Are you a college student wanting to showcase your writing skills? The Bennington College Young Writers Awards 2023-24 is the perfect opportunity for you. Bennington initiated the Young Writers Awards program to encourage and celebrate exceptional writing among high school students. The objective of this writing competition is to acknowledge and reward remarkable writing accomplishments among students at the high school level. This initiative reflects Bennington College’s profound literary legacy, which includes achievements such as Pulitzer Prize winners, U.S. poet laureates, MacArthur Geniuses, and influential New York Times bestsellers. So, if you want to participate in this literary competition 2023-2024, you must read till the end.
The Essay and Fiction Writing Competition by Bennington College provides a unique platform for young writers to showcase their creative and literary talents, offering them a chance to be acknowledged for their dedication to the written word. Every year, 9-12 grade students may submit their writing pieces in three categories. Through the Young Writers Awards, Bennington College aims to inspire and foster a new generation of writers and honor its commitment to literary excellence. Therefore, by allowing high school students to share their voices and stories, the program helps shape the future of literature and gives these budding authors a chance to shine on the literary stage. Similarly, this writing competition for high school students is a chance that should not be missed.
Moreover, the finalists and winners of the Bennington College Young Writers Awards are presented with a unique opportunity at Bennington College. Not only do they receive financial awards, including $1,000 as the first prize, $500 as the second prize, and $250 as the third prize, but they also become eligible for valuable undergraduate scholarships. Those who are YWA finalists and decide to apply, gain admission, and enroll at Bennington receive a substantial $10,000 scholarship each year, renewable for four years. This results in a cumulative scholarship of $40,000. These scholarships honor their writing skills and provide essential financial support for their undergraduate education at Bennington College. Therefore, with this Young Writers Award, you can secure an undergraduate scholarship at Bennington College and pursue your educational dreams.
Categories of the Young Writers Awards:
Each category results in the selection of a first, second and third-place winner.
- Poetry: Submission should consist of a collection of three poems.
- Fiction: Entrants can submit either a short story with a word limit of 1500 words or a one-act play, which should not exceed 30 minutes in playing time.
- Nonfiction: Submissions in this category should take the form of a personal or academic essay, with a word limit of 1500 words.
