Best Humanities Opportunities for High Schoolers
Top humanities competitions, scholarships, and programs for high school students.
200 opportunities found
Student Open Letter Contest
The New York Times Learning NetworkContest inviting students to write open letters on civic and current issues. Winning letters are published on the NYT Learning Network; past topics in...
One Teen Story
One StoryFree writing contest for teen writers ages 13-19. Winners are edited, published, and paid for their work.
Acumen Poetry Magazine - Submissions
AcumenLiterary magazine publishing new poetry, translations, articles, and reviews. Open submissions for poets of all levels.
Young Emerging Authors (YEA) Fellowship
The Telling RoomFree, paid 15-month writing and publishing fellowship for Maine students to write, edit, and publish their own books with mentorship and peer support.
Summer Reading Contest - Podcast Challenge
The New York Times Learning NetworkStudents create an original five-minute podcast about almost any topic. Selected winners from 1,400+ submissions are published.
International Philosophy Olympiad
International Philosophy OlympiadTwo-stage online competition where high school students write essays and debate philosophical questions about ethics, knowledge, and existence.
Scripps National Spelling Bee
Scripps NetworksPremier national spelling competition for middle and high school students showcasing vocabulary mastery and competitive excellence.
National Forensic League (NFL) - Partners & Competitions
National Forensic LeagueSpeech & debate honor society offering multiple national competitions including IPPF, American Legion oratory, and international WSDC debate formats w...
Illinois History Day
Illinois State Museum6-12th grade project-based program for researching and competing in history competitions, with advancement to national competition.
Texas History Day
Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)Project-based statewide research program and competition for grades 3-12 affiliated with National History Day, where students investigate primary sour...
National History Day (NHD) in DC
DC History Center, National History Day Inc.Students research and present on annual NHD themes through various formats. DC-wide contest in March with advancement to national competition.
National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA)
National Speech & Debate AssociationLargest speech and debate organization in the US, supporting interscholastic tournaments and competitions since 1925.
Miniversity Singapore Debate Olympiad
Miniversity SingaporeIn-person international debate tournament featuring World Schools Debate competition at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB)
Ethics BowlCompetitive program where high school teams debate and discuss ethical issues, developing critical thinking and argumentation skills.
Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl (IEB) - 2026 National Cases
Intercollegiate Ethics BowlNational ethics competition featuring case-based discussions on contemporary ethical dilemmas for high school and college students.
International Ethics Bowl (IEB)
Association for Practical and Professional EthicsCompetitive debate competition where high school and college teams analyze and discuss ethical cases, developing reasoning, speaking, and moral philos...
Michigan History Day
Historical Society of MichiganProject-based learning program where students research historical topics related to annual theme and create projects in paper, exhibit, documentary, w...
John Locke Essay Competition
Modus Ponens InstituteEssay competition for high school students on topics related to John Locke and political philosophy.
National History Day (NHD) - Kansas State Contest
National History Day / Kansas History DayStudents research historical topics and compete in nine categories (paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, website) across junior and senior divisi...
Young Writers & Leaders (YWL)
The Telling RoomFree 9-month afterschool literary arts program for high school students with international/multicultural backgrounds. Students explore poetry, spoken ...
USA FORENSICS OLYMPIAD Global Summer Cup USAFO 2026
USA Forensics OlympiadOnline forensics competition with debate events (PF, LD, CD). Official qualifier for 2027 USAFO Championship with cash prizes and bids to nationals.
NABJ Scholarships
National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)Annual scholarships up to $10,000 for high school and college students pursuing journalism, broadcast, print, online media, photography, graphic desig...
QuestBridge Law Fellows/Stanford Law School
Envision Experience, QuestBridge & Stanford Law SchoolScholarship program for law-interested students through partnership with QuestBridge and Stanford Law School.
Vermont History Day
Vermont History Day (affiliated with National History Day)Students develop research and critical thinking skills through project-based learning, create history projects, and compete at annual state contest.
History Day
Western Michigan UniversityStudents research historical topics and compete in various presentation formats including exhibits, documentaries, performances, and papers at distric...
