Bennington Young Writers Awards 2026–27 in USA

The Bennington Young Writers Awards are organised by Bennington College in Vermont, United States, and form part of the wider Bennington Young Creators Awards.
The competition is designed for secondary-school students in Grades 9–12 from around the world who demonstrate originality, curiosity, creative ambition and strong writing ability.
Students may submit work in one of three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction or Poetry. Fiction entrants may submit one short story or a standalone excerpt from a longer work, while Nonfiction entrants may submit a personal or creative nonfiction essay or standalone excerpt. Poetry entrants may submit between one and three poems.
All submissions have a strict combined maximum of 1,500 words. Bennington states that this limit includes submitted text such as titles, headers, footers and citations.
The competition places a strong emphasis on originality. Entries must be the student’s own work, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may not be used to brainstorm, create, draft, revise or collaborate on a Young Writers Awards submission.
In addition to cash prizes, finalists and selected award recipients may qualify for significant undergraduate scholarships if they later enrol at Bennington College.

• Applicants must currently be students in Grades 9–12 or the international equivalent.
• Students from around the world are eligible.
• Students who have already graduated from high school are not eligible.
• Applicants may enter only one submission category within the Young Writers Awards.
• The available categories are Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry.
• Entries must be original work created by the student.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools must not be used to brainstorm, create, draft, revise or collaborate on the submission.
• Entries must be reviewed and approved by a sponsoring teacher or mentor.
• Homeschooled students may use a mentor to sponsor their work.
• Entries must be submitted in English.
• Grade 12 students must first submit either the Common Application or Coalition Application to Bennington College and indicate their interest in the Young Creators Awards.

Cash prizes are awarded in each writing category:

• First Place: US$2,000
• Second Place: US$1,000
• Third Place: US$500
• Distinguished Submission: US$250

Scholarship opportunities for students who enrol at Bennington College include:

• First Place Winners: Full-tuition scholarship for four years.
• Distinguished Designation Recipients: Half-tuition scholarship for four years.
• Finalists: US$25,000 annual scholarship for four years.
• Potential publication or showcase of winning and distinguished entries.
• Recognition through Bennington College channels.
• Entrants retain ownership of their work.

Applicants should prepare:

• Original Fiction, Nonfiction or Poetry submission.
• Typed submission in English.
• Writing limited to 1,500 words or fewer.
• Details of a sponsoring teacher or mentor.
• Student and high-school information requested in the Young Creators Awards entry form.
• Grade 12 students must also complete the Common Application or Coalition Application to Bennington College before accessing their Young Creators Awards submission.

Category-specific submission requirements:

• Fiction: One short story or standalone excerpt from a longer work, maximum 1,500 words.
• Nonfiction: One personal or creative nonfiction essay or standalone excerpt, maximum 1,500 words.
• Poetry: One to three poems with a combined maximum of 1,500 words.

Bennington states that entries are evaluated on:

• Originality of the work.
• Strength of voice and point of view.
• Craft, structure and use of language.
• Imagination, insight and emotional impact.
• Engagement with complexity.
• Overall quality of the work.

A panel including Bennington students, faculty and alumni reviews the submissions before narrowing the pool to finalists and award recipients.

• Compete in an international writing award organised by Bennington College.
• Showcase your creative writing in Fiction, Nonfiction or Poetry.
• Receive potential cash awards of up to US$2,000.
• Gain recognition for original writing.
• Potentially have your work published or showcased by Bennington College.
• Compete for undergraduate scholarship opportunities linked to future enrolment at Bennington.
• Develop a stronger creative writing portfolio.
• Have your work reviewed by members of Bennington’s literary community.