Young Writers Awards
Young Writers Awards Contest
Overview of Young Writers Awards Contest
Bennington College's Young Writers Awards promotes outstanding writing achievement at the high school level. High school students worldwide are invited to submit poetry, a short story, or an essay. Winners receive cash prizes and scholarships to Bennington College.
📍Location
Online
📅 Application deadlines
- Nov 1
Winners are published in the spring.
💸 Costs & Aid
- Free
- There is no entry fee for the contest.
- First-place winners in each category are awarded $1,000; second-place winners receive $500; and third-place winners receive $250. Young Writers Award (YWA) winners who apply, are admitted, and enroll at Bennington will receive a $15,000 scholarship every year for four years, a total of $60,000. YWA finalists who apply, are admitted, and enroll at Bennington will receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, a total of $40,000.
Eligibility Requirements
📋 General Requirements
All entries must be original work and will be checked for plagiarism. All submissions must be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher. For homeschooled students, a mentor can sponsor their writing. Submissions must be in English. Word counts are strict: 1,500 words or fewer for fiction/nonfiction, including all text.
📚 Grade Requirements
Students in the 9th–12th grades. Gap year students are not eligible.