Quest for Excellence Awards - Humanities
QuestBridge$1,000 award for College Prep Scholars with special skills in humanities, social sciences, and/or visual and performing arts.
NHD In Idaho State Contest
National History Day (NHD)State-level history competition where students research, create projects, and present on annual themes in categories like exhibits, documentaries, pap...
Mississippi History Day
Mississippi Department of Archives & HistoryState affiliate of National History Day competition for middle and high school students to conduct historical research around annual themes.
JEA Student Awards
Journalism Education Association (JEA)National awards recognizing excellence in journalism for high school students across the United States.
Yale Series of Younger Poets Prize
Yale University PressOldest annual literary award in the US for emerging poets. Submit original book-length poetry manuscript for chance to win $1000 advance, publication ...
Achievement Awards in Writing
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)Annual writing competition recognizing excellence in student writing. High school sophomores and juniors submit original works to compete for awards a...
New York Times Student Writing Contest - Weekly Prompts
The New York Times Learning NetworkWeekly writing contests where high school students submit responses to prompts based on real-world NYT features like narratives, essays, videos, and p...
Stanford Summer Preview - Social Sciences and Humanities Courses
Stanford UniversitySummer courses for high school students in social sciences and humanities. Browse and apply to be a visiting Stanford student for summer enrollment.
Young Writers Awards
Bennington CollegePrestigious high school writing competition honoring outstanding writing achievement. Students submit original writing in various categories.
Vermont Youth Poet Laureate
Sundog Poetry in partnership with Urban Word, Flynn Center, Ruth Stone House, and Young Writers ProjectAnnual poetry competition recognizing top youth poets in Vermont who demonstrate artistic excellence, civic engagement, and social impact through thei...
ISD Lincoln-Douglas Debate Summer Camp
ISD (Institute for Speech and Debate)Two-week or one-week residential/commuter summer debate camp focusing on Lincoln-Douglas debate, philosophy, ethics, and competitive argumentation ski...
Philosophy Olympiad
Philosophy OlympiadA competitive philosophy olympiad for high school students with registration, competition, and finalist selection phases.
PLATO Student Advisory Council
PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization)Leadership opportunity for high school students interested in philosophy education. Members help improve access to philosophy education and assume lea...
Michigan History Day (MHD) Contests
Historical Society of Michigan / National History DayMulti-stage history competition where students create projects (documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, websites) about historical topics and c...
Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention
JEA (Journalism Education Association) and NSPA (National Scholastic Press Association)The nation's largest gathering of scholastic journalists, advisers and journalism teachers featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, awards, and ...
The Future of History
FPSPI (Future Problem Solving Program International)International competition where students explore how to preserve, protect, and safeguard historical knowledge, sites, structures, records, and artifac...
Institute for Speech and Debate (ISD) - Carolina
Institute for Speech and DebateWeek-long residential and commuter speech and debate summer camp at UNC Chapel Hill with specialized instruction in speech events and debate.
Kansas History Day State Contest
Kansas History Day FoundationStudents create history projects in various categories competing for medals, scholarships, and prizes. Top entries advance to National History Day com...
OkNHD State Contest
Oklahoma National History Day (OkNHD)State-level competition where students present history projects in various categories including exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers, and web...
Quill and Scroll Student Scholarships in Journalism
Quill and ScrollScholarships for high school seniors pursuing journalism and communications majors in college, including Edward J. Nell Memorial, George and Ophelia G...
Massachusetts History Day 2027
Massachusetts Historical SocietyStudents research historical topics and create projects (exhibits, papers, performances, documentaries, or websites) to compete in a statewide history...
SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest
Society of Professional Journalists Foundation and Journalism Education AssociationEssay contest for high school students on media literacy and independent, ethical media with scholarship awards.
National History Day (NHD) - Wyoming
Wyoming History Day / National History DayMulti-level history competition where students create projects (websites, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or papers) on historical topics and c...
REALM Awards (NCTE Student Writing Awards)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)Student writing awards recognizing excellence in literary magazines and student publications, with First Class designation for outstanding school maga...
