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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: 2022 National Essay Challenge

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National Essay Challenge (PDF, 1.11 MB)

Join the discussion on immigration in Canada by participating in the 2022 National Essay Challenge (NEC), now in its fourth edition to promote policy-relevant research by emerging scholars. New this year, the contest will accept applications from graduating fourth-year students , in addition to graduate students enrolled at a Canadian university.

Requirements

• You must be a graduating fourth-year student or a graduate student enrolled at a Canadian university for the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
• Your essay must be a research paper in English or French between 10-12 pages in length, using qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies.
• The essay cannot be co-authored and you must have the support of a professor.

How do I enter?

• First, send an email to [email protected] to access the 2022 National Essay Challenge group on GCcollab, where you will find information about the Challenge requirements.
• Once you are a member of the 2022 National Essay Challenge GCcollab group, you must submit your expression of interest by October 10, 2022 .

Selected students will receive

• an IRCC certificate of achievement
• an invitation to present their essay at an IRCC Research Matters event (in Ottawa with travel expenses paid or via videoconference)
• a prize of $750 towards participating in an academic conference

Page details

National Essay Contest: Winners Spotlight

The National Essay Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada who are currently enrolled in a Canadian high school! Furthermore, the National Essay Contest winners receive scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $12,000.

Requirements

Firstly, entrants must be in a Grade 10, 11, 12, secondaire IV, secondaire V, or Cégep 1 French program. Secondly, the National Essay Contest requires students to submit a completed entry form online between October and December. However, please keep in mind that if an entry form is not filled out fully, or not submitted during the Contest period, it will be rejected. Thirdly, participants must submit an original essay based on the topic that year. Also, this essay is written in French.

How do you enter?

For your chance to win, visit www.french-future.org to fill out the form and submit your essay within the acceptance period. Additionally, include your top three choices for post-secondary institution scholarships. Lastly, indicate the category you best fit into (French First Language – FFL or French Second Language – FSL).

So, are you ready to apply? Then check out How To Apply And Win ! 

Here is a glimpse of the 2019-2020 National Essay Contest Winners !

The topic for 2019-2020 was:

“On June 17th, 2019, Canada has declared a climate emergency. If you were put in charge of leading the government, how would you respond to this emergency?” 

Also, you can view their winning essays and post-secondary institution scholarships below.

French First Language (FFL)

Julianne lacelle.

uOttawa, $12,000

Essay: Notre planète, notre problème, notre responsabilité

Liam Woolley 

Universit é de Montréal, $12,000

Essay: Notre planète qui meurt lentement

Brianne Moroz

Université de Saint-Boniface, $3,000

Essay: Maintenant ou jamais

David Ackah

The University of British Columbia, $2,000

Essay: Ma vision d’un Canada réellement actif contre l’urgence climatique

Myriam Longtin

Collège Boréal, $2,000

Essay: Changement Climatique au Canada… Un problème urgent!

Ashton Johnstone

Collège de l’Île, $2,000

Essay: Gérer la crise du changement climatique

French Second Language (FSL)

Lily constantino.

The University of Regina, $2,000

Essay: Notre gouverment embarrasant

Lena Dornan

The University of Lethbridge, $2,000

Essay: L’urgence climatique au Canada

Megan Whynott

Université Simon Fraser, $2,500

Essay: L’urgence climatique : dissertation

Essiyah Weis

The University of Alberta, $2,000

Essay: Le Canada, un leader du climat

Monique Ingram

York University, $5,000

Essay: Sauver la planète grâce au Canada

Mackenzie Lawrence

Université de Moncton, $10,000

Essay: Le Recyclage

Regan Bilodeau

Université Sainte Anne, $5,000

Essay: La réchauffement climatique au Canada

Also, if you wish to view all National Essay Contest winners, visit here . However, if you’re interested in entering, check out the National Essay Contest: Scholarship Overview . Lastly, if you wish to better your chances of winning, check out National Essay Contest: Tips To Win. Good luck!

You’ll get a weekly email with a curated collection of scholarships, news and resources to help you make the most of your post-secondary education.

2019-2020 National Essay Contest: and the winners are…

Ottawa, March 4, 2020 – French for the Future is pleased to reveal the winners for its 15th National Essay Contest. This year, more than 500 students from grade 10 to grade 12, coming from all across the country, have tried their hand. Their original essay was centered on this question:

“On June 17th, 2019, Canada has declared a climate emergency. If you were put in charge of leading the government, how would you respond to this emergency?”

Through this theme, French for the Future provided an occasion for French First Language (FFL) and French Second Language (FSL) students to develop on the concrete and polarizing subject that is Climate Emergency. This contest was an occasion for them to elaborate on the importance of participating in environmental discussions, and propose concrete action plans to reduce their ecological footprint.

