

Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.

2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize 

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm

Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.

●  This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.

●  Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

●  You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.

●  You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.

●  Your essay must be unpublished.

Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members

Prize: AU 7,500

Official website:

For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.

3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition 

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Deadline: June 30, 2023

●  Students from any country.

●  Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.

●  Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.

●  The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.

●  Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.

●  There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.

Entry fee: Free to enter

●  The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.

●  There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.

●  All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.

For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.

4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition 

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Deadline: April 3, 2023

●  Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

●  Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.

●  Home-schooled students.

●  Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.

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●  You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

●  Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.

●  Your essay should use a variety of sources.

●  The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

●  The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.

5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest 

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023

Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.

●  The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.

●  High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.

●  Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.

●  Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).

●  Your essay must be written in English.

●  First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.

●  Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.

●  Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.

●  Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .

6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl

Deadline: February 1, 2023

●  Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.

●  This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.

●  Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.

●  You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.

●  Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.

●  Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.

Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:

●  First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.

●  Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .

●  Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.

●  Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

●  Your essay should be 1,000 words.

Prizes: USD 500

For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.

Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.

If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

57 Writing Contests in December 2023 — No entry fees

Erica Verrillo

Erica Verrillo

Curiosity Never Killed the Writer

T his December there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $40,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month’s contests go to Free Contests . Most of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Otherwise Award . Genre : Work that is changing the way we think about gender through speculative narrative. Prize : $500. Deadline : December 1, 2023. (Deadline unclear)

Scriptlab . Genre : TV script or short screenplay. Prize : Up to $500. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry . Restrictions : Open to African poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry. Genre : Poetry. Prize : $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

The Watchword Prize . Genre : Poetry on theme: Surveillance. Prize : $2000. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

Thomas and Lillie D. Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing . Restrictions : Open to published writers who are writing from the region. Genres : All. Prize : $1000. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

The Association of Jewish Libraries Jewish Fiction Award. Genre : All works of fiction with significant Jewish thematic content written in English–novels, short story and flash fiction collections–by a single author published and available for purchase in the United States during 2022 are eligible for the award. Jewish thematic content means an extended grappling with Jewish themes throughout the book, including Judaism, Jewish history and culture, Jewish identity, etc. Prize : The award will include a $1,000 cash prize as well as support to attend the AJL conference to receive the award. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

Tony Quagliano Poetry Fund, International Poetry Award . Restrictions : Open to poets who have a published body of work over a period of years. Poems must be in English. Genre : Poetry. Prize : $1,000. Deadline : December 1, 2023. ( Biennial award )

The David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction is offered annually to the best book in American historical fiction that is both excellent fiction and excellent history. Prize : $1,000. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

Love Letters to London Writing Competition . Genre : Poetry and “open.” The theme this year is Love Letters to London of the Future. What does your London of the future look like — what are your passions, hopes Prize : £150 — £500. Deadline : December 1, 2023. Open to all ages . Some reprints accepted .

Watchword Prize . Genre : Poetry. Theme: Surveillance (“any aspect of the phenomenon of watching and being watched, in both the intimate and public spheres of our lives”). Prize : $2,000 prize, online publication, and a public reading. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

The Pushcart Prize honors the best “poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot” published in small presses and literary magazines. Magazine and small press editors may nominate up to six works. Pushcart Press publishes yearly anthologies of the winning submissions. Prize : Publication and enormous prestige. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

The Schneider Family Book Award is sponsored by the American Library Association. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Prize : Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0–10), middle school (age 11–13) and teens (age 13–18). (Age groupings are approximations). Genre : May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

Poetry Center at Smith College Prize . Restrictions : Open to sophomore or junior high school girls in New England. Genre : Poetry. Prize : $500. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

RSL Christopher Bland Prize . Restrictions: Writers must be a citizen of, or resident in, the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. Books must have been published for the first time in the UK or RoI within the 2023 calendar year. Books must be entered by trade publishers or agents based in the UK or RoI; each publisher, imprint of a publisher, or agent may enter two books only. Genre : Debut novel or non-fiction book first published by a writer aged 50 or over. Prize : £10,000. Deadline : December 1, 2023.

Furious Fiction . Genre : Flash fiction, 500 words max. Prize : $500. Deadline : December 3, 2023. Opens December 1.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing . Genre : Book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Book must be published in Canada. Prize : CAN $25,000. Deadline : December 6, 2023. (For books published between October 4, 2023 and December 5, 2023)

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award . Genre : Nonfiction book. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book. Award : $25,000. Deadline : December 7, 2023.

Prism: Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize . Genre : Poetry. Prize : $1,500 grand prize, $600 runner-up, $400 2nd runner-up. Deadline : December 7, 2023. No entry fee for BIPOC and low income writers .

Women’s Prize for Fiction . Genre : Published novel by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK between 1 December 2023 and 31 March 2024. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence are eligible. Prize : £30,000.00. Deadline : December 8, 2023.

Friends of American Writers . Restrictions : The author must be a resident (or previously have been a resident for approximately five years) of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin; or the locale of the book must be in a region identified above. The author must not have published more than three books under his/her own pen name. Genres : Books can be fiction or creative non-fiction and published in 2023. Self-published and e-Books are not eligible. Prize : $500 — $2000. Deadline : December 10, 2023.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships are awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period. Prize : $8,000 cash awards are made to individual originating artists living and working in the state of New York for unrestricted use. These fellowships are not project grants but are intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, regardless of the level of his or her artistic development. Deadline : December 13, 2023.

Apparition Lit . Genre : Flash fiction up to 1000 words on theme. Prize : $30. Deadline : December 14, 2023. See themes.

Subnivean New Writers Award: CNY High School Writing Scholarship Competition . Restrictions : Open to high-school-aged writers in Oswego County, Onondaga County, Oneida County, Herkimer County, Madison County, Cayuga County and Cortland County. Genre : Short stories and poetry. Prize : $100 bookstore gift certificate, $1,000 scholarship to attend SUNY Oswego as a creative writing or English major. Deadline : December 15, 2023.

Ezra Jack Keats Children’s Book Award . Genre : Published or self-published picture books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. Prize : $3,000. Deadline : December 15, 2023.

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition . Restrictions : The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Genre : Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Prize : $10,000. Deadline : December 15, 2023.

The Arts South Australia Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award . Restrictions : The competition is open to South Australian writers. Genre : Book-length manuscripts of non-fiction, fiction and poetry. Prize : $10,000 and publication by Wakefield Press. Deadline : December 15, 2023.

Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) provides direct support to individual Bronx artists who create literary, media, visual, and performing works of art. Prize : 25 BRIO grants of $3,000 each are awarded to Bronx artists. BRIO award winners complete a one-time public service activity. Deadline : December 18, 2023.

The Helen Anne Bell Poetry Bequest Award . Restrictions : Open to Australian women. Genre : Collection of poems by an Australian woman poet. Prize : $40,000. Deadline : December 18, 2023. Biennial award.

Rider University Annual High School Writing Contest . Restrictions : Open to high school students. Genres : Essays, poetry, fiction. Prizes : 1st-$100, 2nd-$50, 3rd-$25. Deadline : December 20, 2023.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest . Restrictions : Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States. Genre : Essay Topic: What challenges awaken your conscience? Is it the conflicts in American society? An international crisis? Maybe a difficult choice you face or a hard decision you had to make? Engage us. Enlighten us. Explore the ethics of any problem, question, or issue, whether close to home or in the world at large. We are eager to learn from you. Prize : First Prize $10,000, 2nd Prize $5,000, 3rd Prize $3,000, two Honorable Mentions $1,000 each. Deadline : December 29, 2023.

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award . Genre : First novel published in 2023. No self-published books. Prize : $5,000. Deadline : December 30, 2023.

Shady Grove Literary . Genre : Any style, genre, tone of flash fiction. Length: 300 words max. Prize : $100. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

PEN Prison Writing Contest . Restrictions : Anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison is eligible to enter. Genres : Poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction. Prize : $25 — $250. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is held four times a year. Restrictions : The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits. Genre : Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes : $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence . Restrictions : Emerging African American writers. Genres : Short story collection or novel published in the current year. Prize : $10,000. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition . Genre : Fiction. Short story of interest to Jewish women. Prize : $300. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

The Writers College: My Writing Journey Competition . Genre : Essay on the theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received. 600 words. Prize : $200 (R2 000 or £100). Deadline : December 31, 2023.

The AIIRA Writing Contest . Restrictions : Open to all high school students. Genre : This season, we’re asking you to think about a career you’d like to have in the future. How will AI affect your role in that job within the next decade? How will AI benefit your career, and what responsibilities will become redundant due to AI? You can submit an essay exploring this topic and write a fictional scene depicting how your intended career may look ten years from now. Prize : First Place: $500 USD; Second Place: $400 USD; Third Place: $250 USD. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Iridescence Award . Restrictions : Open to literary or visual artists of the Black, Indigenous, or People of Color Community. Genre : Fantasy, folk mythology, science fiction, and the paranormal. Short fiction, poetry. Prize : Up to $500. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures. Awards are given for both fiction and nonfiction. Prize : $10,000. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Griffin Poetry Prize . Genre : Poetry. To be eligible for the prize, a book of poetry must be a published first-edition collection (i.e. not previously published in any country), written in English, or translated into English, by a poet/translator from any part of the world, including Canada. Entries must come from publishers only. Inquiries about entries must also come from publishers only. Prize : The winner will receive C$130,000 and the other shortlisted poets will each receive C$10,000. Deadline : December 31, 2023 for books published between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

The Lyric College Poetry Contest . Restrictions : Open to undergraduates enrolled full time in an American or Canadian college or university. Genre : Poetry. Prize : $500. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Neil Postman Award for Metaphor . Sponsored by Rattle. Genre : Poetry. All published submissions during the year are considered for the prize. Follow their regular submission guidelines. Prize : $2,000. Deadline : December 31, 2023. Read more about the award HERE .

