middle school essay contests

Gain insights on the John Locke Essay Competition. Learn expert tips for crafting standout essays in philosophy, politics, and history.

2021 Middle School Essay Contest Winners

Write from the Heart Essay Contest Winners!

Middle school winners.

We are so excited to announce the middle school winners of our 3rd annual essay contest.

Students in our annual classes submitted an essay of their choice, and one winner was chosen in each grade.  Today, we are pleased to share the winning essays from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade!

6th Grade Winner

Robby t., pennsylvania composition 101b.

A Wave’s Potential

My beach vacation begins with the water lapping at my sides. I jump and dive until the waves go still. I am at a wave jumper’s picture-perfect spot. I float at the point where the waves are high but don’t crash on top of me, so I can have a successful wave jumping experience. I jump but in vain; a humongous wave breaks on top of my head. The saltwater tastes like I’m biting into a lemon. When I finally find my footing and stand, spitting water and rubbing my eyes, I see another wave just like the last one. I also see hundreds of tiny, brown birds diving into the water in search of fish. Seconds later, I dive under and feel something small and slimy on my hand. Eventually, I will realize it was a baby jellyfish. When the crashing waves die down, I notice different sounds like squawks in the distance. But loudest of all is my seven-year-old sister screaming, “It’s gonna blow!” whenever a large wave approaches. The sights, sounds, and sensations of wave jumping are thrilling every time.

7th Grade Winner

Jocelyn c., texas composition 103.

For 2 years, my family (my parents, brother, 2 sisters, and I) lived in an RV, and it was fun, but also emotionally difficult. We wanted to improve our family’s physical and emotional health while also going for the adventure. So when I was nine years old, we decided to painfully get rid of most of our things to move into the RV. This was a big risk because my parents didn’t have remote jobs, yet they chose to RV anyway.

During our trip, we discovered National Parks. We developed a love for nature and began to hike every weekend, homeschooling on the weekdays. We hiked in the lush Shenandoah, looked for alligators in the swampy Everglades, waded in glacial lakes in the magnificent Grand Tetons, and watched Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone.

Even so, our family still had our problems. Adding to that, the RV, only a thirty-foot long trailer, was so small that no one had their own space. It caused irritation. We constantly bickered and yelled. There were six people in this family all with our own personalities. All of us were strong-willed and stubborn in our own way. For example, my brother and I could easily get into huge fights and neither of us ever wanted to give in:

Me: “Why did you say that?! You’re mean.”

Him: “I didn’t say anything. You’re mean.”

Me: “You did! You’re mean!”

Him: “No, you are!”

Me: “YOU ARE!”

Him: “NO, YOU ARE!!”

On and on we went. It‘s easy to see where this was going. (Hint: nowhere.)

If we kept at this, it wouldn’t help our family’s emotional health. It got so bad that our whole family spent late nights talking about it, wrestling with our explosive arguments and unhappiness. We used these talks to voice all of our frustration and anger. For the first time, we realized that we didn’t know how to express our voice, and we always suppressed it. Then it would build and build until it exploded at the slightest provocation. But because we lived in an RV, we could no longer run and hide from each other when we were upset, unlike before when we were in a bigger home.

We finally came up with a system. Every time there was an explosion, we worked it out, found out what had happened, and tried to make things right, even if it took hours. We tried to make it so that we were comfortable with sharing our feelings. Very gradually, we could be around each other without anger. We could express our emotions without fear.

            This RV trip means a lot to me. It helped me see who I was and what I could do. It showed us as a family what we could be. It entirely changed our lives. My dad liked it so much that he got a remote software job in order for us to go back into the RV again. And here we are, embarking on yet another RV journey.

Honorable Mention—Janelle M., Maryland “An Extraordinary Resort Spot” (Composition 101B)

8th Grade Winner

Julia r., pennsylvania composition 103.

Why Riding Isn’t So Easy

It was the second round of the competition. I tightened the reins, as I cantered towards the jump, counting my strides. ‘One, two, three…’ I realized I wasn’t going to make it in a full stride. I braced myself, pushing my feet down in the stirrups to improve my balance. As I thought, my horse couldn’t fit a whole stride in before the jump. My horse skidded to a halt and I almost fell off. Since my heels were down I was able to keep my balance, and I recovered quickly. Although riding may seem easy, there are many things to consider, including you and your horse’s movements.

If you don’t think about and control your horse’s movements, the horse will decide where to go, and you will have no control over the destination. Whenever you are riding a horse, you will need to control their movements. A bridle is a piece of leather that goes over the face of a horse. A metal strip called a bit goes in the horse’s mouth. Two long pieces of leather are attached to that bit. Although there are other ways to control your horse, using a bridle is the most common way. Other ways are pressure from your legs and verbal commands.

Along with controlling your horse, you need to control your movements. Keeping your heels down improves your balance. Holding your hands steady ensures that your horse’s gait, the way a horse moves, will be smooth. Also, not swinging your legs makes sure that you aren’t accidentally kicking your horse.

Horseback-riding is not an easy sport because there are many things to consider.  There are many things to think about and keep in mind. In my opinion, the goal of riding is to stay safe, enjoy your ride, and be effective in training your horse.

Honorable Mention—Kelsey G., Alaska “Harpsichord vs. Autotune” (Composition 102)

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A powerhouse of voices. A champion of different perspectives. A pipeline of talent.

A POWERHOUSE OF VOICES. A CHAMPION OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. A PIPELINE OF TALENT. This is Girls Write Now.

Connect with us, writing contests & publication opportunities for youth.

Girls Write Now is a dynamic, multi-generational community of writers on a mission. For more than 20 years, our nationally award-winning programs have provided creative, critical and digital writing training, college and career readiness, personalized mentoring and massive opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

Know about a great writing contest for teens or young adults? Feel free to reach out to Kenna McCafferty at [email protected] .

Girls Write Now Contests

FIRST CHAPTERS CONTEST A Writing Contest in Partnership with Penguin Random House and Electric Lit Girls Write Now is proud to team up with Penguin Random House and Electric Lit for  an exciting opportunity to be published on the Electric Lit website and win a cash prize of $500! The First Chapters contest is part of Penguin Random House’s and Electric Lit’s commitment to support Girls Write Now in amplifying diverse voices. To qualify your first Chapter MUST:

• Be 4500 words or fewer
• NOT have been previously published in any medium
• NOT have been recognized with any prior awards
• Be submitted as a Google Doc via the form below  before   11:50PM ET on May 9, 2024

SELECT YOUTH CONTESTS

The Alexandrian Review is an entirely student run international youth literary magazine and they are looking for submissions. To submit, applicants must be 10-20 years of age. The Alexandrian Review receives any submissions within their guidelines. While they do emphasize the theme of amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, they are happy to accept and provide feedback on any works. The submission window will be open from  April 7 – July 31.  Learn more about the submission requirements  here .

F(r)iction is seeking stories for its fall issue based around its mission to promote work that actively pushes the boundaries of traditional publishing, that has complex characters and a strong narrative arc, and makes us feel something as we read it. Their contests feature a panel of three guest judges to help us decide the winners for each category. For Spring 2024, Wole Talabi will judge Short Story, Sherrie Flick will judge Flash Fiction, C. S. E. Cooney will judge Poetry, and Marin Sardy will judge Creative Nonfiction. Winners in each category will receive a cash prize, as well as work with one of our Senior Editors to see their work published either online or in our print journal! Deadline to submit via Submittable is April 30, 2024 and results are announced September 9, 2024. Submission fees range from $10 – $15 dollars, and prizes range from $300 to $1,000.