Intensive Law & Trial in Collaboration with Stanford Law School
Envision by WorldStrides10-day pre-college summer program at Stanford Law School where high school students learn trial law, conduct mock trials, and receive instruction from...
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies (SPCS)Three-week residential program where rising high school juniors and seniors explore big humanities questions in seminars led by Stanford professors an...
The Future of History Research Unit (World Finals 2025)
Future Problem Solving Program InternationalResearch unit providing topic introduction, curated readings, and problem-solving tools for the Future of History competition topic at World Finals 20...
New York State History Day
Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY Oneonta and the New York Public History TrustYear-long educational program where students explore history, conduct research, and create projects for competition at local to national levels.
Ayn Rand Essay Contest - The Fountainhead
Ayn Rand InstituteHigh school students write essays analyzing Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead, competing for scholarship prizes up to $25,000.
Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest
Hollins UniversityAnnual poetry competition for high school sophomore and junior girls. Submit 1-2 unpublished poems for chance to win cash prizes, scholarships, and pu...
REALM (Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)Annual awards recognizing excellence in high school student literary magazines. Schools submit their magazines for evaluation and top publications rec...
Polyphony Lit Summer Contest 2026
Polyphony LitHigh school writing contest themed around 'home' accepting poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Winners published and receive editorial feedback ...
Oklahoma National History Day
Oklahoma Historical SocietyAcademic program for grades 6-12 where students research historical topics, create projects, and compete at regional, state, and national levels.
Fountainhead College Scholarship Essay Contest
Ayn Rand InstituteEssay competition for high school students with awards up to $25,000 for college.
ISD (I Speak and Debate)
I Speak and DebatePremier speech and debate summer camp with individualized coaching from top faculty, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
One Story Writing Classes and Programs
One StoryAward-winning literary publisher offering writing classes, workshops, and intensive programs for aspiring writers.
Oklahoma National History Day Regional Contests
Oklahoma History Center / National History DayRegional qualifying contests for Oklahoma NHD, divided into 7 regions. Students compete in history research projects across categories (paper, exhibit...
JEA Awards & Contests
Journalism Education Association (JEA)Journalism awards and contests program coordinated by JEA committee, with upcoming deadlines in August.
JEA National Student Media Contests - Fall 2026
Journalism Education Association (JEA)National student media competitions covering journalism, photography, design, broadcast, and digital media across 50 contest categories.
Institute for Speech and Debate Summer Programs 2026
Institute for Speech and DebateSummer speech and debate programs including Congressional Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum, Interpretation, Oratory, and Foundations.
Ayn Rand Essay Contest - Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand InstituteHigh school students write essays analyzing Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged, competing for scholarship prizes up to $25,000.
One Teen Story Contest
One StoryAnnual writing contest for teens ages 13-19 to submit original short fiction about the teen experience. Winners published and paid $500.
Poetry Society of America Annual Awards
Poetry Society of AmericaPrestigious annual poetry awards recognizing emerging and established poets at all career stages, including a student poetry award.
International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) Preparation
Modus Ponens InstitutePersonalized philosophy study and essay coaching for national selection and the International Philosophy Olympiad competition.
NSPA Individual Awards
National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)Competition recognizing outstanding achievements of individual student journalists and small teams across 45 contests in 11 categories. Winners announ...
Humanities Summer Program: The Arts of Power and Knowledge in the Renaissance
Carleton CollegeTwo-week summer program for high school students exploring Renaissance humanities through history, philosophy, art history, and mapmaking with researc...
National History Day in Minnesota
Minnesota Historical SocietyCo-curricular program for students in grades 6-12 focusing on historical research and analysis on topics of their choosing.
Poetry Out Loud - Michigan
Michigan HumanitiesDynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students. State champion competes nationally for $20,000 college scholarship.
Wyoming History Day
American Heritage Center / National History DayYear-long history education program where students research an annual theme and create performances, exhibits, documentaries, or papers evaluated at l...
Patriots v. Loyalists Virtual Supreme Court Competition
Harlan InstituteHigh school moot court competition where teams argue for/against American independence using primary sources from before July 4, 1776.
Creative Writing
Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI)Students write original short stories (1,500 words max) responding to future-focused annual topics, competing individually across three grade division...