The Caribbean Writer Prizes . Genre : Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays or one act plays which explore the ideas resonating within the region and its diaspora, written by a US or UK Virgin Islands resident accepted for publication by The Caribbean Writer during the deadline year. 2023. See theme . Prize : $300 — $600. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award . Genre : Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Prize : $500 and publication in Meridians Journal: feminism, race, transnationalism. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition . Restrictions : Open to students enrolled in programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree. Genre : Poetry. Prize: $300. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

The Four Quartets Prize . Genre : unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook. Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were brought together and they form a complete sequence. Prize : Three finalists will receive $1,000 each. The winner will receive an additional $20,000. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Hooks Institute National Book Award . Genre : Nonfiction book that best furthers understanding of the American Civil Rights Movement and its legacy. Prize : $1000. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize . Genre : Full-Length poetry collection. Prize : Winner receives translation to another European language; publication of the collection (bilingual edition); 50 copies; and royalties. Finalists receive publication of the collection (Spanish edition), 10 copies of the book, and royalties on Publisher’s edition and subsidiary rights. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

The W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction. Genre : Military fiction. Prize : $5000. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Tartts Fiction Award . Restrictions : Open to Americans. Genre : Short story collection. Prize : Winning short story collection will be published by Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama, in simultaneous library binding and trade paper editions. Winning entry will receive $1000, plus their standard royalty contract, which includes 60 copies of the book. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

#GWstorieseverywhere . Genre : Micro fiction or essay on theme of Instability. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag. Prize : Free Gotham class. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

The Drabble Harvest Contest . Genre : Drabble on theme of “Alien Fetishes.” A “drabble” is defined as a short story containing exactly precisely no more and no fewer than 100 words. It has a title, which can be from 1 to 15 words — but no more than 15. Prize : $5. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Black Caucus of the American Library Association . BCALA presents four awards to an African American writer published in the United States during the previous year: one for adult fiction, one for nonfiction, one for a first novelist and one for poetry. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. Prize : Four $500.00 awards. Deadline : December 31, 2023.

Lex:lead Essay Competition . Restrictions : Candidates must show citizenship in an eligible country and be enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award. Genre : Essay: How effective have laws protecting the rights of children been to reduce poverty and support economic development? How could they be improved? Prize : $500 scholarship. Deadline : December 31, 2023 ( Must have registered by October 31, 2023 )

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to “revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful.” Genre : Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize : $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline : December 31, 2023. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.

Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity .

Erica Verrillo

Written by Erica Verrillo

Helping writers get published and bolstering their flagging spirits at http://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/

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  • About Ayn Rand
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The Fountainhead Essay Contest

Students      >      Essay Contests      >    The Fountainhead

✓    Open to all high school students worldwide.

April 25, 2024

Entry Deadline

Book Length

Interested in participating?

Fill out the contact form below, and we’ll email you with more information about the 2024 contest—including instructions on how to enter.

Thank you for signing up!

We’ll email you more information about this year’s contest—including instructions on how to enter. In the meantime, please let us know at [email protected] if you have any questions. We’re happy to help.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

What is The Fountainhead?

This modern classic is the story of intransigent young architect Howard Roark, whose integrity was as unyielding as granite…of Dominique Francon, the exquisitely beautiful woman who loved Roark passionately, but married his worst enemy…and of the fanatic denunciation unleashed by an enraged society against a great creator.

As fresh today as it was then, Rand’s provocative novel presents one of the most challenging ideas in all of fiction—that man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress.

Improve your ability to write and think effectively. This contest will require you to reflect on philosophic themes, form your own opinion, and argue a thesis with evidence and clarity.

Test yourself against talented students from around the world and the high grading standards of our faculty. On average, only the top 5–10% of essays are awarded prizes each year.

Win cash prizes among five placement categories. This is an excellent way to earn money for college and higher education. We place no restrictions on how the money is spent by recipients.

Choose Your Essay Topic

Select one of the following three prompts about The Fountainhead and write an essay in response to it.

Essays must be written in English only and between 800 and 1,600 words in length, double-spaced.

Questions? Write to us at [email protected] .

In conversation with Peter Keating, Roark says “to get things done, you must love the doing, not the secondary consequences.” What evidence is there in the story that Roark loves the doing? What are the secondary consequences he does not prioritize? How does his love for his work guide his major life decisions? How does Roark’s approach to his work relate to the overall theme of the novel? To answer all of these questions, give specific examples from the novel.

Steven Mallory tells Roark that he fears there is something like a “drooling beast of prey” that is hanging over the world. What do we learn from the rest of the book about what is the object of Mallory’s fear and in what way is it like a beast of prey? How does Roark help Mallory and others learn to overcome it? How does Roark’s success in helping his friends combat this fear relate to the theme of the novel? To answer all of these questions, give specific examples from the novel.

In her introduction to the 25th anniversary edition of The Fountainhead , Ayn Rand writes that she removed a quotation by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche from the head of her manuscript because of “profound” disagreement with his philosophy. How can we see her repudiation of Nietzsche’s worldview illustrated in the story of The Fountainhead ? How can the plot be interpreted as illustrating the reasons for which she rejects the Nietzschean ideas she claims to reject (in this introduction and elsewhere )? How does Rand’s rejection of Nietzsche’s philosophy relate to the novel’s theme? Explain your answers by reference to particular characters’ specific actions and their consequences.

Master Our Grading Standards

Essays are judged on whether the student is able to justify and argue for his or her view, not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses. 

Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized.  Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel. 

Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of The Fountainhead .

Organization

Understanding, discover the power of the fountainhead.

What motivates a creative thinker?

Is it a selfless desire to benefit mankind? A hunger for fame, fortune, and accolades? The need to prove superiority? Or is it a self-sufficient drive to pursue a creative vision, independent of others’ needs or opinions?

Ayn Rand addresses these questions through her portrayal of Howard Roark, an innovative architect who, as she puts it, “struggles for the integrity of his creative work against every form of social opposition.”

Learn more and request a free digital copy of the book today.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Learn from Past Winners

Curious to know what makes for a winning essay in The Fountainhead  contest? Check out some of the essays written by our most recent grand-prize winners. 

To varying degrees, they all display an excellent grasp of the philosophic meaning of The Fountainhead .

12th grade student

John F. Kennedy High School

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

United States

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Soo Yeon Chun

Deerfield Academy

Deerfield, Massachusetts

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Cora Usurela

11th grade student

Thornhill Secondary School

Thornhill, Ontario

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Shepherd International Edu.

Gangdong-gu, Seoul

South Korea

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Lucas Pringle

Repton School

Repton, England

United Kingdom

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Improve Your Writing Skills

Other than endorsing perfect punctuation and grammar in English, the Ayn Rand Institute offers no advice or feedback for essays submitted to its contests. However, we do recommend the following resources as ways to improve the content of your essays.

The Fountainhead

Writing: a mini-course.

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Sign Up for Contest Updates!

Want to stay up-to-date on any new developments to the contest? Sign up to our email list below.

We’ll send you periodic reminders about the contest deadline, as well as helpful resources to ensure you get the most out of your experience reading and writing about Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead .

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We've received your request for a free copy of The Fountainhead and will be emailing you details on how you can access it shortly. In the meantime, are you ready to begin the entry process?

You don't need to have finished the book or your essay to get started on your entry for the contest. You can begin today and we'll save your progress for later.

Then, when you're ready to submit your essay, just return to our platform. Your saved entry will be right where you left it. So, why wait? Take the first step, and start your entry today.

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

scholarship essay competitions 2023

EssayPro Scholarship Contest 2023: Win up to $10,500!

scholarship essay competitions 2023

EssayPro Scholarship 2023: Win Up to $10,500

Hey, all you up-and-coming writers and enthusiastic learners! The EssayPro Scholarship 2023 is here, giving students a chance to show off their essay-writing abilities and win big. Don't let this opportunity to win a large prize pot of $10,500 slip away!

Open to any qualified applicants, this year's contest anticipates fierce competition, with monetary prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division. If writing excites you and you wish to prove your talents, this is your chance to excel.

For the EssayPro Scholarship 2023 Contest, you have 3 essay topics to pick from. They span a range of subjects and look at different areas of society and education.

  • Why do students cheat? Reasons behind academic dishonesty
  • How can the development of Artificial Intelligence technologies affect the future of education?
  • Is war possible between the US and China, and who would have the upper hand?

These three essay topics offer great prospects for a meaningful and stimulating debate. No matter if you decide to talk about academic dishonesty, AI in education, or US-China relations, you must compose an essay that is well-researched, argued, and written!

What Are We Aiming For?

With the EssayPro Scholarship 2023, not only can students display their writing expertise and benefit from the rewards, but it also allows North America and Canada's largest writer's community to extend its influence and assist more students. 

Since 2016, the EssayPro team has provided assistance to more than a million students, showing dedication to the development of young writers' academic talents. At EssayPro, we care deeply about giving students the means to succeed academically. 

Thus, if you are a student and an aspiring writer, don't miss the opportunity to join the EssayPro community and perhaps win the EssayPro Scholarship 2023.

What Benefits Do We Extend?

EssayPro Scholarship 2023 is giving students the opportunity to show off their writing skills and get some cool prizes. Winners of the top three places in each category will be rewarded with: ‍ ‍ $2,000 for first place ‍ $1,000 for second place ‍ $500 for third

So, the total prize pool is $10,500 .