Ebony LaDelle, author of Love Radio is editing an anthology of love stories set at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to be published by Ballantine Books. Contributors include Kiese Laymon, Elizabeth Acevedo, Farrah Rochon, Dawnie Walton, and more. Must be a current undergrad or graduate HBCU students for consideration.  If a story is selected, the writer will receive author credit as a contributor and a contributor fee.

Select Annual Contest Schedules

Bennington’s Young Writers Awards exists to promote excellence in writing at the high school level. Included genres are poetry, fiction and nonfiction. A first, second, and third place winner is selected in each category. The details below can be found on their Submittable page at https://www.bennington.edu/events/young-writers-awards .

Awards & Rules First-place winners in each category are awarded a prize of $1,000; second-place winners receive $500; third-place winners receive $250.

There is no entry fee.

All entries must be original work reviewed, approved and sponsored by a high school teacher. We will use your sponsoring teacher as a contact for the competition should we have any questions. For homeschooled students, please contact a mentor to sponsor your writing.

Young Writers Award finalists and winners are also eligible for undergraduate scholarships at Bennington. YWA finalists who apply, are admitted, and enroll at Bennington will receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $40,000. YWA winners who apply, are admitted, and enroll at Bennington will receive a $15,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $60,000.

Black Lawrence Press has annual awards and competitions for a variety of genres. The schedule below, as well as individual descriptions for each award, can be found on their Submittable page at https://blacklawrencepress.submittable.com/submit . The Big Moose Prize: Open December 1 – January 31 (Open competition, novels) The Hudson Prize: Open February 1 – March 31 (Open competition, poetry and short story collections) The Spring Black River Chapbook Competition : Open April 1 – May 31 (Open competition, poetry and prose chaps) Open Reading Period 1: Between June 1 – June 30 The St. Lawrence Book Award: Open July 1- August 31 (First book competition, poetry and short story collections) The Fall Black River Chapbook Competition: Open September 1 – October 31 (Open competition, poetry and prose chaps) Open Reading Period 2: Between November 1 – November 30 (Please note that Black Lawrence Press occasionally offers early bird specials on their contests. These specials allow authors to submit their manuscripts ahead of time at a discounted rate.)

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest –  Tell Your Climate Story  – encourages you to become a climate witness and share your own unique climate story. We are asking you to creatively express your personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about our changing climate reality. Use this opportunity to learn about the climate crisis and how it impacts your family and community, and to examine your individual responses to our evolving world. Learn more at  http://www.bowseat.org/contest .

This Goi Peace Foundation essay contest aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world. This year’s theme challenges writers to explore their values, and how those values shape their lives. Three winners will be selected, with cash prizes of up to $840. To learn more, visit https://www.goipeace.or.jp/en/work/essay-contest/ .

The American Writers Museum, John Estey Student Writing Competition, has opened its 4th annual student writing competition. To learn more, visit American Writers Museum

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING WRITERS

THE ADROIT JOURNAL  is run by high school students, college students, and emerging writers. Adroit publishes within “over 21” and “under 21” categories, so your writing will appear alongside great work by writers of any age. Adroit publishes fiction and poetry, and includes art and photography. They will reopen our submission reading period in January 2021. Find them online at:  http://www.theadroitjournal.org/

AFFINITY MAGAZINE works to spotlight teen voices about current events. We find that the media sometimes forgets the voices of teens on many topics! So we are here to give them a voice. Affinity Magazine allows you to get your writing published and read by thousands of people! You can get your work published and sharpen up on your writing so you can write for The New York Times one day (hopefully!!). For ages 13-20. Visit http://affinitymagazine.us/write-for-us/ for more information on all the different

AGNI  is Boston University’s well-respected journal. It appears in both print and online. AGNI submissions are not limited to high school writers, but the journal is known to accept and publish lots of work by new writers. Get published in high school at AGNI and you’ve taken an important step to becoming a writer in the real world! Find them online at:  http://www.bu.edu/agni/submit.htm

THE ALCOTT YOUTH MAGAZINE is a magazine devoted to sharing the written perspectives of young people. The magazine publishes work on a variety of topics, including current events, young adult life, and women’s rights issues. Published works are primarily focused on young women from ages thirteen to twenty-two. However, anyone who is interested in sharing their voice is encouraged to submit to the magazine, regardless of age or gender. The Alcott Youth Magazine is open to publishing articles, essays, short stories, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, or any other works. Visit https://www.alcottmagazine.com/submit

THE AUDACITY is Roxanne Gay’s bi-monthly newsletter where she features emerging writers with fewer than three article/essay/short story publications and no published books or book contracts. The Audacity features only non-fiction and is particularly interested in literary essays and memoir. All essays are paid a flat fee of $2,000. For more information, visit https://gay.submittable.com/submit

BLUE MARBLE publishes four times a year and accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, essays, opinion pieces, travel writing, photography and art on a rolling basis. Blue Marble looks for new work from writers ages 13-21 that hasn’t been published anywhere else either online or in print. For more details on how to submit your work, visit https://bluemarblereview.com/submit/ .

DIALOGUE HUMANITIES is an online, biannual journal that publishes high quality, humanities-focused essays written by middle and high school students. Essays will be reviewed by a panel of experts in various humanities-based fields and will be chosen based on the strength of the writing, the author’s familiarity with his or her chosen topic, and the appropriateness of the essay’s content. Dialogue Humanities Review aims to include academic essays from a wide variety of fields, including but not limited to: African-American Studies; American Studies; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art Criticism, History, and Theory; Classics; Ethics; Ethnic Studies; Folklore; Geography; History; History and Ethics of Science; International Studies; Jurisprudence; Languages and Linguistics; Literature; Music History and Criticism; Philosophy; Political Science; Psychology; Religion and Comparative Religion; Sociology; Social Sciences; Theatre History and Criticism; and Women’s Studies. If selected, authors will be asked to revise their essays to ready it for publication. Please visit http://dialoguehumanitiesreview.org/about/ or contact Jessica Rafferty at [email protected] for more information.

ÉLAN LITERARY MAGAZINE accepts original fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, plays, and all kinds of art from students ages 14-18 in locations internationally. Élan produces two online editions a year, one in the Fall/Winter and another in the Spring/Summer. The two editions are combined into a single Print Edition each Summer. For more information on how to submit, visit: https://www.elanlitmag.com/submit .

EMBER only publishes twice a year, but this beautiful and dreamy journal of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction appeals to all age groups. Although it doesn’t exclusively publish young writers, submissions from writers and artists ages 10 to 18 are strongly encouraged. Submissions open March 1, 2023 . For more details, visit them online at:  http://emberjournal.org/ .

ENOUGH PLAYS is taking submissions from teen writers (ages 13-19) of 10-MIN PLAYS confronting the issue of gun violence. Six plays will be selected by a panel of astonishing writers to be published and performed nationwide and the writers will receive $500. Deadline for submissions is April 20, 2023 . Visit them online: https://www.enoughplays.com/amplify

GIRLS RIGHT THE WORLD  is a literary journal inviting young, female-identified writers and artists, ages 14–21, to submit work for consideration for the fourth annual issue. They believe girls’ voices transform the world for the better. We accept poetry, prose, and visual art of any style or theme. Girls Right The World ask to be the first to publish your work in North America; after publication, the rights return to you. Please include a note mentioning your age, where you’re from, and a bit about your submission. Send your best work, in English or English translation, to [email protected] between September 1 and December 31. 