NSDA Student Membership
National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA)Join a school-based team to compete in speech and debate events, access training resources, and qualify for the National Tournament.
National History Day - Local State Contests
National History Day (NHD)State-level history competitions where students research historical topics and present projects in various formats.
National History Day 2027
National History DayAnnual history competition for students exploring the theme 'Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change'
Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
The Kenyon ReviewAnnual poetry competition for high school sophomores and juniors. Submit one unpublished poem for chance to win publication and full scholarship to Ke...
National History Day in Delaware (NHDDE)
Delaware Historical SocietyAnnual educational competition for grades 6-12 where students conduct historical research and create projects including performances, exhibits, docume...
National History Day Arkansas
National History Day / Arkansas PBSAcademic program for students to research historical topics, create presentations, and compete at local, state, and national levels.
Maryland History Day
Maryland HumanitiesAnnual history competition for middle and high school students to create original projects exploring historical themes through documentaries, exhibits...
National History Day in North Dakota
North Dakota StudiesProject-based learning competition where students research historical topics and present in documentary, paper, exhibit, performance, or website forma...
National History Day - Rhode Island
Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS)Students conduct historical research and present projects as documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or websites in annual competition.
Tennessee History Day
Tennessee Historical SocietyA state-level history competition where students create projects exploring historical themes and compete at district, regional, state, and national le...
Extemp (Impromptu Speaking Competition)
DebateUSExtemporaneous speaking competition covering foreign and domestic current events. Students prepare and deliver speeches on assigned topics with minima...
USA FORENSICS OLYMPIAD Global Summer Opener
USA Forensics Olympiad (IOF)Official qualifier for 2027 USAFO Championship featuring debate competitions (PF, LD, CD) with cash prizes and bid opportunities for top competitors.
Connecticut History Day
Connecticut Democracy Center / National History DayAnnual program engaging middle and high school students in historical research, interpretation, and creative expression through project-based learning...
MYDI Summer Tournament 2026
National Speech & Debate AssociationSummer speech and debate tournament hosted on Tabroom.com for high school competitors.
Massachusetts History Day
Massachusetts Historical SocietyState affiliate of National History Day where students conduct historical research and present projects as documentaries, websites, performances, pape...
National History Day in Indiana
Indiana Historical SocietyStudents in grades 4-12 research and present projects on historical topics fitting an annual theme, with optional competition.
National History Day in Wisconsin
National History Day / Wisconsin Historical SocietyAcademic enrichment program for 6th-12th graders where students research history topics and create projects (exhibits, documentaries, papers, websites...
Wildcat Writers
University of Arizona Writing ProgramHigh school-college partnership program fostering creative and critical literacies through collaborative writing partnerships and community-based acti...
One Teen Story Teen Writing Contest
One StoryA writing contest for teen authors, as evidenced by the published winning story 'Belonging' by Zahra Azar featured on the site.
National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)
National Scholastic Press AssociationMembership organization promoting journalism standards and ethics through education, training, and recognition programs for high school student journa...
Scholastic Journalism Credentialing Program (SJCP)
Journalism Education AssociationEarn industry-backed badges in scholastic journalism skills including editing, writing, photojournalism, design, and more.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
DebateUSLincoln-Douglas debate competition with seasonal topics including Living Wage, Wealth Tax, and other policy debates.
Four Quartets Prize
Poetry Society of AmericaAward for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in print or online journals, chapbooks, or books.
National History Day in North Carolina (N.C. History Day)
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources / National History DayStudents research historical topics connected to annual themes and present findings as papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites, com...
The Maureen O'Donnell Scholarship for Academic Excellence
National Latin Exam (NLE)Up to 15 scholarships of $2,000 each awarded annually to qualifying high school seniors who are gold medal winners on advanced NLE exams, requiring La...
Critical Thinking and Debate
Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA)Develop critical thinking, public speaking, and argumentative skills through structured debates on student-chosen topics.
Poetry Out Loud (POL)
National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry FoundationNational program inviting students to read, analyze, memorize and perform poetry, with both competitive and classroom-based options for strengthening ...
