At Bennington College, students work closely with their instructors to design their own academic programs. They take advantage of the College’s diverse resources, both in and out of the classroom, to craft a personalized learning experience. This approach empowers students not only to gain knowledge but also to understand how they acquire it. This philosophy is central to Bennington’s mission, ensuring that students actively shape their education to suit their goals.
The College encourages students to be innovative and independent, helping them to contribute to making the world more just, sustainable, and beautiful. Through the YWA, students also participate in Bennington’s annual Field Work Term, which offers opportunities to write for national publications, work with major publishers, assist in launching literary journals, and conduct research off-campus for their creative projects.
Each year, Bennington students spend six weeks gaining real-world experience through internships, research, and business ventures that align with their academic interests and personal passions. The YWA provides an online platform for high school students to showcase their writing skills and offers a chance to earn scholarships to this prestigious institution.
Bennington College Young Writers Awards 2024-25
- Host Institute: Bennington College
- Competition Format: Online
- Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9-12) from any country
Benefits
- No registration fees.
- First-place winners in each category will receive $1,000.
- Second-place winners will receive $500.
- Third-place winners will receive $250.
- Winners and finalists will be eligible for undergraduate scholarships at Bennington College.
- Winners’ entries will be published on the Bennington College website.
Check Out ADB Young Professionals Program 2025 | Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria
- Participants must be in grades 9–12.
- Open to international students.
- Submissions must include one of the following: three poems, a short story (up to 1,500 words), or a personal or academic essay (up to 1,500 words).
- Only one submission per participant per year.
- Word count limits must be strictly followed, including all text such as headers, footers, footnotes, and bibliographies.
- Entries must be original and will be checked for plagiarism.
- A sponsor teacher must review and approve the submission; homeschooled students must have their mentors sponsor their work.
- All entries must be submitted in English.
How to Apply
- Enter your personal information.
- Fill in your high school information.
- Select a submission category.
- Provide a title for your submission.
- Upload your entry as a PDF or Word document.
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Submit your entry.
Required Documents
- Sponsor teacher details.
- Your written submission.
Submission Deadline
- The deadline to submit your writing is November 1, 2024.