HANGING LOOSE PRESS has had a section of high school writing in their issues since 1968. Hanging Loose has long been known for its special interest in new writers. This press reads manuscripts throughout the year, accepting poetry and prose. For more details on the submission process, visit https://www.hangingloosepress.com/submissions/ .

HELLOGIGGLES a positive online community for female-identifying readers (although others are always welcome!) covering the latest in beauty and style, relationships, career and money, culture, identity, and more. Featuring a mix of news, personal essays, reported features, and service, we’re committed to providing our readers with smart, thoughtful, and relatable content representing a range of voices. We were founded by Zooey Deschanel, Molly McAleer, and Sophia Rossi in 2011 as a place on the Internet to inspire a smile, and years later, we’re still doing just that. Tor ages 14 and up.

HOT DISH MAGAZINE , an online journal serving up a bubbling mixture of poetry and fiction by teens (grades 9–12), wants your voice to be heard! We award cash prizes for fiction, poetry, and the Hot Dish Challenge. Our submission period is October-January. Visit us at  www.hotdishmagazine.com .  The GOAT ( the-goat.org ) publishes student writing on everything sports related and is looking for new submissions. Students can email their writing pieces to me. No work is rejected, and editors provide any mentoring and editing necessary. Students will see their work online within weeks and can include the link on their college or summer school applications.

ICE LOLLY REVIEW:  Ice Lolly Review accepts a variety of pieces including, creative nonfiction, fiction, haikus, poems, plays, spoken word, and etc. They are looking for pieces that have a strong, solid voice and aren’t afraid of delving into deep topics. For more details, go to  https://www.icelollyreview.com/submissions .

jGIRLS   MAGAZINE:   jGirls Magazine accepts submissions on an ongoing basis from self-identifying Jewish teenage girls and gender-expansive youth ages 13-19. You can submit articles, essays, fiction, poetry, cultural reviews, humor, photographs, music, videos, artwork and other creative materials. You can submit as often as you’d like. For more details, visit  https://jgirlsmagazine.org/submission-guidelines/ .

KIDSPIRIT is a nonprofit online magazine and community by and for youth to engage each other about life’s big questions in an open and inclusive spirit. Its mission is to promote mutual understanding among 11- to 17-year-olds of diverse backgrounds and support their development into world citizens with strong inner grounding. KidSpirit is in syndication on the Huffington Post and Spirituality & Practice and has won numerous awards from major educational, parenting, and spiritual organizations. Visit the Get Involved section to learn more about publishing your work, becoming an editor, or facilitating a conversation about one of the 50 themes KidSpirit contributors have explored: https://kidspiritonline.com/get-involved/

THE LUMIERE REVIEW is a literary magazine dedicated to shining the light on all voices through poetry, prose, and art. General submissions are now open. Submissions to the forthcoming Issue 08 of The Lumiere Review in poetry, prose (creative fiction and non-fiction), and all forms of art can be sent to [email protected] . Details on how to submit and format your work can be found at: https://lumierereview.com/submit .

NARRATIVE MAGAZINE A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction. A second-place prize of $1,000 is also awarded. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 15,000 words of prose with a $27 entry fee by March 28. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines. Deadline, March 28, 2024 at midnight PST.

POLYPHONY LIT:  invites submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from high school students worldwide. Student editors provide feedback to all submissions, including the ones not accepted for publication. Submissions are open from February 1-28, 2022 and June 1-30, 2022. More details can be found at  https://www.polyphonylit.org/.

TEEN INK is one of the most popular and diverse writing spaces to get published in high school. The broad categories for publication reflect the diversity of writing that this lively online magazine celebrates. Some publication categories include: community service, travel and culture, the environment, health, reviews of TV shows and video games, and college essays, among the more traditional poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Visit online at:  http://www.teenink.com

THE TRAILBLAZER LITERARY MAGAZINE is an international high school publication dedicated to push for cultural diversity through creative writing. For general submissions, the magazine accepts fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction all year, from middle and high school students between 14 and 18 years old. In addition, they host the Cultural Heritage Writing Contest, which welcomes submissions about the young creatives’ cultural background, ancestry, values, customs, etc. Visit online at: https://www.thetrailblazerreview.com/ TRAVELNITCH was founded in 2018 to encourage a love of travel and make it more accessible to all families. Travelnitch believes travel has the power to changes lives, open minds, and build stronger communities. They love to feature new & aspiring travel writers who can delight and entertain readers. They currently need support developing family-centric travel content to engage kids (and sometimes parents) in fun and innovative ways.  If you are a writer who loves to travel, this could be the perfect fit for you—turn your own passion into an inspiring story for our readers! https://travelnitch.org/writers/storyteller-spotlight/

TYRIAN INK is an independent LGBTQIA+ press that is dedicated to uplifting youth voices. TYRIAN INK is currently open to chapbook manuscripts of any genre (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid, etc) with a minimum of 30 pages and a maximum of 50 pages in length. Please only submit if you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community and are 22 or below. Writers will be paid $250 for their manuscripts and receive a percent of royalties for every chapbook sold. https://tyrianinkpress.com/home/submission-guidelines/

Auroras & Blossoms’ third annual PoArtMo Anthology , gives a voice to people whose stories and/or art seek to nurture hope and optimism. Writers of poetry, short stories, flash fiction, essays, and six-word stories are all encouraged to send in their work! To read more about The PoArtMo Anthology, visit the Auroras and Blossoms Anthology guidelines page at https://abpositiveart.com/youth .

WRITING RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIPS

Hedgebrook’s mission is to support visionary women-identified writers,18 and older, whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. Writers must be women, which is inclusive of transgender women and female-identified individuals.

Hedgebrook’s Writer-in-Residence Program supports writers from all over the world for fully-funded residencies of two to four weeks (travel is not included and is the responsibility of the writer to arrange and pay for). Up to 6 writers can be in residence at a time, each housed in their own handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, “The Gathering” is a social time for residents to connect and share over their freshly prepared meals.

Writers can apply here for a residency in Fiction, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Screenwriting/TV Writing, or Songwriting. Read more and apply at https://www.hedgebrook.org/writers-in-residence.

MacDowell’s mission is to nurture the arts by offering creative individuals an inspiring environment in which they can produce enduring works of the imagination. We encourage applications from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives and demographics, and who are investigating an unlimited array of inquiries and concerns.

MacDowell  is currently accepting applications for the Spring Summer 2023 residency season (March – August 2023). Learn more at https://macdowell.slideroom.com/#/Login.

The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is a $8,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Indian Nations located therein. This grant is awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period (five categories a year) and the application is free to complete. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is not a project grant, but is intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, at all levels of their artistic development.

Learn more at https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/artist-fellowships/ .

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The yes national student writing competition.

The YES! National Student Writing Contest is an opportunity for middle school through university students to write for a real audience—not just you, the teacher—and the chance to be published by an award-winning magazine. Students read and write an essay on a selected YES! Magazine article and winning essays in each category are published on the YES! Magazine website and in our online education newsletter.

Unfortunately, we will not be hosting the YES! National Student Writing Contest in the fall of 2020.  Explore our Student Writing Lessons for writing prompts and example essays from past contests that you can use in the classroom.

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Spring 2020 Student Writing Contest: Your Wildest Dreams for 2020

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Best Essay Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 54 contests that match your search.

Indignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition

Indignor House Publishing

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

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.

Additional prizes:

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

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.

