Bennington College Young Writers Awards
Location:
Virtual (submission via online portal)
Cost:
Free (no entry fee)
Contest Date:
Opens September 1, closes November 1 annually (e.g., opens Sept 1 2025, deadline Nov 1 2025)
Application Deadlines:
November 1 (same as above)
Eligibility:
Participants must choose one category: submit either three poems, a short story (≤ 1500 words), or a nonfiction essay (≤ 1500 words). Only one entry per student per year is allowed. All submissions are reviewed for originality and require sponsorship by a high school teacher or mentor.
Cash awards are offered for first, second, and third place in each category: $1,000 for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third. Winners and finalists who later attend Bennington College receive substantial renewable scholarships—up to $60,000 total for winners, $40,000 total for finalists. Winning works are also featured on Bennington’s website. This competition promotes literary achievement at the high school level and helps boost participants’ profiles through publication exposure and potential scholarships at a school with a strong literary legacy. In past years, nearly 6,000 students worldwide enter the contest each cycle.
Please note: This information is compiled from publicly available sources and may change from year to year. Dates, locations, fees, and other details are subject to updates—please verify all information directly on the official competition website before applying.