These topical issues have also challenged the panel of judges, constituting of teachers, who appreciated the experience this year. For Geneviève Forget, a teacher in Gatineau, these numerous essays centered around innovation and adaptation towards climate changes are reassuring: “What beautiful essays! I learned a lot, and the students have very good ideas. It’s very reassuring.” . The ingeniosity of the participating students was also underlined by a representant of this competition’s sponsors:  “What a pleasure it was to read these essays! Some of the ideas proposed by the students were very refreshing” , commented Diego Creimer, representative of the David Suzuki Foundation.

90 scholarships were to be won during the Contest, totalling $282,000 . This is a great opportunity for the winners to build their confidence in themselves, and their language level, as well as to consider a post-secondary pathway in French at one of our 13 partner institutions. This was great news for Chloe Bella Khouri, recipient of a $1,000 bursary for the University of Ottawa, ON: “I would like to thank you again for this incredible gift. Your contest has pushed me to enrich my vocabulary and learn more on subjects such as the governmmental protocols and the impact of pollution on our ecosystems. Thank you infinitely to French for the Future for allowing me to go to my dream university.” 

French for the Future also wishes to give young winners the opportunity to share their ideas with the general public, by making all of the winning essays available online on its website .

Here’s the list of this year’s 20 biggest winners, under their respective categories :

The National Essay Contest is one of six programs offered by French for the Future . The next big event will be the National Ambassador Youth Forum (FNJA) , which will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan, from August 9 to 14, 2020 . This event will bring together young francophones and francophiles for a week full of activities and formation centered around bilingualism. Grade 10 and grade 11 students are invited to apply through the French for the Future website. Registrations will be open from April 2nd to May 3rd, 2020.

For more information on our programs, please visit the French for the Future website at: french-future.org

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A guide to writing prizes for Canadians

Social sharing.

CBC Books has rounded up a list of literary prizes Canadians are eligible to enter.

The 2024 CBC Poetry Prize is open between April 1, 2024 and June 1, 2024 at 4:59 p.m. ET.

Submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems, up to 600 words in length. There is no minimum word requirement.

• Learn more about the CBC Literary Prizes

Unless noted, prizes and entry fees are in Canadian dollars. Where prizes are listed, the amount cited is for the grand prize — other prizes may be available. Information is subject to change — please see the contest's official site for more details.

If you have a prize you'd like added to this list, email us at [email protected] .

Fiction | Nonfiction | Poetry

Alberta Views Short Story Contest Entry period: Spring/Summer Eligibility: Current or former (long-term) residents of Alberta Entry fee: $40 Prize: $1,000

Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story Literary Competition for Emerging Writers Entry period: Winter/Spring Eligibility: Canadian citizens and residents Entry fee: $25 adults / $10 youth Prize: 1st $1,500 adults/ $500 youth

Amazon Youth Short Story Competition Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian youth authors between the ages of 13 and 17 Entry fee: None Prize: $5,000 

Askew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest Entry period: January Eligibility: International Entry fee: $15 Canadian Prize: Three prizes of $200, $125, $100 for top entries in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, plus publication in the annual Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology  (print and ebook).

Brenda Strathern Writing Prize Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Residents of Calgary and area, unpublished, age 40+ Entry fee: None Prize: $5,000

The Bridge Prize National Short Story Award Entry period: Winter, alternating years Eligibility: Any student registered in a Canadian post-secondary institution as of the entry deadline Entry fee: $20 Prize: $7,500. Three additional finalists will each receive $1,000. Each winning author will also receive a $200 gift card courtesy of Munro's Books.

Canadian Authors Association — Toronto's Flash Fiction and Poetry Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadian citizens and residents Entry fee: $10 for each category Prizes: $200 first prize; $100 second prize; $50 third prize for each category

The inaugural Nona Macdonald Heaslip "Best Canadian Short Story" Competition and Award in memory of Morley Callaghan Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $30 Prize: $10,000 for best story by an emerging writer; $5,000 for best short story by a writer at any point in their career. Runner-up receives $2,000

CBC Short Story Prize Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $25 Prize: $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity . Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and publication on the CBC Books website.

City of Regina Writing Award Entry period: Fall/Winter Eligibility: Residents of the city of Regina, age 19+  Entry fee: None Prize: $4,500

Commonwealth Short Story Prize Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Canadian residents, age 18+  Entry fee: $20 Prize: $2,000

Dave Williamson National Short Story Competition Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Commonwealth citizens, age 18+  Entry fee: None Prize: £5,000

The Fiddlehead Literary Competition Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 for first entry, $10 for each subsequent entry. Entry fee includes a one-year subscription to the magazine. Prize: $2,000

FreeFall Annual Prose Contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25 for first entry; $5 for each subsequent entry. Entry fee includes a one-year magazine subscription. Prize: $500 first prize; $250 second prize; $75 third prize; $25 honourable mention