National Writing Invitational - Discovery Category
National Writing InvitationalSubmit original discoveries, ideas, facts, experiences, or philosophies on any topic for a national writing competition.
Terrapin K Ethics Tournaments
Terrapin K Ethics / Modus Ponens InstituteOnline ethics olympiads for middle and high school students emphasizing respectful, rigorous ethical discussion across the Americas and Europe.
Hawaiʻi History Day 2027
Hawaiʻi Council for the HumanitiesStudents research and present historical topics through exhibits, papers, performances, and documentaries at regional and state fairs.
Institute for Speech and Debate
Institute for Speech and DebateNationally recognized speech and debate summer camp with day and overnight programs for middle and high school students.
Future Problem Solving Program International - Creative Writing
Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI)Students write original short stories (1,500 words or less) imagining outcomes of future scenarios based on annual problem topics.
Ayn Rand Essay Contest - Anthem
Ayn Rand InstituteHigh school students write essays analyzing Ayn Rand's novel Anthem, competing for scholarship prizes up to $25,000.
National Language Exam (NLE) 2026
LingcoNational competitive language exam for high school students to demonstrate linguistic proficiency and academic excellence in language studies.
Oregon History Day
Oregon Historical SocietyStudents present Oregon history projects in five categories, competing at regional and state levels toward National History Day.
Extemporaneous Speaking Summer Camp
ISD (Institute for Speech and Debate)Two-week or one-week residential/commuter summer camp teaching extemporaneous speaking skills through content lectures, strategy labs, and practice ro...
Vermont History Day State Contest
Vermont National History DayState-level history competition where students research historical topics and present findings in various formats including exhibits, papers, document...
APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl
APPE (Association for Practical and Professional Ethics)Intercollegiate ethics competition where students debate philosophical and ethical issues.
APPE International Conference
American Philosophical Practitioners Exchange (APPE)Annual conference for ethics professionals featuring presentations, networking, keynotes, and the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition.
Extemporaneous Speaking
ISD (Institute for Speech and Debate)2-week residential summer program teaching extemporaneous speaking skills, research, and argumentation for competitive debate.
Alabama History Day
Alabama HumanitiesState competition where middle and high school students conduct historical research and present findings as papers, documentaries, websites, performan...
DisLit Youth Literary Magazine
DisLit Youth Literary MagazineSafe space for disabled teens to publish personal memoirs, poems, essays, and creative writing pieces
Narrative High School Writing Contest - My Note to the World
Narrative MagazineCreate a poem, story, or letter addressing a global or personal challenge, proposing solutions and sharing your unique perspective on issues you care ...
2026 Fall Global AI Debates
Future of Life InstituteInternational debate and speech competition on AI ethics topics. Students compete in solo speeches or team essays arguing positions on AI development ...
History Day Competition
Maryland HumanitiesStudents in grades 6-12 research a historical topic of interest in-depth and present it creatively in a friendly competition format.
Critical Media Literacy
Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA)Seminar developing critical media literacy skills to analyze news, fact-check sources, and engage in respectful dialogue about current events.
Connecticut History Day Regional Contest
Connecticut History Day (affiliated with National History Day)Students create history projects in multiple categories (exhibits, documentaries, papers, performances, websites) based on an annual theme and compete...
Original Oratory and Informative Speaking Summer Camp
ISD (Institute for Speech and Debate)Two-week or one-week residential/commuter summer camp where students write and deliver original 10-minute speeches from memory, developing their voice...
Quill and Scroll Contests and Critiques
Quill and ScrollThree major annual competitions for high school journalists: Writing/Visual/Multimedia Contest, Yearbook Excellence Contest, and PSJA Journalism Conte...
JEA National Student Media Contests (NSMC)
Journalism Education Association (JEA)High school journalism competition featuring 50 categories including writing, design, photo, and broadcast for students to showcase excellence.
Foyle Young Poets
Foyle Young PoetsPoetry writing competition for young poets to submit original works for judging and recognition.
Quill and Scroll Honor Society - Student Membership
Quill and ScrollHonor society membership for high school students excelling in journalism and school media with B grade average or upper third class standing.