📅 Deadline: May 02, 2024 (Expired)

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

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

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

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

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The Fountain Essay Contest

Fountain Magazine

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

“Home” holds a special place in our lives. Our earliest memories form inside its walls; we utter our first words and take our first steps there. Does everyone feel the same about home? Is it where you were born or where you earn your bread? Is home a physical place? In a world that moves faster than ever and is confined to small screens, how do perceptions about "home" change? Where is home for people who are forced to leave their homes? Where is your home?

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024

Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

Lazuli Literary Group

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

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 (Expired)

Climate Change Writing Competition

Write the World

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

This month, dear writers, ahead of COP27, help us raise the voices of young people in this urgent fight. In a piece of personal narrative, tell the world’s leaders gathering in how climate change impacts you. How has this crisis changed your environment, your community, your sense of the future? Storytelling, after all, plays a critical role in helping us grasp the emergency through which we are all living, igniting empathy in readers and listeners—itself a precursor to action.

Runner-up: $50

📅 Deadline: October 18, 2022 (Expired)

Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024

Anthology Magazine

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel

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.

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

Military Anthology: Partnerships, the Untold Story

Armed Services Arts Partnership

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

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)

WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

WOW! Women On Writing

Genres: Non-fiction and Essay

Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (1000 words or less) and in any style--from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more! The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards

💰 Entry fee: $12

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction

The Letter Review

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Crime, Humor, and Science Writing

2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking Nonfiction 0-5000 words. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart.

Publication by The Letter Review

💰 Entry fee: $2

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)

National Essay Contest

U.S. Institute of Peace

Genres: Essay

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

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

Journalism Competition 2024

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

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.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (Expired)

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Ayn Rand Institute

Atlas Shrugged is a mystery story, not about the murder of a man’s body, but about the murder—and rebirth—of man’s spirit. We seek exceptional essays of up to 1600 words that analyze its themes and ideas. High school to graduate students worldwide are invited to participate.

📅 Deadline: June 14, 2024

Artificial Intelligence Competition

New Beginnings

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story

There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)

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 (Expired)

Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest

Unleash Press

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

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

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024

International Essay Competition 2023/24

Avernus Education

Welcome to our prestigious International Essay Competition. At Avernus Education, we are thrilled to provide a platform for young minds to showcase their prowess in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Economics, Psychology, History and Politics. These varied subject categories underscore the importance of interdisciplinary study, a crucial foundation for future leaders in our increasingly interconnected world. Winners receive an exclusive Avernus Education Scholarship worth over £5000 - granting them free entrance to our exclusive summer camp at Oxford University! Outstanding Runners Up receive 5 hours worth of Credits for Avernus Education courses, conferences and tutoring services.

100% Scholarship Award to our Oxford University Summer Programme (worth £5995)

Partial scholarship

📅 Deadline: February 19, 2024 (Expired)

swamp pink Prizes

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

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)

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: April 17, 2024 (Expired)

Hispanic Culture Review Contest 2022-2023

Hispanic Culture Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Flash Fiction

As the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano once said, "the best that the world has is in the many worlds that the world contains." Therefore, this year we invite you to reflect on the following questions: How do you or your community celebrate these connections? How do you value those experiences with those people who leave a mark on your life? 1 work will be awarded in each category: 1) photography & visual arts, 2) poetry, and 3) narrative/essay/academic investigation.

$100 for photography, poetry, and essay winners

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: February 01, 2023 (Expired)

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 (Expired)

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

Literary and Photographic Contest 2023-2024

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry

As we move forward we carry our culture wherever we go. It keeps us alive. This is why we propose the theme to be “¡Hacia delante!”. A phrase that means to move forward. This year we ask that you think about the following questions: What keeps you moving forward? What do you carry with you going into the future? How do you celebrate your successes, your dreams, and your culture?

Publication in magazine

📅 Deadline: February 07, 2024 (Expired)

Berggruen Prize Essay Competition

Berggruen Institute

The Berggruen Prize Essay Competition, in the amount of $25,000 USD for the English and Chinese language category respectively, is given annually to stimulate new thinking and innovative concepts while embracing cross-cultural perspectives across fields, disciplines, and geographies. Inspired by the pivotal role essays have played in shaping thought and inquiry, we are inviting essays that follow in the tradition of renowned thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Michel de Montaigne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Publication in Noema Magazine

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.

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Jane Austen Society of North America

Genres: Children's and Essay

JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: high school, college, and graduate school.

$1,000 scholarship

Two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2022 (Expired)

Environmental Writing 2024

The writer and activist Bill McKibben describes Environmental Writing as "the collision between people and the rest of the world." This month, peer closely at that intersection: How do humans interact with their environment? Given your inheritance of this earth, the world needs your voices now more than ever.

📅 Deadline: April 22, 2024 (Expired)

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.

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Personal Essay Competition 2024

Genres: Essay and Memoir

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

African Diaspora Awards 2024

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

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

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

Gotham Writers Workshop

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

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

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

Killer Nashville

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

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.

💰 Entry fee: $79

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024

The Letter Review Prize for Books

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

The Letter Review Prize for Books is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Seeking most unpublished (we accept some self/indie published) novels, novellas, story collections, nonfiction, poetry etc. 20 entries are longlisted.

$1000 USD shared by 3 winners

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

Sunspot Literary Journal

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

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 (Expired)

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course: How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

How to Craft a Killer Short Story

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction

How to Write a Novel

Understanding Point of View

Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love

Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character

Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine

On Editing:

Story Editing for Authors

How to Self-Edit Like a Pro

Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites

How to Write a Short Story in 7 Steps

Reedsy's guide to novel writing

Literary Devices and Terms — 35+ Definitions With Examples

10 Essential Fiction Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft

How to Write Dialogue: 8 Simple Rules and Exercises

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

Bonus resources

200+ Short Story Ideas

600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You

100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors

Story Title Generator

Pen Name Generator

Character Name Generator

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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WHAT WILL YOU RUN FOR? STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

Grades 7-12.

2020 Contest Now Closed

With a chance to win prizes that will help them achieve the change they envision, the What Will You Run For? Student Essay Contest inspired students in grades 7–12 to take civics into the real world by researching and creating a plan to improve their own community.

Student Assignment & Rubric

Students will find a local issue or cause that they would like to address in their community. Then they will identify one of three roles—mayor, city council, or state legislature—they would run for to effect change. In a 2- to 3-page essay, students will tell us:

• What local cause or issue has inspired them to take action?
• Why is this local cause or issue important to them and/or their community?
• Once they win, what is a realistic goal of something they would like to achieve that will help address their cause or issue?
• Interacting with members of both local and state government and their community, how would they use their position to rally support and achieve their goal?
• to achieve that will help address their cause or issue?

Download entry form for more information.

Great Prizes!

Student grand prize.

• $1,000 Grant and Laptop

3 Winners—Grades 7–8

3 Winners—Grades 9–12

TEACHER GRAND PRIZE

• $500 Gift Card

High School Winners

(grades 9–12).

Tristen S. Montoursville, PA Recycling

Angela Z. Cypress, TX Human Trafficking

Jenna H. Wilmington, DE Public Health

Middle School Winners

(grades 7–8).

Eunia L. Little Neck, NY School Shooting Prevention

Zachary S. San Mateo, CA Affordable Housing

Liberty M. Austin, TX Education Reform

How to Enter

For all teachers & parents.

Enter online (click button below)

Entries must be submitted by March 29, 2020.

For High School Students

High school students can also submit entries on their own!

Simply go to: scholastic.com/CreateChange/9-12

Alternatively, students can also mail entries to the address at left.