Scholars have a great chance to demonstrate their writing skills and raise money to help pursue their academic ambitions.

Plus, we're stoked to reveal that students who participate in the spring showdown will get 35% off our writing services!

This program is a stellar chance for students who require additional assistance with their scholarly writing, as our services provide top-notch writing aid to help you reach your ambitions. Therefore, no matter if you are aiming to succeed or just need some help with your writing tasks, EssayPro Scholarship 2023 has something for you.

Join the Party with These Easy Steps

Taking part in the EssayPro Scholarship 2023 is as easy as a piece of pie! To enter the contest, simply write an essay on one of the three topics provided and follow these simple steps. 

essay contest

  • To ensure your essay is submitted in time for the deadline of October 1, 2023, email a PDF to [email protected] .
  • After that, keep track of EssayPro's Instagram accounts, @ essaypro_official and @ essaypromemes , to be in the know of the newest news and updates about the scholarship.
  • Sign up for an account on essaypro.com .
  • Finally, like and share the EssayPro Scholarship 2023 post in your Instagram stories and tag one friend in the comments. 
  • Make sure to include our profiles in your stories and ensure your account is made public for us to check your involvement and monitor your repost. 

If you follow these steps, you could be in line to win one of our incredible prizes!

Need Some Help With Your Tasks?

Adress to our professional writers 24/7 and get plagiarism-free task of the highest quality!

Essay Criteria

At EssayPro Scholarship 2023, we have designed our essay requirements in such a way that all participants have the same opportunity for success.

  • Your essay must be between 825 and 1,000 words and must be completely original to qualify for the contest. 
  • We will verify that all entries are original by running them through an originality-checking AI.  
  • Furthermore, your essay must be impeccably punctuated and grammatically correct to guarantee that it is composed well and can be easily understood.

Give your best shot at writing an essay that meets the criteria and submit it to the EssayPro Scholarship 2023. You could come away with an awesome prize!

May the cream of the crop when it comes to writing come out on top!

Make Your Academic Writing a Stress-Free Process

Entrust our professional writers with your most complex academic tasks and observe your grades soar!

Scholarship winners announcement

Our 2023 scholarship contest has finally concluded. We're grateful to everyone who took part in our competition. As a token of appreciation, we'll reward every participant with a 35% discount on our writing aid.

Finally, we're excited to announce the lucky winners who'll split the prize pool of $10,500. Since our contest involved 3 essay topics, we've picked the three best essays in each category.

Here is the list of winners:

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Stay tuned! More exciting activities from EssayPro are coming soon.

Related Articles

Essay Writing Contests: The Ultimate List

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Essay  COMPETITION

2024 global essay prize.

The John Locke Institute encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style. Our Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

Entering an essay in our competition can build knowledge, and refine skills of argumentation. It also gives students the chance to have their work assessed by experts. All of our essay prizes are judged by a panel of senior academics drawn from leading universities including Oxford and Princeton, under the leadership of the Chairman of Examiners, former Cambridge philosopher, Dr Jamie Whyte.

The judges will choose their favourite essay from each of seven subject categories - Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law - and then select the winner of the Grand Prize for the best entry in any subject. There is also a separate prize awarded for the best essay in the junior category, for under 15s.

Q1. Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?

Q2. Do girls have a (moral) right to compete in sporting contests that exclude boys?

Q3. Should I be held responsible for what I believe?

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Q1. Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Q2. Is peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip possible?

Q3. When is compliance complicity?

Q1. What is the optimal global population?  

Q2. Accurate news reporting is a public good. Does it follow that news agencies should be funded from taxation?

Q3. Do successful business people benefit others when making their money, when spending it, both, or neither?

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Q1. Why was sustained economic growth so rare before the later 18th century and why did this change?

Q2. Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?

Q3. Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger?

Q1. When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person’s public statements?

Q2. In the last five years British police have arrested several thousand people for things they posted on social media. Is the UK becoming a police state?

Q3. Your parents say that 11pm is your bedtime. But they don’t punish you if you don’t go to bed by 11pm. Is 11pm really your bedtime?

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Q1. According to a study by four British universities, for each 16-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of getting married increases by 35% for a man but decreases by 40% for a woman. Why? 

Q2. There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?

Q3. What is the difference between a psychiatric illness and a character flaw?

Q1. “I am not religious, but I am spiritual.” What could the speaker mean by “spiritual”?

Q2. Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm?

Q3. Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?

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JUNIOR prize

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & FURTHER DETAILS

Please read the following carefully.

Entry to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2024 is open to students from any country.

Registration  

Only candidates who registered before the registration deadline of Friday, 31 May 2024 may enter this year's competition.

All entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on  the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024 .  Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on that date. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)

Entry is free.

Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration). 

The filename of your pdf must be in this format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf; so, for instance, Alexander Popham would submit his answer to question 2 in the Psychology category with the following file name:

Alexander-Popham-Psychology-2.pdf

Essays with filenames which are not in this format will be rejected.

The candidate's name should NOT appear within the document itself. 

Candidates should NOT add footnotes. They may, however, add endnotes and/or a Bibliography that is clearly titled as such.

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate's written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

Submissions may be made as soon as registration opens in April. We recommend that you submit your essay well in advance of th e deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.

Acceptance of your essay depends on your granting us permission to use your data for the purposes of receiving and processing your entry as well as communicating with you about the Awards Ceremony Dinner, the academic conference for essay competition finalists, and other events and programmes of the John Locke Institute and its associated entities.  

Late entries

If for any reason you miss the 30 June deadline you will have an opportunity to make a late entry, under two conditions:

a) A late entry fee of 20.00 USD must be paid by credit card within twenty-four hours of the original deadline; and

b) Your essay must be submitted  before 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 10 July 2024.

To pay for late entry, a registrant need only log into his or her account, select the relevant option and provide the requested payment information.

Our grading system is proprietary. Essayists may be asked to discuss their entry with a member of the John Locke Institute’s faculty. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud . Our determinations in all such matters are final.

Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force. The very best essays are likely to be those which would be capable of changing somebody's mind. Essays which ignore or fail to address the strongest objections and counter-arguments are unlikely to be successful .

Candidates are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.

The writers of the best essays will receive a commendation and be shortlisted for a prize. Writers of shortlisted essays will be notified by 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 31 July. They will also be invited to London for an invitation-only academic conference and awards dinner in September, where the prize-winners will be announced. Unlike the competition itself, the academic conference and awards dinner are not free. Please be aware that n obody is required to attend either the academic conference or the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London.

All short-listed candidates, including prize-winners, will be able to download eCertificates that acknowledge their achievement. If you win First, Second or Third Prize, and you travel to London for the ceremony, you will receive a signed certificate. 

There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US$2000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute's website. Prize-giving ceremonies will take place in London, at which winners and runners-up will be able to meet some of the judges and other faculty members of the John Locke Institute. Family, friends, and teachers are also welcome.

The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a US$10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes. 

The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

R egistration opens: 1 April, 2024.

Registration deadline: 31 May, 2024. (Registration is required by this date for subsequent submission.)

Submission deadline: 30 June, 2024.

Late entry deadline: 10 July, 2024. (Late entries are subject to a 20.00 USD charge, payable by 1 July.)

Notification of short-listed essayists: 31 July, 2024.

Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024.

Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024.

Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected] . Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query. In particular, regrettably, we are unable to respond to questions whose answers can be found on our website.

If you would like to receive helpful tips  from our examiners about what makes for a winning essay or reminders of upcoming key dates for the 2024  essay competition, please provide your email here to be added to our contact list. .

Thanks for subscribing!

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The John Locke Institute's Global Essay Prize is acknowledged as the world's most prestigious essay competition. 

We welcome tens of thousands of submissions from ambitious students in more than 150 countries, and our examiners - including distinguished philosophers, political scientists, economists, historians, psychologists, theologians, and legal scholars - read and carefully assess every entry. 

I encourage you to register for this competition, not only for the hope of winning a prize or commendation, and not only for the chance to join the very best contestants at our academic conference and gala ceremony in London, but equally for the opportunity to engage in the serious scholarly enterprise of researching, reflecting on, writing about, and editing an answer to one of the important and provocative questions in this year's Global Essay Prize. 

We believe that the skills you will acquire in the process will make you a better thinker and a more effective advocate for the ideas that matter most to you.

I hope to see you in September!

Best wishes,

Jamie Whyte, Ph.D. (C ANTAB ) 

Chairman of Examiners

Teacher Seminars In Person : Join us in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia this summer. Apply by March 5, 2024.

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Programs & Events

Student opportunities, david mccullough essay prizes.

David McCullough in front of a student-painted American flag at Trinity School..

David McCullough at Trinity School in Manhattan, October 15, 2019

The Gilder Lehrman Institute is now accepting submissions for the 2024 David McCullough Essay Prizes. The contest has been recently overhauled, and will recognize fourteen outstanding high school student research and interpretive essays with cash prizes of up to $5,000. This contest is named in memory of David McCullough (1933–2022)—a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and Gilder Lehrman Life Trustee—and honors his career telling America’s stories and examining its histories. Learn more about his life and legacy here .

High school students attending schools in our Affiliate School Program are eligible and encouraged to participate. (Email [email protected] if you are not sure whether your school is an Affiliate School.) They are invited to submit an original essay, written independently or for a 2023–2024 class, that has been revised, expanded, and adapted to conform with the new McCullough Prize specifications. The two essay categories are as follows:

Research Essay: Students are invited to submit a research essay incorporating primary and secondary sources on a topic in American history from 1491 to 2001.