Sundog Poetry Book Award
Sundog PoetryAnnual poetry book award for unpublished or recently published poetry manuscripts. Winners receive publication and recognition from established judges...
The Future of History - 2025 International Conference
FPSPI (Future Problem Solving Program International)International conference exploring how to preserve, protect, and safeguard historical knowledge, sites, structures, records, and artifacts for future ...
National History Day Georgia
Georgia Humanities and LaGrange CollegeStudents research historical topics related to an annual theme and present findings through exhibits, papers, documentaries, websites, or performances...
MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop
MIPA (Michigan Interscholastic Press Association)Five-day residential summer program at Michigan State University for students grades 7-12 to explore journalism and media on campus.
Ethics Bowl
Ethics in a NutshellAcademic competition focused on ethics and philosophical debate for high school students.
A Literary Retreat at Cavallo Point
Catamaran Literary ReaderFour-day intimate writing retreat at Cavallo Point Lodge with small-group workshops (12 participants) led by acclaimed authors Jane Smiley, Charles Ho...
Institute for Speech and Debate Summer Camp
Institute for Speech and DebateAward-winning summer camp building confidence, leadership, and communication skills through speech and debate instruction for middle and high school s...
NSPA Individual Awards for Middle School and Junior High Journalists
National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)Competition recognizing outstanding achievements of individual students and small teams in journalism across design, photojournalism, and storytelling...
NWR Summer 2026 Contests - Poetry and Prose Awards
Northwest ReviewSubmit poetry or prose for blind judged competition. Winners published in Winter 2027 issue and receive $1,000 each.
Go On Girl! Book Club Unpublished Writer Award
Go On Girl! Book ClubAnnual $1,000 literary award for unpublished writers of African descent. Submit original fiction (short story or novel excerpt, max 2000 words) for co...
The Christine Fernald Sleeper Educational Travel Award
National Latin Exam (NLE)Annual award of up to $5,000 for a student or recipient to fund an educational travel program of their choosing, honoring the NLE's love of classics a...
National History Day at Spencer Research Library
Spencer Research Library, University of KansasHigh school students access primary source collections for History Day research projects, with librarian support for topic exploration, source analysi...
New York Times Learning Network Writing Contests
The New York TimesWeekly writing competitions where high school students submit responses to prompts based on real-world features like narratives, opinion essays, and v...
Extemp Congress 2026-27
DebateUSExtemporaneous speaking competition resources covering foreign and domestic policy topics with instructional materials, teaching resources, and curren...
2027 National History Day in Pennsylvania State Contest
University of Scranton / National History DayState-level history competition for middle and high school students. Participants create projects on annual themes.
National Writing Invitational
National Writing InvitationalMonthly writing contest open to K-12 students. Submit stories in any style for monthly publication and annual awards consideration.
Writer's Digest Personal Essay Awards
Writer's DigestEssay competition with annual announcement of winners in May/June Writer's Digest issue.
DebateUS
DebateUSOnline debate platform offering policy debate resources, competitions, and educational content for high school debaters.
Rubincam Youth Writing Competition - Senior Category
National Genealogical Society (NGS)Annual writing competition for high school students (grades 9-12) to submit genealogy research papers. Winners receive $500, plaque, and NGS membershi...
JEA National Journalism Quiz Bowl
JEA (Journalism Education Association) and NSPA (National Scholastic Press Association)National quiz bowl competition for high school journalism teams testing knowledge across journalism, media law, AP Style, and current events.
Your Story
Writer's DigestBimonthly creative writing challenge where participants submit short stories based on provided prompts for publication and prizes.
Writer's Digest Annual Poetry Awards
Writer's DigestCompetition exclusively for poetry with two categories and prizes for winners.
Student Poetry Award 2026
Poetry Society of AmericaAnnual award recognizing the best unpublished poem by high school students (grades 9-12) from the US. Students submit original, previously unpublished...
RTDNF Carole Simpson Scholarship
Radio Television Digital News Foundation (RTDNF)Scholarship for minority students pursuing broadcast journalism careers, established in 1991 in honor of Carole Simpson, pioneering African American b...