Email us . --> Official Rules . Call us: 1-800-Scholastic (1-800-724-6527).

CONTEST RULES: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. All students who are residents of, and currently reside in, the U.S. and D.C., and who are currently enrolled in grades 7–12 are eligible to enter, except for those who have family members employed by Levi Strauss & Co., Generation Citizen, or Scholastic Inc. and other related companies (see the Official Rules for a complete listing). Entries accepted in English only. Entry period: 12:01 a.m. ET on 10/28/19 to 11:59 p.m. ET on 3/29/20. Visit scholastic.com /createchange/officialrules for complete Official Rules and restrictions. In the event of prize unavailability, a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded as determined by the sole discretion of Levi Strauss & Co. and Generation Citizen. No cash substitutions for prizes. Prizes are nontransferable. ARV of Prizes: Student Prize ($1,500); Teacher Prize ($500).

Explore more programs like this at scholastic.com/extracredit .

School of Education

Educators are liberators because knowledge is transformative.

Middle School Essay Contest

Education to change the world.

This essay contest is open to all middle school students in Riverside County School Districts. 

Essay Prompt

Share your thoughts about the ideas expressed in the quotes by Marian Wright Edelman and Marty Castro below.  Use your essay to demonstrate how you will use your education to change your community, society and/or world. What will be the indelible mark you leave behind?

In your essay, be sure to provide specific examples from your own life. Include insights, and personal reflections. Consider the impact of your actions, the value of learning through service, and the importance of fostering a sense of empathy, compassion, and responsibility towards others. Your essay should demonstrate critical thinking, empathy, and a genuine passion for community engagement and education.

“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”  -Marian Wright Edelman

 “When you give someone an education, it changes them irreversibly; it transforms their life and it changes their community forever.” -Marty Castro

Due Date: Friday, March 22, 2024. Minimum 250 words Maximum 350 words 12pt. Font

Finalists will be invited to participate in a zoom interview with the UCR team in early April.

All three winners and their families will be able to visit campus and have lunch with the UCR School of Education dean! First place winner will receive a $200 prize Second place winner will receive a $75 prize Third place winner will receive a $50 prize

Marian Wright Edelman is an American attorney and activist for civil rights and educational justice for all children. Edelman founded the Children’s Defense Fund, an organization that works to make sure that schools are equitable and that they have the resources they need to help all children succeed.

Incredible fact: Marian received the Presidential Medal Freedom Award in 2000. This is the highest civilian award in the United States!

You can read more about Marian Wright Edelman’s incredible contributions to education and her community here

Marty Castro is an American attorney from Chicago, Illinois. Castro is the co-founder of New Futuro, an organization that helps Hispanic/Latina/o families as they pursue college. In 2011, Presiden Barack Obama appointed Marty as the Chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Incredible fact: Marty Castro is the Chair of the Board for the National Museum of Mexican Art.

You can read more about Marty Castro’s incredible contributions to education and his community here

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• Writing Tips

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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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The American Legion Department of Virginia

Middle school essay contest.

Chairman:  John Schenk (327)

2023-2024 Middle School Essay Contest

“I LIKE LIVING IN AMERICA BECAUSE”

Open to all accredited Middle School Students at participating schools, Public, Private, or Parochial within the sponsoring jurisdiction of established American Legion Posts in the Department of Virginia.  Home schooled children are eligible to compete provided the Division Superintendent, his/her assistant or other designated person of the public school system certify on the attached Declaration Form, the students grade level and their adherences to contest rules.  It shall be the responsibility of the home schooler’s parents to contact the sponsoring American Legion Post and have above certifications completed.

• Each essay MUST start out with the phrase: “I like living in America because…”

Each essay is to be hand written on the front side of one 8 1/2” X 11” page of lined notebook paper. Typed or computer generated essays WILL BE considered for students with disabilities meeting the following requirements:

The digital essay must be under 160 words.

• The teacher of the student must certify that the essay received was the work of the student author.
• The essay is to be written by the competing Middle School Student at their desk in school (during structured class time if home schooled), not at home.
• Middle School – The competing schools Language Arts/English/Civics department will judge each entry on originality, sincerity and the student’s ability to convey thought. The Language Arts/English/Civics department may add such additional criteria as composition, spelling, and proper punctuation.  ONLY ONE essay should be forwarded to the sponsoring Post.
• Post Level – The winning essay from each Middle School will be mailed to the sponsoring American Legion Post contest Chairman (his/her name and address appear on the attached Declaration Form). It is suggested that each Post’s Executive Board/Committee or contest Chairman, with a committee of at least three judges, select the best essay.  ONLY ONE essay should be forwarded to the District.
• District Level – It is suggested that each District will convene a panel of at least three judges, chaired by their District’s Americanism or Essay Contest Chairman to select the best essay. ONLY ONE essay should be submitted per District.
• Department Level – the Department Americanism Chairman will convene a panel of judges consisting of members of the Americanism Committee and/or other professionals, who will make the final selections.
• Middle School/Home School – Each participating Middle School/Home School should mail their winning essay and declaration form to the Post Level Chairman whose name appears on the form no later than the last day of the Middle School’s classes prior to Christmas Vacation on December 21, 2023 .
• Posts – Each participating Post will judge and mail their winning essay to the District Americanism Chairman or Middle School Essay Contest Chairman to arrive prior to their District’s Spring Conference on February 11, 2024 .
• Districts – Each participating District will mail their winning essay with attached Declaration Form to: Americanism Committee Chairman, John Schenk, 406 E. Randall Ave, Norfolk, VA.  23503, to arrive no later than February 20, 2024 .  Winners will be announced at the Department Spring Conference on March 1, 2024 .
• Each Middle School Language Arts/English/Civics Department which sends a winning essay to you receives an American Legion “Certificate of Participation” signed by the Post Commander and the Post’s Essay Chairman and a $50.00 check for the school’s use.
• Each winning essay student at the Post Level is presented with an American Legion “Certificate of Appreciation” signed by the Post Commander and the Post’s Essay Chairman and a $50.00 check.
• The winning essay student’s teacher receives a check from your post in the amount of $25.00 to be used to assist in his/her purchase of classroom materials.
• The winning essay student from your District receives an American Legion “Certificate of Appreciation” signed by your District Commander and District Americanism Chairman or Essay Contest Chairman.
• The winning essay student receives a $50.00 check.
• The winning essay student’s Language Arts/English/Civics teacher receives a $50.00 check to go toward assisting in purchasing supplies and materials for their school’s department.
• The First Place Winner will receive a $250.00 check.
• The Second Place Winner will receive a $100.00 check.
• The Third Place Winner will receive a $50.00 check.
• A $50.00 check to winning essay student’s teacher to be used to assist in his/her purchase of classroom materials.

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Rochester eighth grader wins local, district and state VFW Patriot's Pen essay contest

May 17—Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) holds essay contests for middle and high school students. The contests offer cash prizes and scholarship opportunities, with different essay themes each year.

Rochester Middle School eighth grader Emily Hammack entered the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen essay competitions for middle schoolers and won the local Centralia VFW Post 2200's contest, which qualified her for the district level.

Hammack won that, too, and then took first place in the Washington state VFW's contest. As the state level winner, she went on to compete nationally representing Washington, where she wound up placing sixth overall.

Her essay was one of more than 73,000 essays submitted nationally for the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen contest, according to the VFW's website.

On Tuesday, May 14, Hammack and her family were in downtown Centralia's American Legion Grant Hodge Post 17, where she was honored and congratulated by local and state-level VFW members.

