The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. The program recognizes thousands of students every year with awards, scholarships, exhibitions, ceremonies and more. Top recipients of regional-level honors (Gold Key winners) will automatically be entered into consideration for national-level awards.
Newark Academy students have had great success in past editions of the Scholastic Awards. Last year, 22 writers won a total of 28 awards, including six Gold Keys.
DEADLINE: December 6, 2021.
WHO CAN ENTER: Students in grades 7–12.
WHAT TO ENTER:
- CRITICAL ESSAY: 500–3,000 words; reviews, persuasive essays, opinion essays, etc.
- DRAMATIC SCRIPT: 500–3,000 words; television, film or stage; excerpts accepted with 250-word summary and full manuscript in PDF form.
- FLASH FICTION: Up to 1,000 words.
- HUMOR: 500–3,000 words; all work in which humor is the key element should be submitted in this category.
- JOURNALISM: 500–3,000 words; writing that informs and educates about newsworthy topics or current events, characterized by a presentation of facts or description of events.
- NOVEL: Excerpt up to 3,000 words, 250-word summary of the novel, and full manuscript in PDF form.
- PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR: 500–3,000 words.
- POETRY: 1–5 poems; 20–200 lines (total for the entire collection).
- SCI-FI & FANTASY: 500–3,000 words.
- SHORT STORY: 500–3,000 words.
- WRITING PORTFOLIO: Up to 24,000 words; series of 6 distinct works that demonstrate versatility & diversity in writing technique and styles; from one category or any combination of multiple categories; seniors only.
HOW TO ENTER: Online. Read guidelines and category descriptions carefully.