Geist writing contests Entry period: Rotating Eligibility: International Entry fee: $20 for first entry; $5 for each subsequent entry. Entry fee includes a one-year magazine subscription. Prize: $500 first prize; $250 second prize; $150 third prize

gritLIT Short Story Contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Residents of Canada and/or Canadian citizens living abroad Entry fee: $25 per submission Prize: $500 and publication in the gritLIT print program. $150 each for honourable mentions

Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 for Canadian entries; free for low-income and Black and Indigenous writers. Prize: $1,500 first prize; $600 second prize; $400 third prize

The John V. Hicks Long Manuscript Awards Entry period: Winter/Spring Eligibility: Saskatchewan residents Entry fee: $35 Prize: $1,000 first prize; $650 second prize; $350 third prize

Literary Taxidermy Short Story Competition Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $10 US Prize: $500 US and publication in The Anthology of Literary Taxidermy

Malahat Open Season Short Fiction Award Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 Prize: $2,000

Malahat Novella Prize Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 Prize: $1,750

North Shore Writers' Association Annual Writing Contest Entry period: Jan. 15-Mar. 15, 2024 Eligibility: Canadian citizens Entry fee: $10 for NSWA members; $15 for non members Prize: $100 first prize; $75 second prize; $50 third prize

NOWW Annual Writing Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: Free for NOWW members, $10 for nonmembers Prize: There are six categories and $1,800 in prizes.

​The Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Award Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadian citizen or resident Entry fee: $40, includes one-year subscription to The New Quarterly Prize: $1,000

The Prairie Grandstone Prize Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Living in Alberta/Saskatchewan for 5 years with 4 published books Entry fee: None Prize: $50,000

Prairie Fire Short Fiction Contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $32 Prize: $1,250

RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizen or permanent resident Entry fee: None Prize: $10,000 first prize; $2,500 for two finalists

RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Writers aged 17 and up Entry fee: None Prize: $3,000 and mentorship by a Canadian author

Read at the Fringe Literary Contest Entry period: Summer Eligibility: Ontario residents, unpublished in book format Entry fee: $20 Prize: $150, publication in a chapbook, and an invitation to read at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival

Riddle Fence Fiction Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25 for Canadians (this includes a one-year subscription to Riddle Fence) Prize: $1,000 and publication in Riddle Fence .  Honourable mentions are also published in Riddle Fence .

Room Magazine Short Forms contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $45, includes one-year subscription Prize: $500 first prize; $500 second prize; $50 honourable mention

Room Magazine fiction contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International; women (transgender and cisgender), trans men, Two-Spirit and nonbinary people Entry fee: $45, includes one-year subscription Prize: $1,000 first prize; $250 second prize; $50 honourable mention and publication in Room Magazine

Rotary Club of Stratford Short Story Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: None Prize: $500 first prize; $250 second prize; $100 third prize

Short Grain Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $40 for Canadians Prize: $1,000 first prize; $750 second prize; $500 third prize

Surrey International Writers' Conference writing contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $15 Prize: $1,000

Thomas Morton Memorial Prize in Literary Excellence Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $20 Prize: $1,000 first prize; $200 runner-up

Vancouver Writers Fest youth writing contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: B.C. students in Grades 8-12 Entry fee: None

Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents, unpublished or only one book published. Entry fee: $29 Prize: $2,500

Writing Battle Entry period: Quarterly Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25 Prize: $10,000 prize pool split between 4 winners and runners-up

Askew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest Entry period: January Eligibility: International Entry fee: $15 Canadian Prize: Three prizes of $200, plus a gift certificate of $600 value for online Simon Fraser University writing course, $125, $100 for top entries in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, plus publication in the annual Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology  (print and ebook).

CBC Nonfiction Prize Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $25 Prize: $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity . Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and publication on the CBC Books website.

City of Regina Writing Award Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Residents of the city of Regina, age 19+  Entry fee: None Prize: $4,500

The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizen or resident Entry fee: $40, includes one-year subscription to The New Quarterly Prize: $1,000

International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: US$25, payable in writer's home currency Prize: US$1,000 and a further US$1,000 towards a writing retreat in Italy

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms youth essay contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Canadian youth ages 15-24 Entry fee: Free Prizes: $2,000 first prize; $1,000 second prize; $500 third prize

Malahat Constance Rooke Creative Nonfiction Prize Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 for Canadians, $15 for subsequent entries Prize: $1,250

Malahat Open Season Creative Nonfiction Award Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 Prize: $2,000 and publication in magazine

Prairie Fire Creative Non-Fiction Contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $34, includes one-year subscription Prize: $750 first prize; $350 second prize; $150 third prize

Prism Creative Non-Fiction Prize Entry period: Summer Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35; free for low-income and Black and Indigenous writers Prize: $1,500 first prize; $600 second prize; $400 third prize

RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Unpublished Canadian writers aged 17 and up Entry fee: None Prize: $3,000 and mentorship by a Canadian author

