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Contest Chart Contests are free to enter, unless otherwise noted.
January 2012 Contest | Grade Groups | Prizes | Topic | Word Max | Deadline | Comments | Irish History Writing Contest | 6th-8th, 9th-12th | $50-$1,000 | 6th-8th grade: “The Story of Annie Moore – Irish Immigration to America” 9th-12th grade: “The Irish and the Building of the American Infrastructure” | 6th-8th grade: 500-1,000 9th-12th grade: 750-1,500 | 1/20/12 | -- | The Writing Conference, Inc. Contest | Elementary, middle school/junior high, high school | First place: plaque, second and third: certificate, first, second, and third: publication in The Writers' Slate. | A poem, narrative, or essay about "change" | none | 1/8/12 | -- | Elks Club Grand Lodge Americanism Essay Contest | 5th-8th | $250-$1000 savings bond | "Why I am Proud to Pledge Allegiance to Our Flag" | 250 | Submit to local lodge on or before 1/10/12 | -- | The John F. Kennedy Essay Contest | 9th-12th | $500-$10,000. Teacher of winning student gets $500. | Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a United States elected official that took place during or after 1956. | 1,000 (not including citations & bibliography) | 1/7/12
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| OddContest | under 18 as of 1/1/11 | $50, convention membership, and books | Science fiction/fantasy | 500 | 1/15/12*** | -- | National Right to Life Pro-Life Essay Contest | 7th-9th, 10th-12th | $100-$200 | What effect has abortion had on your generation?
| 300-500 | 1/23/12* | -- | Dupont Challenge Science Essay Competition | 7th-9th, 10th-12th | $200-$5,000 savings bond; free trip to Kennedy Space Center and Disney World; magazine subscription; encyclopedia; apps; and a DVD
| Essay on science-related topic | 700-1000 | 1/31/12*** | -- | | Gulen Institute Youth Writing Contest | 9th-12th graders
| $50-$3,000; free trip to DC and NYC for top 30 entries
| Essay on "Creating solutions for the challenges faced by children today" | 1,500-2,000
| 1/31/12*** | -- | Sampad International Writing Competition | Ages 8-15, 16 and over | Publication, book, 200 British pounds (300 pounds for ages 16+) | Any style (short story, poetry, etc.) inspired by Tagore | 400 | 1/31/12 ***** | Open to any writer with an interest in South Asian culture |
back to top *Postmarked date **Received date (US mail) ***E-mail date February 2012
*Postmarked date **Received date (US mail) ***E-mail/online entry date February 2011 Contest | Grade Groups | Prizes | Topic | Word Max | Deadline | Comments | | OptOUnder 19 as of 12/31/12 pmist International Essay Contest | Under 19 as of 12/31/12 o | $2500 scholarship, medallion, plaque
| "How my positive outlook benefits my community"
| 400-500 | February 2012 (depends on chapter)
| Contact local club to enter
| National Ag Day Essay Contest
| 9th-12th graders
| $1,000 and free trip to DC
| “American Agriculture: Feeding the Future, Filling the Gaps.” | 450 | Midnight CST 2/1/12**,***
| There is also a video category
| "Call to Pens" Patrick Henry College Short Story Competition
| ages 12-15, 16-18
| $50-$225
| Short story on theme:
ages 12-15: An Unexpected Adventure
ages 16-18: Redemption
| ages 12-15: 1,500
ages 16-18: 2,500
| 2/1/12***
| $10 fee per entry; all $ goes to Patrick Henry scholarship fund. Entry must be previously unpublished.
