Secondary Contests

  • The Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program that encourages high school students in

    their writing seeks to recognize publicly some of the best student writers in the nation. The National Council of

    Teachers of English gives achievement awards in writing to nominated students who are cited as excellent writers by

    judges.

    • Up to 876 awards are given. NCTE is a not-for-profit educational association, and it has no funds to award scholarships to winners. Instead, recipients receive a letter and certificate of commendation from NCTE, and cards recognizing their outstanding performance in writing to include with their college applications. The certificates are sent to the high school principal of the winners. Additionally, winners’ names are posted on NCTE’s website along with the school name, city, and state.

    • This contest is open to high school juniors only. In the past, participation has been low in Utah. UCTE encourages participation in this contest. The deadline to turn in registration for next year’s contest is February 1, 2009.   The actual entries for students are due April 21. For more information, visit NCTE Achievement Awards.

    • If you have questions specific to Utah’s participation in the Achievement Awards, you can contact Mary Rice at mary.rice@nebo.edu

 

  • Listen to a Life Contest

    • Overview:
    To enter, a young person 8-18 years old interviews an older person over 50 years (cannot be a parent; they can be a grandparent, older friend, mentor, neighbor, nursing home resident, etc.) about their hopes and goals through their life, how they achieved goals and overcame obstacles, or how dreams may have changed along the way. What life advice can the older person share? The young person then writes a 300-word essay (maximum) based on the interview.

    Prizes:
    Grand prize is a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer with $800 of Orchard Software and an iPod Classic with video-plus $25,000 of Orchard Software for the school. 20 Runner-up prizes of $400 of Orchard Software and an iPod Shuffle.

    Due date: Contest usually begins in September.

    Link: http://legacyproject.org/contests/ltal.html

     

  • Letters About Literature

    • Overview:
    The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores and in cooperation with affiliate state centers for the book, invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to enter Letters About Literature, a national reading-writing contest. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12. Winners, announced in the spring of each year, receive cash awards at the national and state levels.

    Prizes:
    National Prize: $500 Target GiftCard. National Prize winners will also secure a $10,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant for a community or school library selected by the Sponsor. National Honorable Mention Prize: $100 Target GiftCard. National Honorable Mention Prize winners will also secure a $1,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant for a community or school library selected by the
    Sponsor. State Level Winners: $50 Target GiftCard.
               
    Due date:  Contest usually ends in December.

    Link: http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letters/

     

  • Change My World

    •  Overview:
    If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?  Would you create a new law?  A mode of transportation?  A new holiday?  Would you invent a new device to benefit the world? Maybe you would just change something in your state, city or neighborhood. Tell us about your idea, why and how you would make it work- anything you would like!  The most creative and innovative ideas will win great prizes, plus money for your school! It is fun and easy to enter.

    Prizes:
    Grand Prize Winners (5):
    A Family Vacation to Disneyland, California
    Each grand prize winner will be awarded an all inclusive one week vacation to Disneyland, California. Trip includes accommodations for 2 adults and up to 4 children.  All children must be immediate siblings to the winner or legal member of household.  Families with more than 4 children will receive special discounts options for more children.
    Winner receives airfare, rental car, hotel accommodations, and 7 day hopper passes to Disneyland Resort California.
    Or
    Grand Prize winners in 10th, 11th or 12th grade may choose a $4,000
    college scholarship instead of the trip prize.
    Second Place Winners (5)
    Five second place winners,  one in each category will receive a one week Scholarship plus transportation costs to attend YMCA Camp Roger near Kamas, Utah.   Winners have (2) years (end of summer 2010)  to use the scholarship or longer if  child has not yet reached the age of  7 by summer 2010.  The minimum age requirement for camp is 7 years old.  Camp scholarships can be transferred to other children or family if winner is unable to attend.  Second place winners can choose a $500 gift certificate to Dicks Sporting Goods instead of camp scholarship.

    Third Place Winners (5)
    Five third place winners will receive a $100 Gift Certificate to Dicks
    Sporting Good. Certificate can be redeemed on line or in person.  To read more about Dick Sporting Good, click the link below.

    Due date: April 30, 2009

    Link: http://www.changemyworldessay.com/home.html

     

  • Blue Nose Edutainment

    • Overview:
    Teachers use BlueNose lesson plans to engage students in the writing of lyrics, screenwriting and/or sports reporting.

    Prizes:
    Prizes will include laptops, printers, digital cameras and more from our founding sponsor HP. Other prizes include iPods, iPhones, concert tickets, airline tickets and CD's.

    Due date:  June 15, 2009

    Link: http://www.bluenoseed.com/

     

  • NCTE Promising Young Writers

    • Overview:
    Eighth grade students in the present academic school year are eligible to be nominated for the Promising Young Writers program.

    Prizes: Certificate of Recognition

    Due date: Usually in February

    Link: http://www.ncte.org/awards/student/pyw

     

  • Do the Write Thing

    • Overview:
    All across America, students like yours are rising to the challenge of doing something to end youth violence. The Do the Write Thing Challenge gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives and, in written form, communicate what they think should be done to change the culture of violence. Personal responsibility is emphasized. By encouraging students to make personal commitments to do something about the problem, the program ultimately seeks to give them the opportunity to break the cycles of violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods. Your involvement and support are crucial to the success of the Do the Write Thing Challenge in Utah.

    Prizes: Publication and recognition

    Due date: Usually in January

    Link: http://www.juvenile.utah.gov/DoTheWriteThing/

     

  • University of Utah Martin Luther King Writing Contest

    • Overview:
    In honor of King and in celebration of Human Rights Day, the University, along with the Utah State Office of Education and the Educational Equity Unit, sponsored an essay contest, open to all Utah students in grades 7-12. One winner from each grade level was chosen and two overall winners — one from the junior high level and the other from the high school division — were selected. Winners will receive a cash award and be introduced at a luncheon. 

    Prizes:
    $50 and recognition

    Due date: Usually in November

    Link: Can’t find one

    Other Unique Writing Opportunities

  • National Writing Day

 

  • Smithsonian 
    • Link: http://click.si.edu/

 

 

  • NPR “This I Believe”
    • Link: http://www.thisibelieve.org/documents/ThisIBelieveMiddleSchoolCurriculum.pdf

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