She was also given her final prize check from Washington state VFW Commander Craig Dougherty, state VFW Vice Commander Perry Taylor, state VFW Judge Advocate Frank Persa and VFW Post 2200 Commander Roger Towers.

"Sixth place winner Emily Hammack of Rochester represented the VFW Department of Washington, and was awarded the $2,000 Clyde A. Lewis Department of New York and Auxiliary Award," Dougherty said.

Along with the check, Hammack received an award certificate paired with a portrait of the National VFW Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento and VFW Auxiliary National President Carla Martinez.

"I am here on their behalf to congratulate you and thank you very much for entering," Dougherty said.

The theme for the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen essay contest asked students "how are you inspired by America?"

"Democracy and the different features are what inspired me, like its rich history," Hammack told The Chronicle. "History is definitely one of the things that inspired me about it."

The essay Hammack wrote and submitted for the Patriot's Pen contest is as follows:

"America inspires me in countless ways. Its rich history, diverse culture, and the values it upholds ignite a fire within me to pursue my dreams and make a difference in the world. The American dream, the belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work, resonates deeply with me. It serves as a constant reminder that no matter where we come from or what our circumstances may be, we have the power to shape our own destinies.

"One of the aspects of American democracy that inspires me the most is the freedom of speech. This fundamental right allows individuals to express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas without fear of persecution. It is through the freedom of speech that progress is made, as it encourages open dialog, the exchange of diverse perspectives, and the challenges of established norms. "This freedom empowers individuals to stand up for what they believe, to advocate for change, and contribute to the betterment of society.

"Another attribute of American democracy that inspires me is the pursuit of equal justice. The United States has a history of fighting for civil rights and striving towards equality for citizens. The principles of fairness, equality, and justice are deeply ingrained in the American ethos. This commitment to equal justice inspires me to be an advocate for those who are marginalized or oppressed, fight against discrimination, and work towards creating a more equal and inclusive society.

"Freedom of speech and individual rights are closely intertwined but not the same. While freedom of speech is one aspect of individual rights, it encompasses much more. Individual rights include a range of freedoms and protections, such as the right to privacy, the right to due process, and the right to equal treatment under law. These rights are essential in upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

"In conclusion, America's history, culture, and commitment to freedom and justice inspires me to be a better person, and to strive for a better world. The American dream reminds me that anything is possible with hard work. The freedom of speech empowers me to express my thoughts and make my voice heard. The pursuit of equal justice motivates me to fight for equality and stand up against injustice. America's inspiration fuels my passion to make a positive impact and contribute to a society that upholds the values of freedom, equality, and justice for all."

On top of the $2,000 check she received Tuesday, Hammack had already won an additional $750 in cash prizes for winning the local, district and state level VFW Patriot's Pen essay contests leading up to her competing nationally.

While getting ready to start high school after this summer, Hammack is planning on saving the prize money for college.

Though Hammack is no longer eligible to compete in the Patriot's Pen contest, she will be able to compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy audio essay contest for high school students.

There, she can compete for a share of more than $1 million in scholarship opportunities, including a $35,000 scholarship for the contest winner.

To learn more about both the VFW's Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy contests, including how to enter and submission deadlines, visit https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships .

The VFW is a national nonprofit organization that aims to foster fellowship among U.S. veterans of overseas conflicts along with advocating for veterans resources and programs at the federal level. For more information, visit https://www.vfw.org/ .

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• Our Water Story
• Educational Resources

Middle School Essay Contest

• High School Video Contest
• Calendar Photo Contest

The Middle School Essay Contest challenges students to think critically about our region’s water resources and raises awareness for the conservation and preservation of water quality in metro Atlanta.

2023 middle school essay contest winners.

Congratulations to our 2023 Middle School Essay Contest winners. More than 700 students explored the river basins in their own communities, highlighting their historical, cultural, and geographical significance. The 2023 District-wide winner is London Davis of Douglas County. The District-wide runner-up is Chloe-Blessing Minor of Rockdale County.

2023 Contest — Rep Your Watershed

The 22nd annual Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Middle School Essay Contest is now closed. Check back next fall for our 2024 contest!

The 22nd annual Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Middle School Essay Contest is now closed.

Essay topic.

Metro Atlanta has a unique water story. You may know that water keeps metro Atlanta going and growing. It has been an important part of the success of our economy and central to our region’s culture and history, which are some of the many reasons we work so hard to protect our water. In fact, since the creation of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District over 20 years ago, the per capita water use has dropped by more than 30%, thanks in part, to the water conservation efforts of metro area residents, utilities, schools, and businesses.

For the 2023 Middle School Essay Contest, we want you to get to know the river basins your communities are located in.

The Metro Water District has created digital River Basin Profiles , an interactive tool that allows you to virtually explore the watersheds of the metro Atlanta region. Use the tool and your own research to help you learn more about your watershed and answer one of the following essay topics:

• Research the river basin where you live and write about what makes your river basin important to you and your community’s history, culture, or geography. What do you think is important for the people in your community to know about your river basin?
• Write about the importance of learning about our water resources in Georgia. How can you encourage others to learn about your river basin? How does learning about your river basin make you a better steward of water resources?

Middle School Essay Contest Information Flyer

Submission Guidelines

• Eligibility: Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale counties are invited to participate in the Metro Water District’s annual essay contest.
• Essays must be typed. If there are special circumstances requiring a hand-written essay, please contact education @ northgeorgiawater.org .  
• Each essay must be submitted with an entry form.  
• Student name and parent/guardian contact information must be clearly printed in order to win the contest.
• Plagiarized essays will not be considered.  
• All essays must be received no later than October 20, 2023 .  
• Essays must be submitted online at northgeorgiawater.org/essay. If there are any special circumstances requiring essays be submitted by mail, please contact education @ northgeorgiawater.org .  

Read Middle School Essay Contest Guidelines

Entries will be judged on their creativity, clarity and content. Essays without complete name and contact information will be disqualified. A judging committee will be comprised of staff from the Metro Water District, utility partners, and Georgia Project WET.  

Review Judging Rubric.

Prizes and Awards Reception

One winner from each of the 15 counties as well as the City of Atlanta will receive $100. The District-wide winner will be selected from among the county and city winners to receive an additional $400 for a total prize of $500.

Submit Entry

For essay submissions, kindly complete and submit the appropriate form based on whether you are a student or an educator.

Student Submission Form

Educator Submission Form

2023 Contest Resources

Middle School Essay Contest Guidelines

River Basin Profiles

Judging Rubric

Teacher Resources

Teachers, are you interested in taking your students on a deeper dive into your water resources? Each year, we partner with  Georgia Project WET  to offer background information and an excellent Urban Watershed activity that relates to the topic. The 2021 supplemental Urban Watershed activity is  What’s Your Standard?  We also encourage teachers to check out the Project Wet website,  Discover Water: The Role of Water in Our Lives .

Thank you, Georgia Project WET for provided excellent teaching resources for teachers in our region and state!

Questions? We're here to help!

'Dedication to service': Meet Leon County's Best & Brightest finalists for 2024

Leon County’s most outstanding high school seniors were selected for the 19th year as the 134 finalists in the 2024 Best & Brightest Awards, which recognizes and honors public and private school students who excel both academically and in service to their school and community.

The finalists from each school underwent an interview process culminating in the Best & Brightest Awards Ceremony, to be held Wednesday, May 15, in which countywide winners will be announced.