The Bedford Competition 2024
The Bedford CompetitionUK-based creative writing competition with categories for short story and poetry, open to writers internationally. Results page for the 2024 cycle.
Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition
Writer's DigestFiction competition for short stories of 1,500 words or fewer currently accepting entries.
Saint Thomas More Scholarship
Belmont Abbey CollegeScholarship for students demonstrating wisdom, learning, and courage in pursuing truth and applying it to secular affairs with moral integrity.
The Past is Prologue Essay Contest
American Battle Monuments Foundation (ABMF)Essay contest exploring the legacy of American military service overseas by writing about historic battles linked to U.S. military cemeteries or monum...
Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine
Cathartic Youth Literary MagazineA space for youth writing on mental health and identity
Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Art & Writing Contest
Chapman UniversityStudents create art, film, poetry, or prose responding to Holocaust survivor/rescuer testimonies, exploring how hope enabled endurance and resistance.
2027 Senior European Ethics Olympiad
The Kindness Ethics Foundation (TK Ethics)Online ethics competition for 14-18 year-old European/UK students. Teams of 3-5 engage in structured ethical discussions across four rounds on complex...
2027 Senior Pan-American Ethics Olympiad
The Kindness Ethics Foundation (TK Ethics)Online ethics competition for high school students (14-18) from the Americas. Teams of 3-5 engage in structured ethical discussions through four compe...
High School Journalism Institute
Indiana UniversityTraining program for high school journalists to develop skills and prepare for careers in journalism.
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE)
APPENon-profit dedicated to advancing scholarship, education, and practice in practical and professional ethics since 1991.
Ada Long Summer Creative Writing Workshop
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) - Department of EnglishTwo-week summer workshop where high school students work with acclaimed fiction writers, essayists, and poets in small groups and one-on-one mentoring...
Iowa Summer Journalism Workshops
University of IowaSummer journalism workshops for high school students with scholarships available to offset costs.
Catamaran Summer Literary Retreat
Catamaran Literary Arts OrganizationFour-day writing retreat at Cavallo Point in Sausalito featuring workshops with acclaimed authors, readings, and literary conversations for aspiring w...
GEM High School Internship Program
Idaho State Historical SocietyHigh school internship at Idaho State Museum where students work on exhibit design, youth programming, and event coordination while earning a $500 sti...
The Linda S. Montross New Latin Educators Scholarship
National Latin Exam (NLE)Up to 10 scholarships of $2,000 each awarded annually to high school seniors, college students, or master's degree students pursuing Latin education a...
AFSA Scholarship
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)Scholarship opportunity for students interested in the Foreign Service and international affairs, offered by AFSA.
Alaska History Day
Alaska History DayStudents in grades 6-12 create historical projects, build research skills, and learn project management and writing skills.
2027 Massachusetts History Day: Innovation in History
Massachusetts History DayStudents research and present on historical topics through exhibits, documentaries, performances, or websites exploring innovation in history.
Modern Monsters: Culture, Meaning, & Writing
Bennington CollegeWeek-long summer workshop exploring culture, meaning, and storytelling while building critical and creative writing skills and developing your unique ...
Writer's Digest Writing Contests & Competitions
Writer's DigestHub for multiple writing competitions including short stories, screenwriting, self-published e-books, and popular fiction across various genres.
Questions: Philosophy for Young People Journal
PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization) / Philosophy Documentation CenterAnnual journal publishing philosophical work by K-12 students including essays, poetry, art, and multimedia projects.
Journalism Education Association & National Scholastic Press Association Convention
Journalism Education Association (JEA) and National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)Twice-yearly convention serving thousands of high school journalists, advisers, and teachers for professional development and networking in journalism...
Young Poets Network (YPN) - Getting Curious Challenge
Poetry SocietyPoetry competition for young people to submit original poems on curiosity-themed prompts. Winners receive recognition and prizes.
The Tomorrow Project Challenges
Young Writers ProjectMonthly writing and art challenges exploring today's issues with solutions for tomorrow. Win prizes and get published.
Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine - Join Our Staff
Cathartic Youth Literary MagazineJoin the editorial team of Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine as a General Editor, Graphic Designer, or Mental Health Writer.