Interpretive Essay: Students are invited to submit an interpretive essay focusing on close reading and analysis of one primary source from American history, 1491 to 2001, in the Gilder Lehrman Collection of more than 85,000 historical documents.

More requirements for both essay categories can be found in these updated David McCullough Essay Prizes 2024 Rubrics .

All participants will receive a certificate of participation suitable for framing. Prize winners in each of our two categories—research essays and a new interpretive essay category—will receive cash awards as follows:

  • 1st Prize: $5,000 (plus a $500 prize awarded to the school)
  • 2nd Prize: $1,500 (plus a $500 prize awarded to the school)
  • Five 3rd Prizes: $500 each

To be considered for the David McCullough Essay Prizes, students, or their teachers or parents, can submit the student entry by 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 28, 2024 . A panel of Gilder Lehrman master teachers will choose the pool of finalists, from which a jury of eminent historians will choose the winners. Essays will be evaluated for their historical rigor, the clarity and correctness of their style, their use of evidence, and their qualities of empathy and imagination. Winners will be notified and announced no later than Friday, September 13, 2024.

General Requirements

Font and Page Style: Papers should be submitted in 12-point, Times New Roman font with one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides. Essays should be free of teacher commentary or other notes.

Organization: Top essays have an introduction, body, and conclusion and a clearly stated, well-developed thesis statement with supportive historical evidence.

Essay Topics: Essays can be on any topic related to American history from 1491 to 2001. Essays in the interpretative category must feature a primary source (letter, broadside, art, political cartoon, speech, etc.) from the Gilder Lehrman Collection .

Virtual Research Night

To help students, teachers, and parents prepare for the David McCullough Essay Prizes, the Institute is hosting a Virtual Research Night led by Professor Kenya Davis-Hayes (Professor of History, California Baptist University and a Scholar Judge for the prizes) to support student research at the high school level. The program will also feature members of the Gilder Lehrman Institute staff to highlight primary and secondary sources and strategies for high-quality research and writing. Register here for the Virtual Research Night on Thursday, February 29, 7 p.m. ET.

Dawe, Philip (ca. 1750-1785) The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-man, or Tarring & Feathering

Philip Dawe, The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-man, or Tarring & Feathering , London, 1774. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC04961.01)

Past Winners

SL

2023 Contest Winners

Read the eleven prize winners, selected from more than one hundred and fifty students’ entries.

2022 Contest Winners

Read the eleven prize winners, selected from more than seventy rising 11th and 12th grade students' entries.

2021 Winners

Read the twelve prize winners, selected from more than seventy rising 11th and 12th grade students' entries.

2020 Contest Winners

Read the twelve prize winners, selected from more than 200 rising 11th and 12th grade students' entries.

Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.

Learn how the Institute impacts history education through our work guiding teachers, energizing students, and supporting research.

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Knovva Scholar Search College Essay Contest

Enter for a chance to win one of two scholarships and have your college essay critiqued by certified college admission experts .

College Essay Contest Background

Contest Overview

Winner Value

This contest can bring you one step closer to your dream college! Enter your best college essay, and the top 10 contestants will win feedback and edit suggestions from college admission experts. Plus, we’re giving $1,500 total in scholarships for the top two winners !

If you want to impress admissions officials with a polished final draft and earn scholarship money, read below for more details.

November 13

Submissions Open

Submission Evaluation

February 15

Winners Announced

College Essay Feedback

How to Submit Your College Essay

Submissions must be between 250 - 650 words and written in standard U.S. English. We will accept submissions from around the world and welcome high school students of all grade levels to participate.

Choose from one of the following Common App essay prompts:

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Complete your essay in the submission form below. Essays can be submitted from now through January 13, 2023 .

Winners will be announced February 15, 2023 .

Awards and Rules

Contest Prizes

Contest Prizes

Authors of the top 10 submissions will receive a full critique of their essay. In addition to an essay critique, the first-place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The second-place winner will receive an essay critique and $500 scholarship.

For full details on the Knovva Scholar Search, click here .

Judges

Knovva Scholar Search judges are professional writers and college admissions experts . The judges will select winners based on writing quality, originality of work, and how captivating the story is.

One Submission

One Submission

Knovva Scholar Search allows only one submission per applicant. Sending duplicate or multiple submissions may affect when we receive the submission. In this case, only the first received submission will be considered .

Announcements

Announcements

Winners will receive a confirmation via email on February 15, 2023 .

Plagiarism Notice

Plagiarism Notice

Essays submitted to Knovva Academy must be original work written by the student applicant. By participating in the contest, students agree that their work is original and agree to the terms of the contest.

Any work found to be unoriginal or written by a person other than the submitter will be disqualified from further consideration.

Knovva Academy is an online learning platform with a mission to connect students to academic and college admissions success. Our live online courses are designed by Ivy-league scholars and are focused on student achievement.

Learn more about Knovva Academy.

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Watch our Explainer Video

How Our Essay Competition Works

Submit your entry.

Research and write your essay and then submit it, along with your references, via our short form below.

Entries close at 9pm UK time on 31st March 2024 !

Awards Ceremony

All shortlisted entrants and their parents and teachers will be invited to attend our Awards Ceremony in April 2024, where the winners will be announced.

Over £100,000 Worth of Academic Prizes

screenshot from an OxBright conference, with two people chatting and smiling

Free Conference place

The first thousand students who are successfully shortlisted will be awarded a free place at one of our OxBright Conferences (worth £95) in the autumn. Alternatively, you can put this credit towards an Online Course or Online Internship .

All shortlisted entrants and their parents and teachers will be invited to attend our online Awards Ceremony in April 2024, where the winners will be announced.

Person in Oxford Scholastica Academy tshirt posing in a library

Matilda Winner, History, 2023

I’m both thrilled and flabbergasted at the outcome of the competition.

Winning this competition undoubtedly made me feel much more confident in researching and writing in my field from now on, opening a lot of new doors for me!

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Regina Winner, Psychology, 2023

I’m very happy and grateful to win such a meaningful competition. I truly learned a lot.

My advice to anyone considering entering is to try to think deeper and further about your chosen topic.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Alex Winner, Philosophy, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Entering the essay competition, how will entering the oxbright essay competition help me in the future, why do you run an essay competition.

OxBright is about giving students the edge to help them to succeed, find their purpose and make a difference in the world.

We think it’s the greatest time to be alive, but we’re aware that young people face challenges their predecessors didn’t. We’re passionate about encouraging students to be optimistic about the future by being active thinkers interested in collaborating to create a better future for the long-term. You can read more about this in our Worldview .

Our essay competition combines these two elements – encouraging students to think actively about the future, and giving them tools to help them to succeed.

Who can enter?

Anyone can enter – the only eligibility criteria is that you must be aged between 15-18. You don’t need to have previously joined an OxBright programme in order to take part.

Kindly be aware that to be eligible to take up any of the free places offered as prizes, such as our online courses/internships, winning students must be between the ages of 15 and 18 at the commencement of the programme.

Can I write more than one essay?

Sorry, we only accept one essay per student in each Essay Competition. This is due to the volume of essays we receive.

Can I enter jointly with a friend?

No, we can only accept entries from individuals, and it’s important to make sure that your work is entirely your own.

Is there a fee to enter the OxBright Essay Competition?

No, the essay competition is completely free to enter.

When is the entry deadline?

The entry deadline is 9pm on Sunday 31st March 2024.

Are you connected to any university?

No, OxBright is an independent education organisation which is not connected to any university.

Where can I see the results of the Essay Competition 2023?

You can see the results of our previous Essay Competition, including the winning essay in full, here .

Writing Your Essay

What are the subject categories i can enter for, how long should my essay be.

There are three parts to the essay:

  • Essay title: the title of your essay can be up to 100 characters long, including spaces
  • Essay: your essay can have up to 3,800 characters , including spaces (this is about 500 words). This includes everything you write, like the main text and in-text citations. In-text citations are little notes you put in your essay to show where your information came from. For example, if you quote something from a book by John Smith, you would add (Smith, 2010, p. 50) right after the quote. These citations are part of your word count, so make sure to include them
  • References: as for references, there’s no word limit – you can include as many as you need! These are important for showing where your information came from. Please use the Harvard Referencing Style for your references (you can find how to do this in the guidelines provided here ). This won’t count towards your essay character limit, so please list all the sources you used

What are the evaluation criteria?

We’ll be assessing essays on the following criteria:

  • Fluency of written English
  • Relevance to the question
  • Creativity and originality of ideas
  • Use of evidence or examples
  • Relevance to the OxBright Worldview

Should I use references?

Please make sure to include references to your sources, using the Harvard Referencing Style (guidelines here ).

What makes a good essay?

Make sure to read our criteria carefully (you can find it in the FAQ above).

We want essays that are thoroughly researched, packed with examples and solid evidence. What really catches our attention are essays with unique analysis. So, we’re not just interested in essays that simply describe things – we want your thoughts, analysis, and fresh ideas.

Don’t forget, it’s crucial to use and mention trustworthy sources for the evidence you provide.

Do you accept personal or descriptive essays?

We’re looking for clear, concise and compelling answers to the question above, written and formatted in an academic style. Please don’t submit personal essays or creative writing samples.

What Happens Next?

When will i hear the results.

We’ll be in touch within two weeks of your entry to let you know whether or not you’ve been shortlisted (all entrants who meet our core standards of relevance and coherence will be shortlisted).

All shortlisted entrants and their parents and teachers will be invited to our Awards Ceremony in April 2024, when the winners in each subject category will be announced.

How are essays assessed?

You can read about the criteria we use to assess your essay in the FAQ above (“What are the evaluation criteria?”).