Room Magazine creative nonfiction contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $45, includes one-year subscription Prize: $1,000 first prize; $250 second prize; $50 honourable mention and publication in Room Magazine

Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents, unpublished or only one book published Entry fee: $29 Prize: $2,500

Antigonish Review writer of the year contest Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $30, includes a one-year subscription Prize: Publication in three issues, interview with editor in fourth issue

Arc Poem of the Year Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35, includes a one-year subscription Prize: $5,000 first prize; $500 honourable mention

Austin Clarke Prize in Literary Excellence   (formerly Thomas Morton Memorial) Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $20 Prize: $1,000 first prize; $200 runner-up

Banff Centre Bliss Carman Poetry Award Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $32 Prize: $1,250 first prize; $500 second prize; $250 third prize

​ The Banister Poetry Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Residents of Ontario Entry fee: $15 for up to 3 poems, $4 for each additional poem Prize: $300 first prize; $200 second prize; $100 third prize

CBC Poetry Prize Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $25 Prize: $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity . Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and publication on the CBC Books website.

Diana Brebner Prize Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Residents of the National Capital Region Entry fee: $25, includes a one-year subscription to Arc Prize: $500

Don Gutteridge Poetry Award Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $25 Prize: $3000 first prize, $1,500 second prize, $750 third prize

FreeFall Annual Poetry Contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $25 Prize: $500 first prize; $250 second prize; $125 third prize, $75 honourable mention

Gwendolyn MacEwen Poetry Competition Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents Entry fee: $35 Prize: $1,500 for best poetry by an emerging writer; $1,500 for best poetry by writer at any stage in their career

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize for Canadian Youth Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Grades 7-12 Entry fee: None Prize: $400 first place; $350 second place; $300 third place, in both Junior and Senior youth categories

Malahat Long Poem Prize Entry period: Winter, biennial. Next competition will be in 2023. Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35, includes one-year subscription Prize: Two prizes of $1,250 each

Malahat Open Season Poetry Award Entry period: Fall Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35 Prize: $2,000

Malahat Far Horizons Prize Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25 Prize: $1,000

Montreal International Poetry Prize Entry period: Winter, every other year. Next competition is in 2024. Eligibility: International Entry fee: $20-$25 Prize: $20,000

The Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizen or resident Entry fee: $40, includes one-year subscription to The New Quarterly Prize: $1,000

Rabindranath Tagore Poetry Competition Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadian residents Entry fee: $10-$15 Prize: $500

Ralph Gustafson Poetry Contest Entry period: Winter Eligibility: International Entry fee: $35; $10 for subsequent entries, includes one-year subscription to Fiddlehead Prize: $2,000

RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Writers aged 18-29 Entry fee: None Prize: $3,000 and mentorship by a Canadian author

RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents of all ages Entry fee: None Prize: $10,000 first prize; $2,500 for two finalists

Riddle Fence Poetry Contest Entry period: Spring/Summer Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25 for Canadians (this includes a one-year subscription to Riddle Fence) Prize: $1,000 and publication in Riddle Fence. Honourable mentions are also published in Riddle Fence.

Room Magazine poetry contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $45, includes one-year subscription Prize: $1,000 first prize; $250 second prize; $100 honourable mention

Ross and Davis Mitchell Prize for Faith and Writing Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25-$30 Prize: $20,000

Short Grain Contest Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $40 Prize: $1,000 first prize; $750 second prize; $500 third prize

Vallum Chapbook Award Entry period: Spring Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25, includes 1 year subscription Prize: $300

Vallum Award for poetry Entry period: Summer Eligibility: International Entry fee: $25, includes 1 year subscription Prize: $750 first prize; $250 second prize, both published

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CFMTA National Essay Competition – Winners 2023

CFMTA 2023 National Essay Competition Winners

The National CFMTA Essay Competition invites submissions of essays on any research topic related to music teaching, pedagogy or performance practice. This competition is open to all Canadian residents currently studying at the high school, undergraduate, masters and doctoral university graduate levels.

The Dr. Lorna Wanzel Prizes are awarded to the first-place recipients in both the doctorate and master’s degree categories. The prizes for the undergraduate and high school levels this year are provided by The New Brunswick Registered Music Teachers Association and donors Joanne Lougheed, Leanne Hiebert, Nathene Arthur and Catherine Bartlett.

CFMTA is pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2023 National Essay Competition

University Doctoral Level 

1 st place tie ($3000.00) $1500.00 Each co winner Sponsored by Dr. Lorna Wanzel

CO winner:    Bronwyn Schuman, McGill University - Free Musical Play and Children’s Musical Development  

CO winner:  Olivia Adams, Ottawa University - Playing Off Key: Gender and Race Disparity in Piano Literature

University Graduate Level 

1 st place ($2,000.00) Sponsored by Dr. Lorna Wanzel

Rebekah Dennis, McGill University - Shifting the Field of Western Music from  Colonization Project to a Decolonization Project

University Undergraduate

1 st place  ($1000.00) Sponsored by Joanne Lougheed, Karen Turpin, NBRMTA, and Catherine Bartlett.