“These students represent the best young minds in Leon County. Their dedication to service, academics and their community is remarkable,” said Laura Rogers, program director of World Class Schools which is a program of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and coordinator of the Best & Brightest Program.

“Each year, I am astonished by their commitment to succeed and realize their goals. These high-achievers bring a spark to all who meet them and the energy will be amazing when we gather to honor them all at our awards ceremony in May.”

The Best & Brightest Awards program, now in its 19th year, has awarded almost $900,000 in scholarships to over 2,700 private and public high school seniors since its inception in 2006.

The Best & Brightest Awards program’s premier sponsor is Envision Credit Union in partnership with Leon County Schools, World Class Schools of Leon County, The Tallahassee Democrat, Sachs Media, Gay and Ron Sachs, HUB International, Leon County Government, The City of Tallahassee, Comcast, Sperry Construction and the Florida League of Cities.

“The significant achievements of these seniors and their earnest commitment to service provides great hope for the future they will lead," said Ron Sachs, chairman of Sachs Media and founder of the Best & Brightest Awards. “Their dedication to selfless service is an example to inspire and to cause other young people to aspire to be like them in service — to make the world a better place."

On March 2, panels of select community leaders interviewed the finalists on subject areas such as public speaking, technology, and science to determine the winners for the countywide awards. This year, the 134 finalists will be evaluated on their academic achievement,leadership, and community service. A winner, runner-up, and honorable mention recipient will be named from each category.

To reach this point, finalists have demonstrated a record of academic achievement and expertise in one of 15 competitive categories. First-place winners in each category will receive scholarships of $1,500; runners-up will be awarded $750; and honorable mention recipients will receive $500. All other finalists will receive a $100 scholarship in recognition of their superlative accomplishments.

In addition to celebrating high school students, the Best & Brightest Awards program recognizes 59 younger Leon County students. The program conducts an Eighth Grade Essay Contest available to all middle schools in the Leon area. Three students will be chosen and win awards ranging from $100 to $500.

The contest provides middle school students with opportunities to expand their experience and get awarded for it. The essay helps encourage them to reflect on the importance of community involvement and academic achievement as they enter their high school careers.

Another feature of the program, first introduced 12 years ago, is the Spirit of the Best & Brightest Award, commemorating the late Brooks Rogers. Presented to one of the top Best & Brightest winners who most exemplifies a deep commitment to civic duty and service, the student will receive a $2,500 scholarship in addition to his or her primary scholarship award winnings.

This year’s Seniors for the 2024 Best & Brightest Awards are:

Art Category

Jazlyn Howell (Chiles), Manjari Manoharan (Rickards), Saniah Maul (Godby), Onyinyechukwu Okoli (FSUS), Isabella Pence (SJPII Catholic), Liana Rieger (Leon), Desiree Scorsone (Lincoln), Mary Clayton Soto (Maclay), Serendipity Thompson (SAIL)

Athletics Category

Shaniah Bennett (Rickards), Carson Freeland (CCS), Kaitlyn Guyer (Maclay), Mary Kerce (SAIL), Ashlyn Koerner (Lincoln), Patrick Koon (Leon), Camden Methvin (NFC), Aniyah Perry (Godby), Cannon Ramsey (FSUS), Ryan Sumner (Chiles)

Business Category

Evelyn Guerrero (Godby), Christina Heil (SAIL), Rajan Jinadra (Maclay), Kenedi Lowe (FSUS), Kaylee Sandell (Leon), Kevin Wang (Rickards), Nelson Zhao (Chiles), Lydia Zhao (Lincoln)

Career/Technical Category

Nikolette Davis (Godby), Aria Fisher (Leon), Alexander Hawkes (FSUS), Abhigna Konanur (Rickards), Karen Liang (Chiles), Korey Rosier (NFC), Nia Sampson (Lincoln), Skylar Van Whittle (SAIL), Eva Yi (Maclay)

Drama & Performing Arts Category

Peyton Bradford (CCS), Louis Dearman (Maclay), Natalie Gordon (Godby), Mallory Greisl (Leon), Oliver Jacobs (SAIL), Ella Leaman (Lincoln), Carter Nelson (FSUS), Jenny Nguyen (Rickards), Ivey Grace Ruff (Chiles), Trevor Waller (Home School)

English & Language Arts Category

Jonah Blay (Chiles), Dilahan Cavusoglu (FSUS), Karis Cliburn (CCS), Madison Decker (CLA), Sarah Duclos (Lincoln), Camille Friall (Leon), Ajax Jackson (Rickards), Sophia Krizner (Maclay), Llayna Maul (Godby), Layla Renfroe (SAIL)

Journalism & Media Production Category

Kayla Farlin (FSUS), Amelia Haggins (Leon), Dream Hogan (FAMU DRS), Leah Kiros (Maclay), Seth Pohler (CCS), Cathryn Reed (Chiles), Alice Scholl (Lincoln), Aubrey Stevens (Rickards)

Leadership Category

Madeleine Byrd (FSUS), Katie Chapman (NFC), Helen Conn (Leon ), Yasmine Delgado (Godby), Madelyn Ellis (Home School), Copeland Frazee (Maclay), Erin Hinson (Lincoln), Avery Miller (Chiles), Haylei Rackley (FAMU DRS), Hansini Reddy (Rickards), Citrus Thomas (SAIL)

Mathematics Category

Kenyera Caitlin Barrett (Godby), Lainey Colson (NFC), Fabian Delgado (FSUS), Navya Kommu (Rickards), Harrison Mantzanas (Lincoln), Clark Mitchell (Maclay), Nima Mollaei (Chiles), Samuel Plettl (CLA), Noah Summerlin (Leon)

Music Category

Karl Akuoko (Rickards), Christopher Blair (SAIL), Mary Caitlin Boulo (Home School), Lainey Ford (Maclay), Sean Gonzalez (Lincoln), Timothy Hunter (Godby), Alexandra Jones (Leon), Matthew Kahn (Chiles), Kyla Rogers (FSUS)

Public Speaking Category

Kinleigh Bass (Chiles), Venkat Maddipoti (Maclay), Sri ram Marthi (Lincoln), Victoria McQueen (Leon), Ivan Rabbath (FSUS), Aditi Tula (Rickards)

Science & Health Category

Eric Brooks (FAMU DRS), Kaylah Feldman (CLA), Donovan Graven (NFC), Triniece Haynes (Godby), Emmie Klekamp (Leon), Marcus Lampkin Jr. (Lincoln), Shaoyang Ma (Chiles), Shiv Patel (Maclay), Haligh Smith (SAIL), Sarayu Vanga (Rickards), Amelia Wass de Czege (FSUS)

Social Science Category

Ahsen Beceriklier (Godby), Jada Bedford (Lincoln), Kathleen Bennett (Chiles), John Daugherty (SJPII Catholic), Addixian Gillespie (CCS), Zoe Rubin (FSUS), Brinkley Snow (Maclay), Velan Thanasekar (Rickards), Gillian Tran (Leon)

Technology Category

Nevaeh Green (FAMU DRS), Kavyashree Kadhirvelu (Rickards), Anaia Larkins (Leon), Evan Nguyen (Maclay), Mika Rauschenberg (Godby), Andrew Young (Lincoln), James Zhang (Chiles)

World Languages Category

Luther Auguste (Godby), Olivia Brangaccio (Lincoln), Mary Elizabeth Bussey (Leon), Eryn Files (FSUS), Miles Gillespie (Home School), Geetika Kosuri (Rickards), Anne Mason Roberts (Maclay), Heewon Seo (Chiles)