| National Peace Essay Contest | 9th-12th | $1,000-$10,000
| The impact of new media on peacebuilding
and conflict management
| 1,500 | 2/1/12
@ 11:59 pm EST*** | -- | The Grannie Annie Contest | Grades 4th-5th, 6th-8th (Homeschool ages 9-14) | Publication in an anthology, and 2 free copies of the anthology | Story about your family history from before your birth
| 275-500 | 2/1/12*,*** | You may include one picture with your story | The Paul A. Witty Outstanding Literature Award | K-12th | $50 | Poetry or prose | Poetry: 5 poems Prose: 1000 for elementary, (no limit for secondary) | 2/2/12* | -- | Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest
| ages 13-18
| $50-$1,500 plus free trip to NYC
| Essay on the promises of politicians and their consequences
| 500-1,000 | 11:59pm Eastern Time, February 6, 2012*** | -- | Canines for Charity Essay Contest
| K-3rd, 4th - 6th, 7th - 9th & 10th - 12th Grade
| unspecified cash prizes
| "My First Puppy"
| 350
| 2/6/12
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| Publish-a-Kid Writing Contest | Ages 9-13 | Publication and unspecified prizes | Write a review of one of their listed books | 250-500 | 2/15/12*** | -- | Creative Communications Essay Contest | 3rd-6th, 7th-9th, 10th-12th | $50 savings bond, copy of anthology, publication | Any topic | 100-250 | 2/15/12*,*** | -- | Breaking Barriers Essay Contest
| 4th-8th
| Free trip to Baseball All-Star Game; laptop computers; class visit from Sharon Robinson; books and t-shirts | Essay about how certain values help you face barriers | 200-700
| 2/21/12*,***
| -- | Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Novel Contest (Push Novel Contest) | 7th-12th | $2500 in scholarships for summer art & writing camps; $500-$10,000 college scholarships; partial to full-ride scholarships to specific schools; work with professional editors; possible publication | Novel | Submit 3-5 chapters of book (15-50 pages) plus outline or summary of whole book | 2/25/11**
2012 information not posted yet
| -- | Weekly Reader Student Publishing Contest | 3rd-8th, 9th-12th | $500; free trip to DC | Non-fiction writing, such as a memoir, essay, or story about news event | 500-2,500 | Entry must be made between 1/1/12 and 2/29/12, submitted by 3/16/12* | -- | | | | | | | | | Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest | Ages 13-18 | Trip to NYC, cash prizes ($14,000 to be distributed to more than 120 winners) | Politicians' Promises Gone Wrong | 500-1000 | 2/26/12 @ 11:59pm EST*** | -- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
back to top *Postmarked date **Received date (US mail) ***E-mail/online entry date
*Postmarked date **Received date (US mail) ***E-mail/online entry date
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Why do some of the contests below have old dates? Most contests repeat annually, so old contests are left here until the new ones become available.
March 2012 Contest | Grade Groups | Prizes | Topic | Word Max | Deadline | Comments | PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest | K-3rd (individual grade level judging) | Laptop, digital camera, mp3 player | An illustrated story on any topic | K-1st: 50-200 2nd-3rd: 100-350 | Deadlines vary by station; most are in March Apply through local PBS station (see site for details) | You must include at least 5 colorful illustrations with your story | National History Day | 6th-8th, 9th-12th | Vary for different levels (local, state, national) | A paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website on Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
| For paper: 1,500-2,500 not including notes, bibliography, or appendices Other categories have different length requirements | Usually March for local level competitions Find your local coordinator here | Homeschool students enter at the district level (not the school level) There may be small fees at each level (i.e., $5-$10) depending where you live There may also be fees for going to Nationals but states may cover this fee for their state winners | | Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards | High school students ages 13-18 | $750-$2000
| An article on how stronger teen driving laws have been proven to save lives
(There is also a broadcast category with its own rules) | None | 3/1/12 @ 11:59pm ET*** | May enter as a team of up to 4 people
Article must have been published or republished between 10/1/11-3/1/12
