Bennington College Young Writers Awards

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The Bennington College Young Writers Awards is one of the most prestigious high school creative writing competitions in the world, judged directly by Bennington faculty, alumni, and students.


BY: SYED RUHAIL KARIM

linkedin.com/in/syedruhailkarim


Category Rules & Length

You can submit to only one discipline per competition year:

  • Nonfiction: 1 personal essay or critical/academic essay (maximum 1,500 words).

  • Fiction: 1 short story or standalone excerpt from a longer prose work (maximum 1,500 words).

  • Poetry: A collection of 1 to 3 poems (combined total limit of 1,500 words).

Strict Word Count: The 1,500-word limit is hard and non-negotiable. It includes all submitted text: titles, headers, footers, footnotes, and bibliographies/citations. Anything exceeding 1,500 words is disqualified prior to judging.






 

Key Requirements

  • Zero AI Policy: Generative AI cannot be used in any stage of drafting or polishing; entries undergo authenticity and originality checks.

  • Language: Must be written in English.

  • Format: Typed digital file (PDF or Microsoft Word doc). No scanned or handwritten pages.

  • Sponsoring Teacher/Mentor: Every entrant must have a high school teacher or academic mentor review and approve the piece. You will need their name, school affiliation, and contact email on the entry form.

  • Deadline: November 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. (Results are released the following spring, typically in April).








Awards

  • First Place: $2,000 cash prize

  • Second Place: $1,000 cash prize

  • Third Place: $500 cash prize

  • Distinguished Designation: $250 recognition for notable finalists

  • Scholarships: First, second, and third-place winners who enroll at Bennington College are eligible for undergraduate merit scholarship awards (up to $60,000 over 4 years).




Step-by-Step Submission Process

1.Select Your Category and Draft to Spec:

Ensure the total text sits comfortably under 1,500 words.

Choose Nonfiction, Fiction, or Poetry. Verify that all text—including your title, epigraphs, and any reference citations—totals fewer than 1,500 words. Save your draft as a clean .pdf or .docx file without personal contact details in the essay body if requested by the blind-read prompt.

2.Obtain Teacher Approval:

Secure your sponsor details before starting the form.

Ask a current English teacher, humanities instructor, or mentor to sponsor your entry. Confirm their exact school email address and let them know Bennington may contact them to verify that the work is your original creation.

3.Access the Correct Grade-Level Portal:

Different paths for 9th–11th vs. 12th graders.

Go to the official Bennington Young Writers Awards page.

  • Grades 9–11: Click the direct Submit Your Entry (Grades 9–11) submission form.

  • Grade 12: Complete the entry through the Common Application or Coalition Application pathway (no application fee, non-binding, with no extra supplemental essays required).


The submission process depends on your current grade level:





4.Upload and Submit:

Fill in your personal details, current grade, school info, and teacher sponsor details. Upload your manuscript file and submit before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 1, 2026. Keep a copy of your email confirmation receipt.

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