Graeme Dyck, University of Saskatchewan - Continuing Cage: Ambient Music as Listener Indeterminacy

High School

1st place  ($500.00) Sponsored by Nathene Arthur, and Leanne Hiebert.

Alex Ketchum, Ecole Sir John Franklin High School, Yellowknife, NT - Out of Tune: An Exploration of the Evolution of Tuning in Western Music

Our adjudicators for the 2023 competition were:

• Dr. David Rogosin
• Prof. David Cote
• Dr. Maureen Volk
• Dr. Terence Dawson
• Dr. Bethany Turpin
• Dr. Lori Lynn Penny
• Sandra DiCienzio, MA
• Ms. Maryan Threndyle. M. Mus

• Essay Contests
• Teacher Resources

Worldwide Essay Contests for High School Students

Over us$40,000 in prize money — more than 250 prizes.

Each year the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI), a United States organization, awards tens of thousands of dollars in prizes to students who distinguish themselves by writing essays on Ayn Rand’s classic novels Anthem , The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged .

Since 1985, more than 445,000 students have entered these contests, and ARI has awarded over US$2,000,000 in total prizes to student winners. The contests are open to all students worldwide, so Canadian students are more than welcome to participate.

Grades 8-12

2023 Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Anthem

GET STARTED

Grade 11-12

2023 Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead

Grade 12 & college.

2022 Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged

New! A website for students who want to learn more about Ayn Rand’s novels.

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The Winners of Our ‘How To’ Contest

Over 2,200 teenagers submitted essays on how to do everything from fix a toilet to fight a kangaroo. We’ll be publishing the work of the winners all week.

By The Learning Network

Almost from the time our new “ How To” Informational Writing Contest for Teenagers went live in January, we knew it would be a success.

First there was the creative range of topics. As submissions rolled in — 2,223 by the deadline — we were happy to see students take on a variety of key emotional, intellectual and physical skills, including how to win an argument, fix a toilet, cope with anxiety, remember names and trip gracefully.

But we were even more delighted to be introduced to a few offbeat skills we hadn’t previously realized were crucial, like how to do the worm, snowball-attack your sister, fight a kangaroo and “talk to your crush without sounding like a talking potato.”

Our participants had fun. We know that because in their accompanying process statements they told us so. They liked coming up with topic ideas, and writing something for school in a format they’d never seen before. They even enjoyed finding and interviewing experts — a contest requirement that had seemed daunting at first to many, but turned out to be one of the most rewarding steps.

We hope you’ll enjoy the results as much as we have. We’ll be publishing the work of the top 11 winners all week, and we’ll add links here when we do.

In alphabetical order by the writer’s first name

“ How to Befriend an Introvert ” : Ashley Zhang, 14, Collingwood School, West Vancouver, British Columbia

“ How to Do the Worm ” : Camille Gonzales, 18, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“ How to Find Your Balance ” : Chelsea Hu, 18, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.

“How to Make Bubble Tea” : Hanyi Zhou, 14, Chinese International School, Hong Kong

“How to Make the Perfect Sandwich” : Jackson DeNichilo, 15, Fallston High School, Fallston, Md.

“How to Wrap a Dumpling” : Jacob Wang, 16, Charterhouse School, Godalming, England

“How to Conduct a Podcast Interview” : Matthew Jeong, 17, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“How to Be a Kid Forever” : Raniya Chowdhury, 17, John Fraser Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario

“How to Become Friends With a Wild Bird” : Shannon Hong, 16, Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

“How to Host Unexpected Guests” : Sofia Fontenot, 18, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“How to Make Fear Your Friend” : Zoe Brown, 14, Summit High School, Bend, Ore.

“How to Recover After Yet Another Disappointing Season by Your Favorite N.F.L. Team” : Alden Comes, 13, Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes, N.J.

“How to Tell the Ugly Truth” : Alex (Hayoung) Jung, 16, Seoul Foreign School, Seoul

“How to Remember Names” : Anahita Driver, 13, Gregory Middle School, Naperville, Ill.

“How to Find Gratitude in Everyday Life” : Andrew Coraggio, 16, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.

“How to Antique Shop” : Callisto Lim, 17, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“How to Build an Optimal Environment for Your Fish” : Chasity Rolon, 16, Deer Park High School, New York, N.Y.

“How to Snowball Attack Your Sister” : Harper Mooney, 14, Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.

“How to Achieve Inner Peace by Washing Your Dishes” : Jackson Cooke, 18, Briarwood Christian High School, Birmingham, Ala.

