essay well-focused on the question/topic selected
Rules & Requirements
Please Note Text from essays may be used for research purposes to identify misconceptions, misunderstandings, and areas of student interest in genetics. Student text may be published on the ASHG website, newsletter, or in other ASHG publications.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The text of the student’s essay must be his or her own words unless quotations are explicitly noted. If plagiarism is suspected during any point of the contest, the essay in question will be examined. Essays found to contain the uncited work of others will be disqualified and the student’s teacher will be notified. Plagiarism.org gives a helpful explanation of what plagiarism is.
How many essays can one student submit? Only one entry per student.
How many essays can one teacher submit on behalf of students? Each teacher may submit up to six student essays per class, for up to three classes.
What are low-quality a high-quality sources? A low-quality source is one that doesn’t guarantee accurate information, such as Wikipedia. High-quality sources include research journals, such as those accessible through PubMed.
What is included in the 750-word count, and what is not?
Should references have a separate page? The reference list will be submitted separately in the “references” section of the submission site. Everything will be included on one page once the essay is submitted.
Is there a standard font or margin size preferred? No. Once the essay is copied and pasted into the submission site, it will be formatted to fit our standard margins and fonts.
How do I submit my essay if my teacher cannot do it for me? Try to find any other teacher or guidance counselor at your school who can submit for you. If this isn’t an option, please email us at [email protected] .
Can my guidance counselor or another school administrator submit my essay for me? Yes.
Can I submit for my student who is currently studying abroad? Students must be studying at the same school as the teacher who submits their essays.
Can I change information after I have submitted? No, please make sure all information is correct before submitting because it will be final.
How does the teacher vouch for the originality of the student’s work? Your submission represents your authentication that the essays are the original work of your students.
I submitted late. Will my essay still be judged? Late submissions will not be judged.
Where’s the confirmation email? It may take some time for the email to get to you. If you haven’t received it by the end of the day, either check your junk mailbox or double check that the email address you provided is correct. If neither of those options work, email [email protected] .
Summarized below are some of the most common issues judges note in reading submitted essays.
Check out the links below for excerpts from past winners’ essays!
Want to become a judge? If you are a current-year ASHG member, you will receive an email each February inviting you to volunteer. If you did not receive the email or cannot locate it, please contact [email protected] . You can also volunteer by the visiting the ASHG involvement page. You may forward the judge recruiting email ONLY to fellow ASHG current members. The deadline to sign up as a judge is the usually the end of February for that year’s Contest. If you have questions about future years, please contact [email protected]
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Enter one of our contests today for a chance to win up to $10,000!
Participating Students
Prize Money Awarded to Date
Program Founded
For nearly four decades, the Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual student essay contests on Ayn Rand’s novels. These contests encourage students to seriously engage with Rand’s ideas through reflection on her profound and influential novels. Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will achieve a deeper appreciation for Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy that underlies them.
Open to all 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students worldwide.
Deadline to enter: May 31, 2024
Open to all middle & high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older.
Deadline to enter: September 13, 2024
Open to all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide.
Deadline to enter: September 20, 2024
Select the book according to your level of education, and begin reading. Pay attention to the themes and character motivations, and be thinking about how you might answer the essay topic questions.
As you start to write, be thinking about how to answer the essay question you have chosen to write on. Be sure to give yourself enough time to construct a coherent outline, find supporting evidence, and revise your draft a couple times.
Submit your essay online using ARI’s application portal. Be sure to check that the information you provide in your application is correct, and that your essay satisfies our requirements.
Grading for all submissions begins once the deadline has passed. Essays go through three separate grading stages, and the final results are announced approximately three to four months after the entry deadline.
Essays are judged on whether the student is able to justify and argue for his or her view, not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses.
Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized. Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel.
Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of the novel.
Understanding.
Students can receive free digital copies of all of Ayn Rand’s novels at aynrand.org/freebooks . All you have to do is say a few words about who you are and why you want to read the book, and we’ll send you a copy within one business day—no strings attached. If you would prefer to read a physical copy, you may purchase them via the links on our website. They are also likely available at your local bookstore or library.
You may participate if you are in a lower grade than what is listed, but not if you are in a higher grade. Please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions about your eligibility status. (Note: Students must be at least 13 years of age or older in order to participate. We make no exceptions to this rule.)
Yes, please cite the page number(s) and place quotation marks around any material you choose to include from the novel you are writing on. A bibliography is only necessary if you choose to include secondary source material in your essay.
No. You may submit one essay per contest, per year—provided you meet the grade-level requirements and are eligible to enter.
Yes! You are more than welcome to enter multiple contests, provided you do not exceed any of the grade-level restrictions.
Yes, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements for the contest and were not previously a first-place winner. In fact, some students have won prizes multiple years in a row!
No. All awards are cash prizes. We place no restrictions on how the prize money is spent by recipients.