Essays are assessed using our proprietary system which combines a mixture of technology and personal assessment. Essays which are deemed to be plagiarised or be written by AI will be rejected and our decision on this is final.

There are two stages to our assessment process:

Shorlisting Our first stage assessment reviews whether the essay is relevant and coherent. If so, your essay will be shortlisted, you will be offered a free place at an OxBright Conference and you will be invited to the Awards Ceremony.

Awards Shortlised essays are then given further assessment by our panel. This includes a review of the References. In the application form, we ask for a the name of a teacher who is familiar with your academic work. If your essay is nominated for an Award, we will ask this teacher to confirm that the essay was genuinely written by you.

What are the prizes?

Please click here for more information about the prizes and awards.

Why is the overall prize a place at Oxford Scholastica in 2025, not 2024?

Will i receive feedback.

Unfortunately, due to the volume of entries received, we are unable to provide feedback on essays.

Does everyone who enters get a free place at a Conference?

The first thousand students to who make a valid submission and are shortlisted will be invited to attend an OxBright Conference of their choice, free of charge (worth £95). Conference subjects include Business, Medicine, Law and Psychology. It is optional to attend a Conference.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to choose to apply the £95 credit toward another programme with us.

Does everyone receive a certificate?

Only students who win one of the awards receive a certificate. Certificates are issued in online format.

Do you publish the names of the award winners?

Yes, award winners will be published on our website after the Awards Ceremony.

How can I pass on some feedback about the essay competition?

Meet our Immerse Scholarship Winners

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Hear from past 100% and partial scholarship winners

Each year, thousands of students enter our Immerse Education Essay Competition with the hope of winning one of our coveted scholarship places. In the below articles scholarship winners share their story and offer advice for those who are looking to enter the Immerse Education Essay or Blog Competitions.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Farah found the essay competition through a simple Google search, and ended up winning a highly ranked partial scholarship, and attended a Medicine programme in Cambridge in the summer of 2023.

The experience enhanced her applications and CV with practical experience beyond typical academics, and making her a strong candidate in medicine.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Tal entered the Immerse Essay Competition to improve their essay-writing and English skills, driven by a passion for literature. Tal shared their approach to essay writing and their excitement upon winning a partial scholarship.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Read Abhiram’s journey, which started with hearing about the essay competition through a friend, and led to attending our two-week residential Medicine programme in Oxford having achieved a partial scholarship!⁠

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Anais joined Immerse in Sydney to study Creative Writing.

She had previously attended an Online Insights programme with Immerse, and so knew about the other courses offered. Once her school recommended the Essay Competition to her, she entered – feeling motivated by the essay question for Creative Writing.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Riya was searching for a medicine summer programme and came across Immerse Education. After submitting her essay, Riya went on to win a 100% fully-funded scholarship for the Immerse Education Medicine programme.

With Immerse, she was able to delve into both the theory and practice of Medicine, learning university-level topics and explore how internal systems function and interact with one-another.

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Noor found out about the Essay Competition through her school, and didn’t think the prize of a 100% scholarship would be real. She decided to write an essay on her favourite topic anyway because she had found the question so compelling.

Noor went on to win a 100% fully-funded scholarship. She shares her story and useful advice on how she went about writing her winning essay!

scholarship essay competitions 2023

After exploring positive and negative business role models such as Elon Musk and Ex Kodak CEO Kay Whitmore, Kornelia finished her essay off with an inspiring summary: “To be a good role model in business, one should possess qualities of responsibility, morality and be able to make decisions that help your company evolve. Only then can the next generation of entrepreneurs truly thrive.”

Kornelia’s essay won her a 100% fully-funded scholarship onto our two-week Business Management programme!

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Pedro from Portugal wrote a number of essays on various subjects before submitting his best. Luckily, he submitted a 100% scholarship-winning essay!

We interviewed Pedro about his journey to becoming one of our 100% scholarship winners, and joining us on our Career Insights programme  in London!

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

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The Best Essay Writing Contests of 2024

Writing competitions curated by Reedsy

  • Children's
  • Flash Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Science Fiction
  • Science Writing
  • Script Writing
  • Short Story
  • Young Adult

Manage a competition? Submit it here

Prompts | Prompts 3 Copy test | 2024-02

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

Showing 47 contests

Bacopa literary review annual writing contest.

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Bacopa Literary Review’s 2024 contest is open from March 4 through April 4, with $200 Prize and $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Free Verse Poetry, Formal Poetry, and Visual Poetry.

Additional prizes

Entry requirements.

💰 Fee: FREE

Deadline: April 04, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story

Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024

Anthology Magazine

The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. Max 1000 words.

Deadline: November 30, 2024

Essay, Non-fiction, Travel

International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition

Vine Leaves Press

Small presses have potential for significant impact, and at Vine Leaves Press, we take this responsibility quite seriously. It is our responsibility to give marginalized groups the opportunity to establish literary legacies that feel rich and vast. Why? To sustain hope for the world to become a more loving, tolerable, and open space. It always begins with art. That is why we have launched this writing competition.

Book publication

Deadline: July 01, 2024

Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel

Young Sports Journalist 2024

The Young Sports Journalist Competition, 2024, seeks well-argued articles from aspiring journalists aged 14-21. Winning entries will be published online and printed in the Summer Issue of Pitch. Critiqued by our panel of accomplished judges, winners will also receive a £50 cash prize and offered work experience here at PITCH HQ. The competition runs from 7 February 2024 to 5 April 2024. And winners will be announced in May.

Publication in magazine and online

Deadline: April 05, 2024

Essay, Non-fiction

Tusculum Review Nonfiction Chapbook Prize

The Tusculum Review

A prize of $1,000, publication of the essay in The Tusculum Review’s 20th Anniversary Issue (2024), and creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook with original art is awarded. Editors of The Tusculum Review and contest judge Mary Cappello will determine the winner of the 2024 prize.

Publication

Deadline: June 15, 2024

Creative Nonfiction Prize

Indiana Review

Send us one creative nonfiction piece, up to 5000 words, for a chance at $1000 + publication. This year's contest will be judged by Lars Horn.

Deadline: March 31, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction

High School Academic Research Competition

Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal

The High School Academic Research Competition is where talented students from around the world compete to publish high-quality research on any topic. SARC challenges students to sharpen their critical thinking skills, immerse themselves in the research process, and hone their writing skills for success.

Indigo Research Intensive Summer Program

Deadline: March 20, 2024

Annual Student Essay Contest

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

For this year’s Essay Contest, we are asking students to think about why the story of the Oklahoma City bombing is important today.

Deadline: March 04, 2024

Solas Awards

Best Travel Writing

Extraordinary stories about travel and the human spirit have been the cornerstones of our books since 1993. With the Solas Awards we honor writers whose work inspires others to explore. We’re looking for the best stories about travel and the world. Funny, illuminating, adventurous, uplifting, scary, inspiring, poignant stories that reflect the unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. We hope these awards will be a catalyst for those who love to leave home and tell others about it.

Deadline: September 21, 2024

Annual Contest Submissions

So To Speak

So To Speak is seeking submissions for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction with an intersectional feminist lens! It is no secret that the literary canon and literary journals are largely comprised of heteronormative, patriarchal, cisgender, able-bodied white men. So to Speak seeks work by writers, poets, and artists who want to challenge and change the identity of the “canonical” writer.

Deadline: March 15, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, Poetry

Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing

The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing will be administered to the winner of a literary contest designed to champion innovative hybrid and cross-genre work.

Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Short Story

Rigel 2024: $500 for Prose, Poetry, Art, or Graphic Novel

Sunspot Literary Journal

Literary or genre works accepted. Winner receives $500 plus publication, while runners-up and finalists are offered publication. No restrictions on theme or category. Closes: February 29. Entry fee: $12.50. Enter as many times as you like through Submittable or Duotrope

$500 + publication

Runners-up and finalists are offered publication

Deadline: February 29, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story

Military Anthology: Partnerships, the Untold Story

Armed Services Arts Partnership

Partners are an integral aspect of military life, at home and afar, during deployment and after homecoming. Partnerships drive military action and extend beyond being a battle buddy, wingman, or crew member. Some are planned while others arise entirely unexpectedly. Spouses, family, old or new friends, community, faith leaders, and medical specialists all support the military community. Despite their importance, the stories of these partnerships often go untold. This anthology aims to correct that: We will highlight the nuances, surprises, joy, sorrow, heroism, tears, healing power, and ache of partnerships. We invite you to submit the story about partnerships from your journey, so we can help tell it.

$500 Editors' Choice award

$250 for each genre category (prose, poetry, visual art)

Deadline: March 01, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story

Stories of Inspiration

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Nonfiction stories of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 2,000 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of BIPOC or marginalized communities. Stories must be original, unpublished works in English. One successful entry will be awarded each month from April 2024 and will be included within Kinsman Quarterly’s online journal and digital magazine. Successful authors receive $200 USD and publication in our digital magazine. No entry fee required.

Publication in Kinsman Quarterly's online magazine

Deadline: December 31, 2024

NOWW 26th International Writing Contest

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)

Open to all writers in four categories: poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and critical writing.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50

Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story

Vocal Challenges

Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.

$1,000 — $5,000

Deadline: March 07, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, sponsors this annual philosophy contest.

Deadline: April 01, 2024

The Hudson Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Hudson Prize for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. The prize is open to new, emerging, and established writers.

Irene Adler Prize

Lucas Ackroyd

I’ve traveled the world from Sweden to South Africa, from the Golden Globes to the Olympic women’s hockey finals. I’ve photographed a mother polar bear and her cubs and profiled stars like ABBA, Jennifer Garner and Katarina Witt. And I couldn’t have done it without women. I’ve been very fortunate, and it’s time for me to give back. With the Irene Adler Prize, I’m awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution.