For specific homeschool directions, click here. | Kentucky State Poetry Society Student Contest | 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th, 9th-10th, 11th-12th | $10-$55 | Any topic. Must have some poetic elements (e.g., imagery, simile, metaphor, rhyme, rhythm) | 30 lines or less (max 52 characters per line)
| 3/1/12
| Open to students in any state, not just KY
Must be unpublished and not submitted in any other contest
| American Museum of Natural History Young Naturalist Awards | 7th-12th (grades judged individually) | $500-$2,500
| Narrative essay based on personal science-based research
| 500-2000 (grade 7-8)
750 - 2500 (grade 9-10)
1000 - 3000
(grade 11-12) May not be over
20 pgs including visual aids | 3/9/12** | -- |
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| 2nd-8th | $ | Draw
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| 3/4/11** | -- | Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest | 9th-12th | $300-$1,000 scholarship | "Why is it important that we have news media that are independent of the government?" | 300-500 | 3/8/12* | -- | Saroyan Writing Contest | 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-9th, 10th-12th, College | $50-$100 | Which friend or family member has had the greatest impact on your life? Why? | 3 pages. Judges prefer stories that do not exceed 2 pages. | 5 PM 3/5/12** | -- | | National DNA Day Essay Contest | 9th-12th | $100-$1,000, plus $400-$1,000 grant for classroom teacher
for lab equipment | gene regulation | 750 not including references | 3/12/12 @ 5:00 pm EST*** | -- |
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| | Young Voices with New Visions
| 3rd-6th, 7th-12th | Stage production of the play
| short play
| 20 pgs (10 minutes preferred)
| 3/12/12*** | -- |
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| -- | Will McDonough Writing Contest | 4th-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-10th, 11th-12th | $100 savings bond | Essay on one of 5 topics on website (all related to athletes and sports) | 300-700 (varies by age) | 3/15/11* | -- | Scholastic Kids Are Authors Picture Book Contest | K-8th | $500-$5,000 of merchandise, 100 copies of published book, certificate, medallio | Fiction or Nonfiction | 21-29 single-sided pages | 3/15/12* | Book must be done by 3 or more children as a team |
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| -- | Norm Strung Youth Writing Contest | 6th-8th, 9th-12th | Unspecified cash prizes. Last year's prizes totaled $1,700 | Poem/prose on outdoor-related subject | None | 3/16/12** | Work must have been published in a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, literary collection, etc. during 2011. Student must submit one original published copy (tear sheet) of the entry. The tear sheets must contain the publication name and date. | A Voice for Animals | High school (under age 19) | $250-$1000 | The mistreatment of an animal species or a cause of animal suffering and possible measures to reduce it | 1400-1500 (1200-1500 words for essays about personal involvement in project) | 3/17/11 @ 11:59pm PDT | -- | The Leslie and Norman Davis Student Essay Contest | 7th-9th, 10th-12th | $100-$500 | Essay on an individual or group that showed moral courage | 750-1000 | 3/18/11 @ 5:00 PM** | -- | Weekly Reader Student Publishing Contest | 3rd-6th, 7th-12th | $500; free trip to DC | Non-fiction writing, such as a memoir, essay, or story about news event | 500-2,500 | Entry must be made between 1/1/11 and 2/28/11, submitted by 3/18/11* | -- | The Dickens Project Essay Contest | 9th-12th | Week-long literature conference for student and teacher | Respond to a Dickens novel by analyzing any topic/theme | 3-5 double spaced pages | 3/18/11* | -- |
It's All Write! Short Story Writing Contest | 6th-8th, 9th-10th, 11th-12th | $100-$250 | A short story | 4-8 pages, 1.5 line spacing | 3/18/11*** | May not be previously submitted or published elsewhere | Dear America Student Writing Contest | 3rd-7th | All-expense-paid guided tour for two from Portland, Maine, to Plymouth, Massachusetts. (retail value $5,000); Dear America library (retail value $150) | A five-day diary that explores a historical event from the point of view of a real or fictional character | Unspecified | 3/21/11** | -- | Pro-Life Student Essay Contest | 7th-11th | $20-$40 | Various national and international groups say that the world is “over- populated.” Make a persuasive argument as to why these groups are wrong about over- population. | 400 | 3/25/11** | -- | The Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition | 7th-12th | $50, publication | Haiku | None | 3/25/11** | May submit up to 3 haiku May not be previously published or entered in any other contest or submitted for publication | Concern Creative Writing Competition | Ages 12-15, 16-18 (There is also a 19+ category for those not in college yet) | Netbook, Kindle e-reader, mp3 player | Journalism article on one of the following:
1) Living on less than $2/day in the developing world
2) The future of a child in the developing world
3) Lessons we can learn from the developing world
| 1,000 | 3/27/11 @ midnight*** (I assume they mean midnight Ireland time, which is 7:00 EST) | -- | Leonard Milberg '53 Secondary School Poetry Prize | 11th grade only | $100-$500 | A poem | None; but may submit up to 3 poems | 3/30/11* | Sponsored by Princeton University's Program in Creative Writing | Sarah Mook Poetry Prize | K-2nd, 34d-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th | $25-$100 | Any poem | None; but may submit up to 2 poems | 3/31/11* | Optional $5 donation to a charity | Speakable Gifts Writing Contest | 3rd-5th | $15 Barnes & Noble gift card, books, certificates | Write story to illustrate understanding of a specific poem | 100-250 | 3/31/11*/*** | -- | Listen to a Life Contest | Ages 8-18 | Grand Prize: iPod nano, computer with $800 of software; $25,000 of software for school 20 runners-up: $400 of software and an mp3 player All winners also get a framed certificate & autographed book | A true story about an older person's life, based on an interview with that person | 300 | 3/31/11 @ 11:59pm EST*** | May not be previously published or entered in any other competition | National WWII Museum Essay Contest | 5th-8th, 9th-12th (prizes in each grade level) | Middle school: $250 & baseball cap High school: $500-$1,000 | Essay on whether it is important to remember Pearl Harbor, and why | Middle school: 500 High school: 1,000 | 3/31/11*** @ 5pm CST | Only the first 500 essays submitted will be considered | The Germans from Russia Heritage Society Youth Essay Contest | 6th-8th, 9th-12th, University or College Undergrad | Trophy plus $100-$250 ($1000 for the university level) | Any aspect of German Russian heritage or history | Unspecified | 3/31/10
2011 INFO NOT POSTED YET | -- |
back to top *Postmarked date **Received date (US mail) ***E-mail/online entry date Contest | Grade Groups | Prizes | Topic | Word Max | Deadline | Comments | Lexington Family Writing Contest | K-1st, 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th | Kanani American Girl doll, horse and book set, set of board games | “If I had a superpower…” | 100 | 4/1/11*** | There is one boy and one girl winner in each age group | Holocaust Remembrance Project Essay Contest | 9th-12th | $250-$500 cash; free trip to Los Angeles; $2,000-$5,000 in scholarships | Lessons from the Holocaust | 1,200 | 4/2/10 ** | -- | Creative Communications Poetry Contest | K-3rd, 4th-6th, 7th-9th, 10th-12th | $50 savings bonds, free anthologies | Open | 21 lines | 4/13/11*/*** | -- | VSA arts Playwright Discovery Program | 6th-12th | $2,000 and trip to DC to see your play performed at JFK Center for the Performing Arts | Any one-act play | Under 40 pages | 4/15/10** | May be submitted by an individual or a group | American Foreign Service Association Essay Contest | 9th-12th | $2500; $500 for your school; free trip to nation's capitol for you & your parents | Challenges facing the American Foreign Service in the 21st century | 750-1,000 | 4/15/10* | -- | Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest | Ages 16-18 | $1,000 scholarship & $1,600 worth of books for your public library | 5 options based on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells | 2-3 double-spaced pages | 4/15/10*, 4/22/10** | -- | Claudia Ann Seaman Awards for Young Writers | 9th-12th | $200 award for each genre | Poems, stories, essays (creative non-fiction) | May submit up to three works, up to 1500 words total | 4/15/10*** | May submit a total of 3 entries (any mixture of genres) | "Make This Grump Laugh" Joke Contest | 3rd-6th | 100 winners - free book - plus a picture of the grump with a smile on his face | Your favorite joke | None | 4/16/10** | -- | Air and Waste Management Association High School Essay Contest | Grade 12 and under (but aimed at high school) | $400 and publication | Energy and the Environment: Changing our Communities, our Schools, and our World | 5 pages including text and references | 4/22/10*** | -- | "My Best Teacher Ever" Weekly Reader Essay Contest | 2nd-6th, 7th-12th | $50, magazine subscription | Why your teacher, present or past, is the best teacher ever | 300 words | 4/23/10*/*** | -- |