Brown University Pre-College Summer Programs - Writing & Literature Courses
Brown UniversitySummer pre-college courses in creative writing, English, world literature, and communications offered in hybrid and on-campus formats.
PLATO Ethics Case Writing Project
PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization)Students write 300-500 word ethical case studies on dilemmas relevant to young people. Accepted cases published in Questions journal and PLATO's onlin...
NYT Learning Network Weekly Student Contest (Writing/Video Responses)
The New York Times Learning NetworkWeekly contest where teens submit short essays or video responses reacting to NYT articles, photos, videos, or podcasts. Winners are published on the ...
Honors College Scholarship
Belmont Abbey CollegeMerit-based scholarship for students accepted into the Honors College great books program with rigorous curriculum, cultural events, and study abroad ...
West Chester University Poetry Center Contests & Awards
West Chester University Poetry CenterCurated listing of poetry contests and awards relevant to poets at various levels, including high school students, compiled by the WCU Poetry Center.
NewPages Young Writers Guide to Contests
NewPagesComprehensive guide to writing contests for young writers, including Scholastic Awards, poetry, and various literary competitions.
Student Writers and Readers Meet! (SWARM!)
Telling RoomVirtual writing groups for Maine youth ages 11-16 to write, share, and get published in professional chapbooks across semesters.
Anthology Awards - Flash Fiction Competition
Anthology MagazineSubmit flash fiction stories for a competitive writing award. Students write and submit short fiction pieces for judging and potential publication.
Anthology Travel Writing Competition
Anthology MagazineSubmit original, unpublished travel articles (max 1,000 words) for chance to win €300, publication, and Reedsy Learning membership.
Quill and Scroll Student Advisory Board
Quill and ScrollStudent Journalism Collaboration Program connecting student journalists nationwide through virtual meetings to discuss scholastic journalism issues.
Summer Reading Contest
The New York Times Learning NetworkWeekly contest where teens submit responses about what caught their attention in The New York Times. Students write short essays or create videos abou...
National Latin Exam Scholarships
National Junior Classical League (NJCL)Twenty $1000 scholarships for students earning Gold medals on the National Latin Exam who commit to studying Latin or classical Greek in college.
Gloria Shields NSPA Workshop College Scholarships
Gloria Shields NSPA Media WorkshopThree $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors excelling in scholastic journalism who plan to continue journalism education in college. Requires wor...
Narrative High School Writing Contest - What I Cannot Say, I'll Say Here
Narrative MagazineWrite a vulnerable letter, essay, or poem (up to 600 words or 10-50 lines) responding to the prompt about things you cannot say aloud, exploring authe...
Narrative High School Writing Contest - The Choice
Narrative MagazineWrite a personal essay or short story (600 words or less) depicting characters facing a consequential, irreversible choice and exploring its buildup a...
The Lincoln Forum Student Scholarships
The Lincoln ForumScholarships for high school and elementary students demonstrating excellence and interest in Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, with all-expenses-pai...
Narrative for Schools - Tenth Annual Contest
Narrative MagazineCreative writing competition for high school students to submit original stories, essays, or poems. Students showcase authentic voices and storytellin...
Ozark Creative Writers Showcase Awards
Ozark Creative WritersMultiple writing contests for short stories, poetry, memoirs, and published work with various themes and word limits.
Summer Debate League July Online 2026
National Speech & Debate AssociationOnline debate tournament hosted in July 2026 for high school students
2025 Sejong Writing Competition
Sejong Cultural SocietyEssay competition analyzing Korean literature. Students write analytical essays on assigned Korean literary works across three divisions: Junior (high...
Jaki Shelton Green Performance Poetry Prize
North Carolina Poetry Society / North Carolina Literary ReviewAnnual prize honoring the best performance poem by a NC writer (current/former resident or writer using NC as subject). Deadline April 30.
Writer's Digest Annual Conference
Writer's Digest3-day annual conference offering writing craft instruction, publishing exploration, and career development with successful authors.
AFSA High School Essay Contest
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)High school essay contest focused on the Foreign Service, diplomacy, and international affairs, sponsored by AFSA.