2x honorable mentions: $250

Deadline: May 30, 2024

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

Killer Nashville

The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.

Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller

World Historian Student Essay Competition

World History Association

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international competition open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Membership in the World History Association is not a requirement for submission. Past winners may not compete in the same category again.

Deadline: May 01, 2024

Children's, Essay

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, Travel

Indignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition

Indignor House Publishing

Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult

Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

Lazuli Literary Group

We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.

Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"

Deadline: March 24, 2024

Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, Script Writing

swamp pink Prizes

From January 1st to January 31st, submit short stories and essays of up to 25 pages or a set of 1-3 poems. Winners in each genre will receive $2,000 and publication.

Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

Red Hen Press Women's Prose Prize

Red Hen Press

Established in 2018, the Women’s Prose Prize is for previously unpublished, original work of prose. Novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, and all other forms of prose writing are eligible for consideration. The awarded manuscript is selected through a biennial competition, held in even-numbered years, that is open to all writers who identify as women.

Publication by Red Hen Press

Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, Novel

African Diaspora Awards 2024

Up to $1000 in cash prizes for the African Diaspora Award 2024. African-themed prose and poetry wanted. Top finalists are published in Kinsman Quarterly’s magazine and the anthology, “Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora.”

Publication in anthology, "Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora" and print and digital magazine

Deadline: June 30, 2024

The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books

The Letter Review

The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction) is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Three Winners are awarded, and 20 entries are Shortlisted.

3 x $333 USD

Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction (0-5000 words) is open to writers from anywhere in the world and has no theme or genre restrictions. Winners are published and every entry is considered for publication. 20 entries are Shortlisted.

Publication by The Letter Review

Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction

Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest

Unleash Press

We aim to assist writers in the completion of an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will also receive editorial feedback, coaching meetings, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit.

Coaching, interview, and editorial support

Deadline: July 15, 2024

Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Young Adult

Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award

Trio House Press

We seek un-agented full-length creative nonfiction manuscripts including memoir, essay collections, etc. 50,000 - 80,000 words.

Deadline: May 15, 2024

National Essay Contest

U.S. Institute of Peace

This year, AFSA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. Over the last century, our diplomats and development professionals have been involved in groundbreaking events in history – decisions on war and peace, supporting human rights and freedom, creating joint prosperity, reacting to natural disasters and pandemics and much more. As AFSA looks back on this century-long history, we invite you to join us in also looking ahead to the future. This year students are asked to explore how diplomats can continue to evolve their craft to meet the needs of an ever-changing world that brings fresh challenges and opportunities to the global community and America’s place in it.

Runner-up: $1,250

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

Gotham Writers Workshop

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a writing competition sponsored by the stage and radio series Selected Shorts. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally on both the radio and its weekly podcast. This years entries will be judged by Carmen Maria Machado (In the Dream House, Her Body and Other Parties).

$1000 + free 10 week course with Gotham Writers

Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult

Journalism Competition 2024

Write the World

What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, immerse yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting.

Best entry: $100

Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50

Deadline: July 22, 2024

Personal Essay Competition 2024

We want to hear about an experience in your life, rife with characters and description and conflict and scene… but we also want to hear how you make sense of this experience, how it sits with you, and why it has surfaced as writing. Open a window into your life and invite your readers to enter.

Deadline: June 24, 2024

Essay, Memoir

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

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scholarship essay competitions 2023

Competition and Festival 2023

Competition, frauchi-gala, jury and artists.

FRAUCHI International Guitar Competition

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Anatoly Izotov

Artist, member of the Jury

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Artyom Warhaftig

Grand Tournament Herald

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Maksim Novikov

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Xuanxuan Sun

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Roman Zorkin

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Vladimir Mityakov

Member of the Jury

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Artyom Dervoed

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Jose Maria Gallardo del Rey

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Celil Refik Kaya

Member of the Jury, 1st round

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Jaime M. Zenamon

scholarship essay competitions 2023

Competition and Festival

  • November 10
  • November 11
  • November 12
  • November 13
  • November 19

Registration of the competitors / draw procedure

16:00–18:00 – Gnessins’ Russian Academy of Music – Registration of the competitors / draw procedure.

Second Round of the Competition (Day 1)

11:00–12:30 – Shuvalov’s Musical Drawing Room – Second Round of the Competition

12:30–13:30 – Break. Yamaha and D’Addario presentation feat. Artyom Dervoed

13:40–15:00 – Shuvalov’s Musical Drawing Room – Second Round of the Competition

Concert: FRAUCHI GALA Tickets

Jeremy Jouve, Ricardo Gallen, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Evgeni Finkelstein, Anatoly Izotov, Vladimir Mityakov

Concert Hall of the Gnessins’ Russian Academy of Music

Frauchi Gala Concert:

Jeremy Jouve, Ricardo Gallen, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Evgeni Finkelstein, Anatoly Izotov, Vladimir Mityakov. «Nizhny Novgorov Soloists» Chamber Orchestra, conductor – Andrey Rein

Second Round of the Competition (Day 2)

11:00–13:00 – Shuvalov’s Musical Drawing Room – Second Round of the Competition

13:00–14:00 – break

14:00–16:00 – Shuvalov’s Musical Drawing Room – Second Round of the Competition

Concert: GRAND TOURNAMENT – Illarionov, Dervoed, Ceku TICKETS

Dimitri Illarionov, Artyom Dervoed, Petrit Ceku, Russian Philharmonic – Moscow City Symphony

19:00 – Moscow Internationsl House of Music – «GRAND TOURNAMENT – Illarionov, Dervoed, Ceku»

Russian Philharmonic – Moscow City Symphony, conductor– Sergey Tararin

Host of the show – Artyom Wahrhaftig

Bach, Vivaldi, Boccherini, Albeniz, Piazzolla, Zelenskiy, Rodrigo

Masterclasses

Petrit Ceku, Jeremy Jouve, Ricardo Gallen

Shuvalov’s Musical Drawing Room

11:00–13:00 – Petrit Ceku (Kosovo)

13:00–15:00 – Jeremy Jouve (France)

15:00–17:00 – Ricardo Gallen (Spain)

FInalists’ rehearsal with orchestra

FIve finalists of the Competition + OpensoundOrchestra

11:00–16:00 – Cathedral chamber – Rehearsal of the finalists with OpensoundOrchestra

Soundcheck for the finalists with OpensoundOrchestra

Cathedral chamber – Soundcheck for the finalists with  OpensoundOrchestra

Final Round of the Competition

12:00–16:00 – Cathedral chamber – Final Round of the Competition

The Final Round is held with OpensoundOrchestra , conductor – Stanislav Malyshev

Concert: Musical fireworks in honor to the Winners of the Competiton

Petrit Ceku, Ricardo Gallen, Jeremy Jouve, Dimitri Illarionov and Boris Andrianov, and the WINNER OF THE COMPETITION

21:00 –  Cathedral chamber – Concert: Musical fireworks in honor to the Winner of the Competiton

Concert: Kupinski Guitar Duo

Ewa Jablczynska, Dariusz Kupinski

19:00 –  Cathedral chamber – Kupinski Guitar Duo concert

Welcome to the Frauchi International Competition and Festival! The 8th Frauchi International Competition was held from August 10 through November 5, 2023. First Round was held online in virtual format from August 10 through August 27, 2023, Second and Final Rounds – offline in live format from October 29 through November 5, 2023.<br /> <br /> <strong>The winner of the I Prize is Vera Danilina; II Prize – Vyacheslav Shugaev; III Prize – Nikita Nedelko; diplomas – Sergey Perelekhov and Ivan Smertin.</strong><br /> <br /> This year, the total value of the prizes exceeded 30,000 euros; also all those foreign and non-resident participants of the Competition who were advanced to the Third Round were awarded a scholarship in the amount of costs paid for travelling from their place of residence (de facto residence) to the city of Moscow and back.<br /> <br /> Frauchi International Competition is held biannually. In the 'non-competitional' years the Alexander Frauchi Foundation is organizing «Frauchi-Gala» festivals.<br /> <div><i class="fa fa-trophy fa-2x"></i> <h4>Competition</h4> The prize-winners of the first prizes of the competitions (every odd year starting from 2009) were Tengyue (TY) Zhang, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Artyom Dervoed, Marko Topchii and Vera Danilina, of the second prizes – Pavel Kukhta, Konstantin Okudzhava, Anton Baranov, Vera Danilina, Andrea de Vitis, Vyacheslav Shugaev. </div> <div><i class="fa fa-star-o fa-2x"></i> <h4>Festival</h4> During the 'competitional' years, the stars of the festivals were Roland Dyens, Marcin Dylla, Aniello Desiderio, Zoran Dukic, Sergio and Odair Asad, Roberto Aussel, Pavel Steidl, Leo Brouwer, Ricardo Gallen, David Pavlovic, Jose Maria Gallardo del Rey, Yamandu Costa, Artyom Dervoed, Dimitri Illarionov, and many others. </div> <div><i class="fa fa-star-half-o fa-2x"></i> <h4>Frauchi-Gala </h4> The stars of the Frauchi-Gala festivals (every even year starting from 2010) were Zoran Dukic, Denis Azabagic, Aniello Desiderio, Rafael Aguirre, Carlo Marchione, Andrea de Vitis, Tengyue (TY) Zhang, Artyom Dervoed, Dimitri Illarionov, Frauchi Guitar Quartet and many others. </div>

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Additional details

Alexander Frauchi International Guitar Competition is held biannually. In the 'non-competitional' years the Alexander Frauchi Foundation is organizing «FRAUCHI-GALA» festivals.