RDS McWilliams Young Science Writers' Competion | Ages 12-13, 14-16, 17-19 | Laptops, digital camcorders, 100-200 euros ($130-$260) | Science based article, interview, or story | 3,000 | 4/23/10 **/*** | -- | | Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards | High school | $5,000 & expense paid trip to national awards ceremony | Creative Nonfiction | 10 single-spaced pages | 4/29/10 noon CST*** | -- | Earth Day Photo & Essay Contest | 5th-8th | Digital camera; digital photo frame;digital photo key chain; your photograph in a special frame commemorating Earth Day | Photograph something changing in your local environment & write an explanation about the change | 400 | Must take photo by 4/30. Entries are due 5/12/10*/*** | | The Megan McDonald Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades K-2nd) | K-2nd | Books signed by authors or illustrators, classroom visit by author or illustrator via Skype | A practical joke you have played on someone or would like to try on someone | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | The Megan McDonald Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades 3rd-5th) | 3rd-5th | Books signed by authors or illustrators, classroom visit by author or illustrator via Skype | Take the point of view of an animal and write a one-page descriptive essay about its home and habitat | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | The Megan McDonald Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades 6th-8th) | 6th-8th | Books signed by authors or illustrators, classroom visit by author or illustrator via Skype | A short story with your own explanation of the origin of an English idiom, and a brief, true history of the idiom and what it means (cite your source) | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | The Megan McDonald Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades 9th-12th) | 9th-12th | Books signed by authors or illustrators, classroom visit by author or illustrator via Skype | A page spread from an insect or reptile guidebook including 1-2 images and text describing habitat, habits, etc. | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | The Timothy Basil Ering Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades K-2nd) | K-2nd | Books signed by illustrator | A time you were in a bad mood, comparing the results of your mood to a weather event or natural disaster | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | The Timothy Basil Ering Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades 3rd-5th) | 3rd-5th | Books signed by illustrator | A cinquain (specific form of poetry) about a natural place you have visited | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | The Timothy Basil Ering Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades 6th-8th) | 6th-8th | Books signed by illustrator | An adventure story that features a plucky hero (animal or human), with a 'there and back' circular story structure | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | | The Timothy Basil Ering Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Grades 9th-12th) | 9th-12th | Books signed by illustrator | Research an 18th or 19th century profession that you would like to know more about from the list on the website. Then write 15-20 tweets (<140 characters each) discussing the that person's character, times, professional challenges, interactions with other townspeople, and what he does for fun. | 350 | 4/30/10*** | Illustrations optional | Odes to Olympians Contest | Under age 18 | $50 cash | Poem about Hermes (Mercury) | 30 lines | 4/30/10*** | -- | OneChild Africa Writing Contest | High school | $500-$1,000, iPod touch | Essay about the AIDS epidemic in sub-Sarahan Africa | 1400-1500 | 4/30/10*** @ 11:59 PDT | -- | Pierre Toussaint Essay Writing Contest | High school students | $250-$1250 | Pierre Toussaint, an enslaved Haitian brought to New York in 1787, who later performed many charitable and heroic acts | 1500 | 4/30/10 | -- | Sejong Essay Writing Competition | 8th and younger, 9th-12th | Older division: $300-$500 Younger division: $100-$300 | Choose one of three topics on a Korean folk tale on website | 1,000 | 4/30/10*** | -- |
This page was last modified on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 |
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