Our national Teen Writing Contest is celebrating 20 years this year! Our contest is an opportunity for 9th-12th graders to share their experience with cancer-whether it’s a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one.
Teen Writing Contest Basics:
- Open to any 9-12th grader impacted by cancer who lives in the US
- Must be 1500 words or less
- Poems or essays about pets are not eligible
- Essays must be the original contest of the author and in their own voice
- Essay deadline is in February.
Contest Eligibility & Guidelines
- Open to 9th-12th graders who are impacted by cancer and live in the United States.
- Essay length must not exceed 1,500 words.
- Not eligible: poems, essays about a pet, or fiction
- Essays must be original content of the author and in their own voice
- Cash prizes of $1,000 will be awarded to the winners (winners will be asked to fill out a IRS W-9 form).
- Winners will be invited to a virtual celebration and asked to read their essays
About our Teen Writing Contest
Learning about a cancer diagnosis your own or that of a loved one can cause a storm of emotions, and everyone experiences it differently. We want to know what this experience was like for you. What happened in your life, and how did it change you or your perspectives?
Over the years we have received stories of triumph and stories of great loss, stories written in times of turbulence, and stories written in times of quiet reflection. Each one has been honest, heartfelt, and unique.
We invite you to submit a short essay about your experience with cancer for the opportunity to win a $1,000 cash prize. Since the contest began in 2006, we have received more than 11,000 submissions and awarded over $370,000 in prizes to teens in 9th-12th grade.
View Scholarship
Scholarship Value: $1,000
Awards Available: 3
Award Deadline: Register to View