Copyright 2024. Frauchi International Competition and Festival [email protected]

scholarship essay competitions 2023

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20 huskers to compete in 2024 perry photojournalism challenge.

7 days ago · 3 min read

20 Huskers to compete in 2024 Perry Photojournalism Challenge

Shoun Hill, standing, talks to students Hayden Rooney and Merideth Gamet, seated at a table, while a cameraman films in the background.

With three scholarships on the line, 20 students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications will compete in the Philip Perry Photojournalism Challenge, Feb. 23-24 and March 2.

Scholarships on the line, all for the 2024-25 academic year, are $7,000 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.

Beginning at noon Feb. 23, participants will have 24 hours to shoot and edit a photojournalism essay inspired by the theme “402 Through the Lens.” At 10 a.m. March 2, a team of five professional photographers will begin reviewing essays. Five finalists will be announced at 2 p.m. The finalists will then have three hours to prepare for final presentations at 5 p.m. in Andersen Hall, Room 15.

Judges for the 2024 Perry Photojournalism Challenge are:

  • Mike Davis , visual storytelling consultant, editor, educator and author, Minneapolis
  • Frank Franklin II , staff photographer, The Associated Press, New York
  • Victoria Petersen , freelance wedding and lifestyle photographer, Lincoln
  • Allen Schaben , staff photographer, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles
  • Alyssa Schukar , freelance photojournalist, Washington, D.C.

Judges will evaluate each essay based on subject matter, impact, creativity, composition, technical quality and storytelling.

The Perry Photojournalism Challenge, established in 2019, offers aspiring undergraduate students in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications the opportunity to showcase their storytelling prowess through captivating photo essays. The challenge is supported by Husker alumnus and friend of the college Philip Perry.

“We are grateful for Phil Perry’s continued support of the Perry Photojournalism Challenge,” said Shari Veil, Jane T. Olson Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “We’re eager to see the remarkable stories our Huskers will capture. Their talent, combined with Phil’s generosity, promises an inspiring showcase of storytelling excellence.”

Following is a list of this year’s participants, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school and academic major(s).

  • Doniphan: Camdyn Beirow, sophomore, sports media and communication
  • Grand Island: Abigail Trausch, freshman, advertising and public relations
  • Kearney: Elizabeth Young, senior, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting
  • Lincoln: Joel Bierbower, junior, broadcasting; Alexa Brown, sophomore, advertising and public relations; Leah Bryan, junior, journalism; Emma DeShon, freshman, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Yoselin Ortiz, sophomore, advertising and public relations; Emily Robinson, junior, advertising and public relations, and sports media and communication; Chris Sullivan-Diaz, sophomore, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Nhi Truong, sophomore, advertising and public relations; Mitchell West, sophomore, advertising and public relations
  • Omaha: Naomi Delkamiller, senior, advertising and public relations, and journalism; Lydia Hernandez, junior, advertising and public relations, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Jamie Reiff, junior, journalism
  • Wood River: Roxana Rodriguez, junior, advertising and public relations

Elsewhere in the U.S.

  • Rancho Murieta, California: Olivia Reed, junior, broadcasting
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa: Jazlynn Sanders, junior, advertising and public relations, and sports media and communication
  • Des Moines, Iowa: Marissa Lindemann, senior, broadcasting
  • Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Alexis Brady, junior, advertising and public relations

Learn more about the Philip Perry Photojournalism Challenge.

News Release Contacts

Related links.

  • Philip Perry Photojournalism Challenge
  • Journalism and Mass Communications at Nebraska
  • Journalism and Mass Communications

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Shoun Hill, standing, talks to students Hayden Rooney and Merideth Gamet, seated at a table, while a cameraman films in the background.

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2024 DAR Good Citizen Awards and Scholarships announced

The Esther McCrory Chapter, Amarillo, Texas, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently honored 14 area high school seniors as DAR Good Citizens.

DAR Good Citizens Awards are given to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The first award was given in 1934, continues now for the 90th year both nationally and locally. This award recognizes and rewards high school seniors who possess good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. These students are selected because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree and are named DAR Good Citizens. Each Good Citizen receives a certificate, pin, poster explaining the significance of the pin, small American flag, copy of the US Flag Code booklet, and a red, white, and blue honor cord which can be worn with the graduation cap and gown.

The newly named Good Citizens may choose to enter the scholarship contest by submitting a personal statement of their activities and accomplishments in high school, participation, and interest in their community, and writing a timed essay, all of which are scored by a panel of non-DAR judges. The 2023-24 essay title was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It” with a focus question: “What are the civic responsibilities of a good citizen and why are these duties, activities and behaviors important to the shaping of the America you hope to experience?” Three Good Citizens were awarded scholarships from the Esther McCrory Chapter of NSDAR. San Jacinto Christian Academy’s Good Citizen Catherine Cockrell received the first-place scholarship in the amount of $300. Ascension Academy’s Good Citizen Gregory Parker received the second-place scholarship in the amount of $225. Highland Park High School’s Good Citizen Annabelle McCormick received the third-place scholarship in the amount of $200.

2024 DAR Good Citizens

  • Ascension Academy: Gregory Joseph Parker, 2nd place scholarship, $225
  • Boys Ranch High School: Kaden Zane Norris
  • Bushland High School: Ty Keith Morris
  • Canyon High School: James Duncan Culbert
  • Caprock High School: Adrian Michael Morales
  • Claude High School: Hunter Reed Lovell
  • Highland Park High School: Annabelle Riata McCormick, 3rd place scholarship, $200
  • Holy Cross Catholic Academy: Rachel Lynn Lane
  • Palo Duro High School: Habibo Ibrahim Abdi
  • Randall High School: Molly Margaret Riesenberg
  • San Jacinto Christian Academy: Catherine Grace Cockrell, 1st place scholarship, $300
  • Tascosa High School: David Roderick Green
  • Vega High School: Lynlee Hope Spinhirne
  • West Plains High School: Natalie Lynn Watson

Esther McCrory Chapter Regent is Ann Schoen. Jeanne Ann Gibson serves as Vice Regent and Good Citizens Award Chair. The Chapter was founded on April 11, 1911, in Amarillo.

The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. Any woman 18 years or older - regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background - who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.

For more information on becoming a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, contact Chapter Regent Schoen at 806-383-3998 or email [email protected].

Arizona Republic

Vote for AZCentral's Student of the Week for Feb. 26-March 1, 2024

S tudent of the Week offers schools the chance to celebrate teens who have placed in an art, dance or music competition, excelled in a science fair, won an essay contest, received a scholarship, were recognized for their volunteer service or have shined in some other way.

All high schools in Arizona are invited to nominate students to be included in an online poll where azcentral.com readers vote to choose the Student of the Week.

How to nominate: Do you know a teen worth celebrating? Nominate them for Arizona Student of the Week

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Student of the Week voting is open from 6 a.m. Monday through noon Thursday. Each week's winner is announced online on Friday at 6 a.m.

Meet this week's nominees!

Jillian Bleak, senior, Mountain View High School

At Hacktivate Mesa, a two-day competition in which 150 high school students from across the city collaborated to examine data and present a solution to a citywide concern, Jillian Bleak analyzed local 911 calls to determine where Mesa should prioritize distributing Naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths. She subsequently plotted the data on a heat map. Jillian and her team were presented with a Challenge Coin for Excellence in Public Safety by the Mesa Police Department, a testament to Jillian’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the most vulnerable populations in Mesa.

The nomination was submitted by Rachel Thune Real, English teacher at Mountain View High School.

Brueklyn Curley, senior, Maryvale High School

Brueklyn Curley won the statewide “Honoring America’s Veterans” essay contest for 12th grade. Her essay can be read online at https://honoringamericasveterans.org . Brueklyn works very hard in and out of the classroom. She completed her fashion design and merchandising course through the career and technical education program at Maryvale High School, and she plans to attend college and pursue a career in fashion design.

The nomination was submitted by Michelle Wagner, creative writing teacher at Maryvale High School.

Jackson Huish, freshman, BASIS Mesa

Jackson Huish is a founding member and vice president of the award-winning youth-led nonprofit Brothers and Sisters Serving Others. The group has helped hundreds of struggling families in the Valley through fundraising events and service initiatives. He dedicates so much time to Valley families that he sometimes has to leave school early to help run events. In 2023, he won third place in state for the Arizona Council on Economic Education's Economics Critical Thinking Competition. He founded his school's first 3D-printing club, where he teaches students how to design their personalized creations. He transports his 3D printers and filament for students to use.

Nomination submitted by Lily Treptow, math and Mandarin teacher at BASIS Mesa.

For more information on Student of the Week, email  [email protected] .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote for AZCentral's Student of the Week for Feb. 26-March 1, 2024

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Chidi Onwuanibe 'carrying on a torch' by winning WJZ's Black History Oratory Competition 2024

By Miana Massey

Updated on: February 27, 2024 / 6:21 PM EST / CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE - The winners of our annual Black History Month Oratory Competition were announced as part of our Black History Oratory Competition special.

McDonogh freshman Chidi Onwuanibe took home the top prize.

He spoke with WJZ about the thought process behind his award-winning essay and his bright future ahead.

Students were given the chance to write an essay about quotes from three historical and prominent Black figures.

Onwuanibe's essay stood out among the rest.

"I am the grandson of a Civil War serviceman, the benefactor of generations that challenged social norms to earn an education and the witness to a judicial system that never even tried to protect my community's civil rights," Onwuanibe said.

Onwuanibe, a 15-year-old first-generation Nigerian American, was chosen out of dozens of students from across the state to win this year's WJZ Black History Oratory Competition.