“How to Spot Counterfeit Currency” : Kaylie Milton, 17, West High School, Iowa City, Iowa

“How to Pee On a Hike” : Lauren Acker, 17, Lakeside High School, DeKalb County, Ga.

“How to Mimic an Accent” : Michael Noh, 14, Korea International School Pangyo Campus, Seongnam, South Korea

“How to Speak Like a British Person” : Owen Wilde, 16, Maynard High School, Maynard, Mass.

“How to Ask a Teacher for Help” : Sarah Harris, 15, Boothbay Region High School, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

“How to Spin Pens” : Siddharth S., 16, Peepal Prodigy School Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

“How to Make Kids Excited About History” : Vivian Wenan Chang, 17, BASIS Chandler, Chandler, Ariz.

“How to Ride a Roller Coaster Without Fear” : Wang Ziyun, 16, Raffles Girls’ School, Singapore

“How to Make a Three-Point Shot” : Will Peña, 17, Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.

“How to Play Darts” : Xizhe Yang, 15, Shanghai High School International Division, Shanghai

Honorable Mentions

“How to Survive Middle School Hallways” : Alice Liang, 13, Islander Middle School, Mercer Island, Wash.

“How to Learn a New Language” : Andrew Chen, 14, International School of Beijing, Beijing

“How to Let Go of Someone” : Ariel Ting, 16, Taipei American School, Taipei, Taiwan

“How to Cope With Your Anxiety” : Ava Cho, 18, Daegu International School, Daegu, South Korea

“How to Live Openly As a Lesbian” : Ayco Phlypo, 17, Atheneum Gentbrugge, Ghent, Belgium

“How to Make Homemade Pasta” : Bella DiBernardo, 16, Alta Vista Middle College, Santa Barbara, Calif.

“How to Prepare for Running a Marathon” : Brett Barker, 17, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.

“Keep the Sandman at Bay” : Bryant, 18, Bandung Independent School, Bandung, Indonesia

“How to Fix a Toilet!” : Carla Lopez, 16, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Union City, N.J.

“How to Order at a Specialty Coffee Shop” : Cassandra Garcia, 16, home school, Portland, Texas

“How to Trip Gracefully” : Eileen Kim, 15, Urbana High School, Ijamsville, Md.

“How to Drive Your Siblings Mad” : Elaine Kim, 15, West Ranch High School, Stevenson Ranch, Calif.

“Being Objective” : James Yi, 17, Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana, Calif.

“How to Accept Failure” : Jamie Park, 16, Yongsan International School of Seoul, Seoul

“How to Cope With a Panic Attack” : Jason Kim, 15, Georgetown Preparatory School, North Bethesda, Md.

“How to Escape a Night Market” : Joyce Chang, 16, Stella Matutina Girls’ High School, Taichung City, Taiwan

“How to Overcome Assault: A Survivor’s Guide on Trauma-Related Shame” : Juliana Segal, 17, The Montessori School of Raleigh Upper School, Raleigh, N.C.

“How to Play Out of Tune On the Flute” : Kavya Muralidhar, 13, Islander Middle School, Mercer Island, Wash.

“How to Write a Poem” : Lareina Yuan, 14, YK Pao School, Shanghai

“How to Make Tanghulu” : Lehan Gu, 15, Northwood High School, Irvine, Calif.

“How to Be When Meeting New People” : MaryEden Rall, 13, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, Montgomery, Ala.

“How to Make the Perfect Playlist” : Rachel Wieland, 17, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.

“How to Talk to Your Crush Without Sounding Like a Talking Potato” : Roxanne Wu, 16, International School of Beijing, Beijing

“How to Help a Child With Autism” : Sarah Zeng, 15, Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, Toronto

“How to Deal With Nerves” : Sasha Luhur, 14, Northwood School, Lake Placid, N.Y.

“How to Watch Clouds” : Shio Kim, 14, North London Collegiate School Jeju, Seogwipo, South Korea

“How to Discuss Controversial Issues With Parents” : Siyao Feng, 18, Linden Hall School for Girls, Lititz, Pa.

“How to Write a Song” : Sophia Kim, 15, Chadwick International School, Incheon, South Korea

“How to Write a Song” : Stephanie Ma, 16, The Webb Schools, Claremont, Calif.

“How to Be a Good Dukjil-er” : Suevean (Evelyn) Chin, Asia Pacific International School, Seoul

“How to Win an Argument” : Suri Boryang Kim, PTGMS, South Korea

“How to Tie a Shoe” : Vivian Olivera, 17, Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.

“Grilling Pork Belly For the Best Flavor” : Yoonseo Cho, 17, Portola High School, Irvine, Calif.

Thank you to our contest judges.