No, this will have no effect on your chances of winning. Judges look for writing that demonstrates a clear understanding of the novel, not whether the student agrees with it.
Have a different question?
Write to us at [email protected] . We typically respond within two to five business days.
The Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual essay contests on Ayn Rand’s fiction since 1985, awarding over $2.2 million in total prizes to students worldwide.
Updates From ARI
Copyright © 1985 – 2024 The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI). Reproduction of content and images in whole or in part is prohibited. All rights reserved. ARI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to ARI in the United States are tax-exempt to the extent provided by law. Objectivist Conferences (OCON), Ayn Rand Conference (ARC), Ayn Rand University (ARU) and the Ayn Rand Institute eStore are operated by ARI. Payments to OCON, ARC, ARU or the Ayn Rand Institute eStore do not qualify as tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. AYN RAND, AYN RAND INSTITUTE, ARI, AYN RAND UNIVERSITY and the AYN RAND device are trademarks of the Ayn Rand Institute. All rights reserved.
The Goi Peace Foundation
Click here to GET your Certificate online Download is available until December 31, 2024
This annual essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also 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 program is an activity within the framework of UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs ( ESD for 2030 ).
The Essay Contest online registration page is currently experiencing high traffic ("Error establishing database connection", "Not Found", etc. ). If you are having difficulty, please try again after a few hours, and you should be able to get through. In case you are unable to access the page before the deadline, we will still accept your essay.
Click here to send your essay online
Theme | Conflicts occur for a variety of reasons, including differences in opinions and values. Have you ever had an experience of overcoming a conflict that you were involved in? What did you learn from that experience? How do you want to make use of what you learned, for your own life and for society? | |
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Guidelines | 1. | Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2024) in one of the following age categories: a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 - 25) |
2. | Essays must be 700 words or less in English or French, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese. Essays must be typed, with your name, email address and essay title included at the top of the first page. | |
3. | , and follow the required steps. Entries submitted by postal mail or e-mail are not accepted. Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group by creating an ‘account for school/organization entrant’ on the online registration page. * Only one entry per person is accepted. | |
4. | Essays must be original and unpublished. | |
5. | Entries that include plagiarized content or content created by generative AI (such as ChatGPT) will be rejected. | |
6. | Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted. | |
7. | By submitting your essay, you give permission to the organizer to publish it in any medium. Ownership of the essay remains with the entrant. | |
8. | section below. | |
Deadline | Entries must be received by | |
Awards | The following awards will be given in the Children’s category and Youth category respectively: * 1st to 3rd prize winners will be invited to the Winners Gathering to be held online. * Additional awards (Best School Award, School Incentive Award) will be given if applicable. * All prize winners will be announced on October 31, 2024 (Japan time) on this website. Certificates and gifts will be mailed to the winners in January 2025. * We are unable to answer individual inquiries concerning contest results. |
Under the auspices of.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, Japan Private High School Federation Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Nikkei Inc
SEIKO GROUP CORPORATION, PLUS CORPORATION
For further inquiries concerning the International Essay Contest for Young People, please contact [email protected]
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If you still have a question, click below Inquiry Form
Past Winning Essays 2020 Winners' Gathering Report
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The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.
Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31 .
About the 2023-2024 winner ...
Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513. Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award ceremony or read it here .
Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full Parade of Winners ceremony which was streamed live on Facebook, or see this year's complete list of winners .
Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000!
The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31 .
Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.
Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or read his essay here. See the complete list of 2024 national winners .
Voice of democracy entry form, voice of democracy national scholarship listing, 2023-2024 patriot's pen winners, patriot's pen entry form, patriot's pen national scholarship listing, sponsor a youth scholarship.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The New Hanover County Community Remembrance Project is sponsoring the second essay contest for all 9th-12th grade public high school students in New Hanover County.
The project is being sponsored in conjunction with the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama.
“We conducted a successful essay contest in the 2022-23 school year, in which 8 students from 6 different public high schools in New Hanover won $6000! At least $5,000 prize money will be awarded this year to the winner(s) of this contest. We would like you to make your students aware of this contest. The contest launches September 1, and the final date for entry of an essay is December 15, 2024,” New Hanover County Community Remembrance Project wrote in a press release.
More information about the contest can be found here .
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.
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Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story. 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.".
AFSA National High School Essay Contest. ... For example, one year, the theme was "Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization." Submissions may be prose, poetry or non-academic essays. Maximum word count is 2,500, and this is open to all nationalities and to anyone 18 or older. The winner gets a £10,000 cash prize, second place gets £3,000 ...
Genres: Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, and Thriller The Claymore Award is an annual writing contest aimed at helping new and rebranding authors get published. It seeks the best first 50 pages of unpublished manuscripts, plays, or screenplays, focusing on genres like mystery, thriller, and action.