"I feel that I am carrying on a torch," Onwuanibe said. "Black History Month to me is remembering what the people before you have done."

Onwuanibe continued the legacy of prominent Black figures like Thurgood Marshall, Oprah Winfrey and Fredrick Douglass by selecting a quote of his to frame an award-winning essay.  

Onwuanibe was notified of the honor by none other than his mother. 

  "She comes up to me and says, 'You won,'" Onwuanibe said. "I was nervous at first, it was so shocking." 

Onwuanibe's essay was not so shocking to his teachers at McDonogh School 

"I could not be more delighted at Chidi's success because he is someone you remember because he's so warm and friendly and a wonderful human being," eighth-grade advisor Susan Scherz said. 

Scherz describes Onwuanibe as an intellectual who is always asking questions and thinking outside of the box.  

"He's a student who marches to his own drum," Scherz said. "He's one of those personalities who walks into a room and you know it, and people are calling out Chidi." 

Onwuanibe is now $3,500 in scholarships closer to his dreams of attending the Naval Academy where he plans to study computer science. 

"It makes me feel like I've reached out to people and impacted them with my speech," Onwuanibe said. "I feel a sense of responsibility." 

His responsibility was to uplift the community by using the power of knowledge as opportunity arises.  

"The wisdom of Frederick Douglass "is that there are many boxes for fighting for opportunity. The knowledge box allows you to fight and take advantage of that opportunity.'"

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Redefining Russian elections: insights from Moscow's 2023 mayoral race

Olga Vlasova delves into Moscow's recent unconventional mayoral elections. She finds the campaigns were completely lacking in public debate, and that the result was a foregone conclusion. A stark departure from tradition, these elections may well have set the tone for next year's presidential race

The 2024 Russian presidential elections have attracted significant attention, particularly in light of the Ukraine conflict . Vladimir Putin hopes to secure re-election with over 90% of the votes, as his press secretary Dmitry Peskov recently confirmed .

Peskov has also labelled democratic processes themselves a ' costly bureaucracy ', hinting that Russia may choose to jettison such processes altogether. The Moscow mayoral elections from 8–10 September proved a test of this novel election strategy.

Putin's press secretary has dismissed conventional democratic processes as 'costly bureaucracy', suggesting the Kremlin may abandon them entirely

Steering clear of politics

Moscow's 2023 mayoral campaign stands out as one of the most lacklustre and uneventful electoral endeavours in recent Russian history. Lacking in substance and in competition, the campaign was far from traditional.

Even prior to the campaign, Speaker of the Moscow City Parliament Alexey Shaposhnikov publicly acknowledged that, given the absence of viable challengers to incumbent Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, the elections would be far from competitive.

Sobyanin's nominal competitors included Dmitry Gusev from Just Russia, Vladislav Davankov representing New People, Leonid Zyuganov of the Communist Party, and LDPR's Boris Chernyshov. However, none of these candidates actively pursued the mayoral position – and this strengthened yet further Sobyanin's belief in his inevitable victory.

His confidence translated into a campaign strategy that – bizarrely – steered clear of any actual politics.

Sobyanin's personal blogsite, his primary online platform, features only three posts related to the 2023 elections. These covered his nomination, an appeal for the use of e-voting, and an expression of gratitude to Moscow's citizens for their support:

scholarship essay competitions 2023

11 September 2023

Thank you, Muscovites. Victory will be ours .

Preliminary voting results for the Moscow mayoral elections have been announced. Thank you, my dear ones, for your support.

Throughout the 2023 campaign, Mayor Sobyanin's website and Telegram channel focused primarily on updates about the city authorities' ongoing work. There was little in the way of electoral or promotional activity.

Sobyanin's 2018 mayoral campaign, in stark contrast, featured a wide range of political and promotional content, meticulously documented on his campaign website .

A campaign of silence?

Nor were there any pre-election videos television or online audiences featuring the incumbent Mayor.

Sergey Sobyanin and his principal challenger Leonid Zyuganov were notably absent from pre-election debates. While other mayoral contenders did initially attend, participation dwindled. By the end of August, only one LDPR representative remained .

My survey of Moscow billboards during July and August 2023 revealed only 20 posters promoting the incumbent mayor as a candidate. This stands in stark contrast with the 2018 campaign, during which the number of billboards exceeded 1,000.

My 2023 survey found only 20 billboards promoting the incumbent candidate. In 2018, by contrast, the number exceeded 1,000

Among the registered mayoral candidates, only Leonid Zyuganov and Vladislav Davankov shared details of their personal meetings with prospective voters. In contrast, other contenders, including the incumbent Sobyanin, made no mention of face-to-face meetings.

The Kremlin banned mass events such as pickets and rallies, which had been common in prior election campaigns. It cited the ongoing Covid-19 threat as reason for these restrictions, despite the World Health Organization having declared the pandemic's end on 5 May.

Sobyanin’s campaign

In the absence of traditional components of a public election campaign, Sergey Sobyanin pursued an unconventional strategy. He urged Muscovites to base their votes on real accomplishments rather than on pre-election rhetoric and promises.

The 80-page document Moscow: Results and Development Plans Until 2030 served as Sobyanin's primary – indeed, almost exclusive – campaign material.

The election outcome

The election results were as follows: Dmitry Gusev 3.93% Vladislav Davankov 5.34% Leonid Zyuganov 8.11% Sergey Sobyanin 76.39% Boris Chernyshov 5.61%

Moscow City Electoral Commission, 10 September 2023

These results are noteworthy for several reasons. Sobyanin's unwavering confidence in his victory stemmed from the unique circumstances of the election process. The introduction of online voting exerted immense pressure on voters. Turnout at e-voting stations during working hours was remarkably high, suggesting that coercion was involved.

Turnout at e-voting stations during working hours was remarkably high, suggesting that coercion was involved

Moreover, people who turned up at polling stations to vote by ballot were then directed toward electronic voting kiosks. If the person still did not want to vote electronically, they were, with reluctance, given a paper ballot, produced from a secure location. Indeed, Moscow resident Alla Laitaruk was fined 500 rubles for refusing to vote electronically, and demanding a paper ballot.

Public sector workers reported many instances of coercion towards e-voting. These included alleged pressure on doctors at Moscow State Clinical Hospital No.67 and on employees of Gazprom Energy . As a result, over 80% of votes were cast using the e-voting system.

Remote electronic voting, 10 September 2023

Russian elections have long featured elements of falsification, and these elections were no different. Restrictions on the rights of observers and journalists , however, rendered any fraudulent activity challenging to detect. Observers documented instances of ballot-stuffing in the Sokolinaya Gora area at polling station №1246 . And polling stations №268 and №2972 failed to seal the ballot boxes. This risked the insertion or removal of ballot papers; a significant violation of electoral protocol.

Harbinger of Putin's 2024 campaign?

Numerous signs already indicate that President Putin's campaign may unfold along the same lines as the Moscow mayoral elections.

Peskov has already claimed that if Putin runs for office, no one will be able to compete with him. The Kremlin appears resolute in maintaining bans on pickets and on in-person meetings with voters. As in the Moscow mayoral race, debates will be scheduled at the most inconvenient times, making it unappealing even for nominal candidates to participate. Almost all key regions will use the e-voting system, which is not subject to external moderation. Finally, a proposed law restricting campaign material distribution hints at the end of traditional newspapers, brochures, and leaflets.

All this suggests that public politics as we know it may soon be a thing of the past in Russia.

photograph of Olga Vlasova

Olga conducts research on Russian politics.

Her background is in practical politics and political science.

Olga's educational journey includes a PhD in political science from Lomonosov Moscow State University, with a focus on the comparative analysis of educational policies in contemporary European states.

She also holds dual Bachelor's and Master's degrees in political sciences and high school teaching.

As a visiting scholar at King’s College London, Olga conducts research into the 'politics of fear and calming' in Russia.

Since January 2016, she has been an Assistant Professor at the State Academic University for the Humanities in Moscow, where she has taught various disciplines, including regional politics and comparative politics.

Olga's contributions extend beyond academia to practical politics.

She has been Director of International Internship at the Higher School of Economics University and has held various management roles at the Moscow School of Management, SKOLKOVO.

Olga's dedication to democracy and public service is evident in her active involvement in Russian politics.

Olga currently serves as an advisor to the leader of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma and is a member of the Youth Public Chamber of Russia.

She has also been a candidate in parliamentary elections, an authorised representative in presidential elections, and has played a significant role in YABLOKO party campaigns.

Throughout her career, Olga has received prestigious awards, including the Scholarship of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Scholarship of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation.

Olga's research primarily focuses on propaganda and media, societal support for violence, digital authoritarianism, educational policies, and political education in contemporary European states.

Currently, Olga continues her work on the complex tactics employed by the Russian government to manipulate public sentiment in connection with Russia's war in Ukraine.

This project focuses on contemporary 'politics of pacification' strategies employed by the Russian government since the start of the war.

It aims to determine the effectiveness of these pacification efforts and their implications for contemporary governance during crises.

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by Olga Vlasova, The Loop October 9, 2023

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    The First Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition was held in Nashville, Tennessee, from 14 to… Mozart Concerto for Two pianos and Orchestra No 10 K 365 / 316a | Elisey Mysin & Cao Chenxi | Zhuhai, 2023, 2023.09.10

  28. Russian elections: insights from Moscow's 2023 mayoral campaign

    Lacking in substance and in competition, the campaign was far from traditional. ... My 2023 survey found only 20 billboards promoting the incumbent candidate. In 2018, by contrast, the number exceeded 1,000 ... including the Scholarship of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Scholarship of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation. Olga's ...