Ana Paola Wong, Annissa Hambouz, Caroline Gilpin, Dana Davis, Elisa Zonana, Isaac Aronow, Jeremy Engle, Jeremy Hyler, John Otis, Juliette Seive, Katherine Schulten, Kathryn Curto, Ken Paul, Kimberly Wiedmeyer, Kirsten Akens, Michael Gonchar, Natalie Proulx, Phoebe Lett, Shannon Doyne, Sharon Murchie, Shira Katz, Sue Mermelstein, Susan Josephs, Sydney Stein

2021 National Essay Contest Winners

Published by vincent grenon on march 9, 2022.

Today, French for the Future is pleased to announce the 2021 National Essay Contest winners. A total of 431 teenagers in grades 10 to 12 from across Canada submitted essays in an effort to win one of our 96 scholarships to study in French at the post-secondary level. Our judges enjoyed reading the submissions and appreciated the quality of the writing. Nevertheless, they had to select the best ones and 96 authors were declared winners.

French for the Future would like to congratulate and recognize the efforts of all the participants in the 2021 National Essay Contest. The entries received represent many hours of work and reflection on the part of the contestants. The question addressed was the following:

“In a future where everything is possible, how will the food we eat and the way it is produced have changed?”

French for the Future wanted to get young people to question the way we consume food and the influence of society on our diet. There were many possible answers: from the impact of global warming to the effects of food fads, some adolescents were more into the analysis of a perceived problem while others chose to adopt a less pragmatic angle.

The list of winners from all provinces and territories is available on our website. This year, 96 students will share a total of $368,000 in scholarships donated by the 14 French for the Future partner colleges and universities: University of Ottawa , Campus Glendon York university , Université Sainte-Anne , Université de Montréal , Université de Moncton , Université de l’Ontario français , Université de Saint-Boniface , UBC , Campus Saint-Jean university of Alberta , SFU , Collège Boréal , University of Lethbridge , La cité universitaire francophone University of Regina , Collège de l’Île .

French for the Future would like to thank all its partners, without whom the National Essay Contest could not take place.

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Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest

Their Story. Your Voice.

Your voice is your own. But it's also been impacted by others. Who, we wonder, has inspired you? Let us know by entering the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest. 

You could win an $8,000 college scholarship

For the opportunity to win an $8,000 scholarship, submit a video or written essay about an individual you know personally (who lives in your community) who has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

The details

The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest consists of four (4) separate Quarterly Contests - one for each calendar quarter of 2024. Regions is awarding four $8,000 scholarships through each Quarterly Contest.

Each Quarterly Contest has its own separate entry period, as provided in the chart below.

The entry deadline for each Quarterly Contest is 11:59:59 PM Central Time on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date (set forth in the chart above).

No purchase or banking relationship required.

Regions believes in supporting the students whose passion and actions every day will continue to make stories worth sharing. That’s why we have awarded over $1 million in total scholarships to high school and college students.

How to enter, 1. complete an online quarterly contest application.

Enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest by completing a Quarterly Contest application.  The second Quarterly Contest runs from April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024. Complete and save all requested information. 

2. Prepare your Written Essay or Video Essay

For each Quarterly Contest, the topic of your Written Essay or Video Essay (your “Essay Topic”) must be an individual you know personally, who lives in your community. Your Written Essay or Video Essay must address how the individual you have selected as your Essay Topic has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

Written Essay and Video Essay submissions must meet all of the requirements described in the contest Official Rules. Your Written Essay or Video Essay must be (i) in English, (ii) your own original work, created solely by you (and without the use of any means of artificial intelligence (“AI”)), and (iii) the exclusive property of you alone.

Written Essays must be 500 words or less. You can write your Written Essay directly in the application, or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.

Video Essay submissions must be directly uploaded to the contest application site. Video Essays must be no more than 3 minutes in length and no larger than 1 GB. Only the following file formats are accepted: MP4, MPG, MOV, AVI, and WMV. Video Essays must not contain music of any kind nor display any illegal, explicit, or inappropriate material, and Video Essays must not be password protected or require a log-in/sign-in to view. You must upload your Video Essay to the application, and you may not submit your Video Essay in DVD or other physical form. (Video Essays submitted via mail will not be reviewed or returned.)

Tips to Record Quality Videos on a Smartphone:

• Don’t shoot vertical video. Computer monitors have landscape-oriented displays, so shoot your video horizontally.
• Use a tripod. Even small movements can make a big difference when editing.
• Don’t use zoom. If you need to get a close shot of the subject, move closer as zooming can cause pixilation.
• Use natural lighting. Smartphone lighting can wash out your video.

3. Review and submit your Quarterly Contest application

Review your information on your Quarterly Application (and check the spelling of a Written Essay) and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date. The second Quarterly Contest period end date is June 30, 2024.

4. Await notification

Winning entries are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. If your entry is selected as a Quarterly Contest winner, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information.

Eligibility

For purposes of this contest:

• The “Eligible States” are defined as the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
• An “accredited college” is defined as a nonprofit, two- or four-year college or university located within one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia.