19) American Foreign Service Association Essay Contest. With this writing competition for high school students, entrants may submit essays ranging from 1,000-1,500 words about diplomacy, history, and international politics (specific prompts vary by year). Eligibility: Students in grades nine through twelve may apply.
Each submission requires a $25 entry fee via Submittable, and multiple entries are allowed. Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, writing quality, and adherence to genre, with finalists announced in October 2024, shortlisted in January 2025, and winners in March 2025. Deadline: July 01, 2024.
Each entry round features a unique topic designed to provoke a deeper understanding of the book's central themes and characters. Essays must be written in English only and between 800 and 1,600 words in length, double-spaced. ... Curious to know what makes for a winning essay in The Fountainhead contest? Check out some of the essays written ...
Choose YourEssay Topic. Select one of the following three prompts about Anthem and write an essay in response to it. Essays must be written in English only and between 600 and 1,200 words in length, double-spaced. Questions? Write to us at [email protected]. Prompt #1. Prompt #2. Prompt #3.
Published Jan. 20, 2022 Updated Jan. 25, 2022. For a third year, we invited students from 11 to 19 to tell us short, powerful stories about a meaningful life experience for our Personal Narrative ...
8. 2021 We the Students Essay Contest. 9. Student Essay Contest Sponsored by AWM and Math for America. 10. Civics Education Essay Contest. 11. St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition. Essay contests are unusual because to win them you have to use your words.
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest international writing competition for schools, proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. ... Find out more about this year's theme 'Our Common Wealth'. 140 years of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition. The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition ...
The 2024 contest theme, "Tell Your Climate Story," invites you to become a climate witness, sharing your personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about the rapidly changing climate. ... The SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, is a great ...
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we've published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Prize: First Place: $3,000 Entry Fee: $22. Deadline: May 1, 2024. Sponsor: Winning Writers (Co-sponsored by Duotrope) From Website: "For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished.
Atlas Shrugged is a mystery novel like no other. You enter a world where scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and inventors are inexplicably vanishing—where the world is crumbling. And what you discover, by the end, is an uplifting vision of life, an inspiring cast of heroes, and a challenging new way to think about life's most important issues.
Here's a step-by-step guide to writing essays that impress judges. Follow these steps for your best chances of winning writing contests. The criteria that the judges will use to pick the winners. Who the sponsoring company is, and what their branding is like. Select the Essay Concept that Best Fits the Contest's Theme and Sponsor.
FRA sponsors an annual essay contest to promote the spirit of Americanism and patriotism among our country's youth. FRA's Americanism Essay Contest is open to all students, grades 7 through 12, including those who are home schooled. Students are invited to submit a 350-word essay through an FRA member or local FRA branch before the December ...
Swamp Pink. Submit nonfiction personal essays of up to 25 pages to this annual competition, formerly known as the Crazyhorse Prizes; the winners receive a $2,000 prize and publication in the literary magazine swamp pink. Deadline: January 1st to January 31st , 2024. First-place prize: $2,000.
The contest is open to all full-time BYU undergraduate (12+ credits) and graduate students (8+ credits) enrolled in Fall Semester 2024. Essays should be approximately 750 words. Your name must not appear anywhere on your essay. Submit your essay online here. Essay submission deadline: Thursday, September 23, 2024, by MIDNIGHT.
Annual DNA Day Essay Contest
Start Your Essay Today! The Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual essay contests on Ayn Rand's fiction since 1985, awarding over $2.2 million in total prizes to students worldwide. Enter one of our contests today for a chance to win up to $10,000! Enter Contest.
Guidelines. 1. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2024) in one of the following age categories: a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 - 25) 2. Essays must be 700 words or less in English or French, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese. Essays must be typed, with your name, email address and essay ...
The Idaho County Republican Women's Club (ICRWC) is having an essay contest for youth, with three themes to choose from: American Founding Fathers' Divine Inspiration, Ensuring Future Liberty of America, and Keeping the American Republic Strong. There will be a $500 prize and two winners awarded ...
Rules. At the time of the contest, eligible participants must be Students enrolled in one of these four divisions: I—5th grade; II—6th grade; III—7th grade; or IV—8th grade. Essay length is not to exceed 300 words. Essay must be typed or legibly printed in ink. Also, Essay must be submitted as written (or typed) by the entrant.
Patriot's Pen. Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW's Patriot's Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000!
"We conducted a successful essay contest in the 2022-23 school year, in which 8 students from 6 different public high schools in New Hanover won $6000! ... The contest launches September 1, and the final date for entry of an essay is December 15, 2024," New Hanover County Community Remembrance Project wrote in a press release. More ...
FFRF has offered essay competitions to college students since 1979, high school students since 1994, grad students since 2010 and one dedicated to students of color since 2016. A fifth contest, open to law students, began in 2019. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 40,000 members across the country.