This year’s 8th Grade Essay Contest finalists

• Christ Classical Academy: Elinor Douglas, Landon Huber, Evvy Wacksman
• Community Christian School: Hannah Allen, Anna Cate Cole, Jayden Larson
• Community Leadership Academy: Bella D'Aurio, Faith Simon, Ashlynn Yoshioka
• Cornerstone Learning Community: Kalliope Flom, Kaia Holland, Kai Okui
• Deerlake Middle School: Mia Hemenway, Yash Jhala, Arcadia Wang
• Elizabeth Cobb Middle School: Zaryah Combs, Astrid Vandermark
• Fairview Middle School: Aleena Ahmed, Adeogo Betiku, Jessica Wang
• Florida State University Schools : Dublin Black, Ainsley Cate, Bryce Stewart
• Fort Braden School : Addison Baxley, Addyson Rochester
• Griffin Middle School : Marlon Marshall, Roana Pérez-Garcia, Danica Robinson
• Holy Comforter Episcopal School : Charlie Conn, Leyton Gardner, Rebecca Gould
• Leon County Home Schools : Julia Barbara Cox, Genevieve Lemmon
• Maclay School: Autumn Daniels, Tucker Couch, Holt Antohi
• Montford Middle School : Stokes Bryan, Katelyn Irwin, Riley Montalbano
• Nims Middle School : Andrea Anaya-Rivas, Ava Burney, Kaliyah Jones
• North Florida Christian School : Isaiah Bolton, Abbott Austin, Emma Scanlon
• Raa Middle School: Jacob Dobbs
• Renaissance Academy : Nassira Powell
• Swift Creek Middle School : Sydney Roberts, Raine Toombs, Nola Wilson-Rafe
• Tallahassee Classical School: Gwenyth Gray, Avalee Griffin, Jordyn White
• Trinity Catholic School: Genevieve Gillespie, Ashley Lugo Purata, Maggie Smith
• Woodville Middle School: Calie Hutchison, Jayden Meacham, Ryan Serrano

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Who Are the Favorites to Win Eurovision?

Some of the buzziest acts taking part in Saturday’s final hail from Croatia, Israel and Ukraine.

By Alex Marshall

Reporting from Malmo, Sweden

Follow live updates on the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest final.

On Saturday, acts representing 25 countries will compete at the Eurovision Song Contest, the high-camp competition that is also world’s most watched cultural event. The winner is chosen by a combination of votes from music industry juries in participating countries and viewers watching at home. Sometimes, they reflect the strength of individual performances; other times, politics comes into play.

Who is most likely to triumph at this year’s event in Malmo, Sweden?

It won’t be Joost Klein, a madcap musician representing the Netherlands. On Saturday morning, Swedish police said in a statement that they were investigating a man “suspected of unlawful threats” toward a Eurovision employee, and that officers had passed on a file to prosecutors. A few hours later, Eurovision organizers said in a statement that it was Klein under investigation, and that “it would not be appropriate” for him to compete while a legal process was underway.

Here are the five acts who may have the best chance at winning, based on European bookmakers’ odds and online chatter.

Baby Lasagna

The bookmakers’ favorite is Baby Lasagna, representing Croatia, with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” — a madcap three-minute mixture of heavy metal and dance music.

The song begins with Baby Lasagna — real name Marko Purisic — singing to his mother that he’s a “big boy now” and wants to leave his family’s village for the city. “I’m going away and I sold my cow,” he sings, before calling for the villagers to join him one last time in a local folk dance.

In a recent interview, Purisic said that although the song may seem a little ridiculous, it was also a serious attempt to draw attention to Croatia’s ongoing problem with youth emigration.

Purisic said that winning the song contest wasn’t his aim. After a long career as a rock songwriter for hire, he said, last year he considered changing tack, and applied for a stable job in Croatia’s tourism industry. But with the success of “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” — which has had millions of views on YouTube — he now hoped to build a career as Baby Lasagna, he said. “If I do that,” he added, “then I win.”

By Saturday morning in Malmo, Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, had risen in European bookmakers’ rankings to be second mostly likely to win, according to Oddschecker , a betting aggregator.

This comes after months of campaigning from pro-Palestinian groups and some Eurovision fans to get the contest’s organizers, the European Broadcasting Union, to ban Golan from taking part because of Israel’s war in Gaza.

These tensions were clear at Golan’s semifinal performance on Thursday, when some audience members booed, while others tried to drown them out with cheers.

Golan’s song was initially called “October Rain,” an apparent reference to last year’s Hamas attacks in southern Israel. The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, objected that the title and some of the song’s lyrics were overly political, and asked Israel to change them. Golan tweaked the song, which is now called “ Hurricane .”

Representing Israel on the world stage “has such huge significance and meaning, because of what we’re going through,” Golan said in a recent interview. “I won’t let anything break me, or move me off track.”

Read The Times’s profile of Golan .

Bambie Thug

In recent weeks, the dark spectacle of Bambie Thug’s track “Doomsday Blue” has won the Irish entrant fans on social media — as has the singer’s outspoken pro-Palestinian stance and criticism of Israel’s involvement in Eurovision.

Eurovision organizers ban artists from making political comments on its stages, saying the competition is meant to unite, not divide. But the Irish entry — real name Bambie Ray Robinson — has tested those rules. At a Tuesday news conference, Bambie Thug, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, said that Eurovision had demanded they remove pro-Palestinian slogans from their outfit. On Thursday, Bambie Thug wrote on Instagram that “my heart and prayers are with the people of Palestine.”

At one point during Bambie Thug’s semifinal performance on Tuesday, the singer stood in the middle of a pentagram, encircled by burning candles. Then they danced seductively with a man dressed like a demon. As the track ended, the phrase “Crown the Witch” appeared on huge screens at the back of the stage.

Switzerland

Switzerland’s entrant, Nemo, has an absurdly catchy track called “The Code,” in which they sing rap and sing operatically about their journey to realizing they were nonbinary.

“I went to hell and back / To get myself on track,” Nemo sings in the chorus: “Now, I found paradise / I broke the code.”

Throughout its 68 year history, Eurovision has often featured L.G.B.T.Q. performers, with past winners including Dana International, a transgender woman, and Conchita Wurst, a drag act . Yet this year is the first time Eurovision has prominently featured nonbinary acts like Nemo and Bambie Thug.

In a recent video interview, Nemo, 24, said they were “amazed” that Eurovision fans were connecting with their “deeply personal” track. “I think the message behind the song is quite universal,” Nemo said: “We all know that feeling of wanting to break free from something — everyone has a code to break.”

Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil

In 2022, months after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine won Eurovision with Kalush Orchestra’s track “Stefania.” This year, Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, a rapper and singer representing the country, are among the favorites to win.

They are competing with “ Teresa and Maria ,” an emotional song referencing Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary.

In a recent interview, Heil — real name Yana Oleksandrivna Shemaieva — said that Eurovision was a vital opportunity to focus attention on the country’s plight. “We need to show the world that we still need their help,” she said.

As much as the pair want to win Saturday’s final, Heil said it would be a bigger victory if Eurovision fans would start listening to Ukrainian pop year-round. “That is the only way we can be visible every day,” Heil said, rather than “from Eurovision to Eurovision.”

An earlier version of a picture caption with this article reversed the identifications of two of the acts competing in Eurovision. Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, of Ukraine, are bottom right, and Bambie Thug, of Ireland, is bottom left.

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Alex Marshall is a Times reporter covering European culture. He is based in London. More about Alex Marshall

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