To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award in a Quarterly Contest, at the time of entry, you must:

• Be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States.
• Be age 16 or older.
• Have at least one (1) year (or at least 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation.
• If you are not yet in college, begin your freshman year of college no later than the start of the 2025 – 2026 college academic school year.
• As of your most recent school enrollment period, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in school (and if no GPA is provided at school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent thereof in school).

View Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED. PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest (the “Contest”) consists of four (4) separate quarterly contests (each a “Quarterly Contest”): (1) the “Q-1 Contest;” (2) the “Q-2 Contest;” (3) the “Q-3 Contest;” and (4) the “Q-4 Contest.” The Q-1 Contest begins on 02/01/24 and ends on 03/31/24; the Q-2 Contest begins on 04/01/24 and ends on 06/30/24; the Q-3 Contest begins on 07/01/24 and ends on 09/30/24; and the Q-4 Contest begins on 10/01/24 and ends on 12/31/24. (For each Quarterly Contest, entries must be submitted and received by 11:59:59 PM CT on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date.) To enter and participate in a particular Quarterly Contest, at the time of entry, you must: (a) be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States; (b) be 16 years of age or older; (c) have at least one (1) year (or at least 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation; (d) (if you are not yet in college) begin your freshman year of college no later than the start of the 2025 – 2026 college academic school year; and (e) as of your most recent school enrollment period, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in school (and if no grade point average is provided at school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent thereof in school). (For purposes of Contest, the “Eligible States” are defined as the states of AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN and TX.) Visit regions.com/ridingforward for complete Contest details, including eligibility and Written Essay and Video Essay requirements and Official Rules. (Limit one (1) entry per person, per Quarterly Contest.) For each Quarterly Contest, eligible entries will be grouped according to form of entry (Written Essay or Video Essay) and judged by a panel of independent, qualified judges. A total of four (4) Quarterly Contest Prizes will be awarded in each Quarterly Contest, consisting of two (2) Quarterly Contest Prizes for the Written Essay Entry Group and two (2) Quarterly Contest Prizes for the Video Essay Entry Group. Each Quarterly Contest Prize consists of a check in the amount of $8,000 made out to winner’s designated accredited college. (Limit one (1) Quarterly Contest Prize per person; a contestant is permitted to win only one (1) Quarterly Contest Prize through the Contest.) Sponsor: Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203.

© 2024 Regions Bank. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

2023 Winners

High school:.

• Amyrrean Acoff
• Leon Aldridge
• Kharis Andrews
• Colton Collier
• Indya Griffin
• Christopher Hak
• Aquil Hayes
• Jayden Haynes
• McKenna Jodoin
• Paris Kelly
• Liza Latimer
• Dylan Lodle
• Anna Mammarelli
• Karrington Manley
• Marcellus Odum
• Gautami Palthepu
• Melody Small
• Lauryn Tanner
• Joshua Wilson
• Mohamed Ali
• Kayla Bellamy
• Lauren Boxx
• Alexandria Brown
• Samuel Brown
• Thurston Brown
• Conner Daehler
• Tsehai de Souza
• Anjel Echols
• Samarion Flowers
• Trinity Griffin
• Kristina Hilton
• Ryan Jensen
• Miracle Jones
• Shaniece McGhee
• Chelby Melvin
• Lamiya Ousley
• Kiera Phillips
• Gabrielle Pippins
• Ethan Snead
• Sydney Springs
• Kirsten Tilford
• Tamira Weeks
• Justin Williams

2022 Winners

• Paul Aucremann
• William Booker
• Robyn Cunningham
• Kani'ya Davis
• Oluwatomi Dugbo
• Lillian Goins
• Parker Hall
• Collin Hatfield
• Gabrielle Izu
• Kylie Lauderdale
• Jacob Milan
• Jackson Mitchell
• Carmen Moore
• Madison Morgan
• Kaden Oquelí-White
• Kaylin Parks
• Brian Perryman
• De'Marco Riggins
• Brianna Roundtree
• Sydney Russell
• Carlie Spore
• Morgan Standifer
• Ionia Thomas
• Ramaya Thomas
• Jaylen Toran
• Amani Veals
• Taylor Williams
• Alana Wilson
• Taryn Wilson
• Aryaunna Armstrong
• Hannah Blackwell
• T'Aneka Bowers
• Naomi Bradley
• Arianna Cannon
• Taylor Cline
• Catherine Cummings
• Margaret Fitzgerald
• Chloe Franklin
• Camryn Gaines
• Thomas Greer
• Kayla Helleson
• Veronica Holmes
• Logan Kurtz
• Samuel Lambert
• Jaylon Muchison
• Teresa Odom
• Andrew Payne
• Carey Price
• Emily SantiAnna
• Curtis Smith
• Jered Smith
• Mariah Standifer
• Maura Taylor
• Anna Wilkes