First held in 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is one of the most prestigious and well-known competitions for creative teens in the world.

This contest occurs annually in the United States and hosts numerous entry categories to compete in.

These include short stories, poetry, painting, animation, and many others.

In this post, we provide a comprehensive overview of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, including key dates, application requirements, and why you should apply.

What is the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards?

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is one of the longest-running pre-college art competitions in the United States.

The competition spans across a plethora of categories that range from personal memoirs to comic art.

Each year, thousands of students enter the contest and compete for awards at the regional, then national level.

Additionally, special prizes are available to students whose works exemplify certain values, such as the "Flaunt It" award that awards two students each year with $1,000 scholarships.

Entries are judged by leaders in the literary and visual arts who look for works that embody the Awards’ core pillars: originality, skill, and personal voice.

Past winners of the competition come from all across the creative field, including renowned authors like Stephen King to famous artists like Andy Warhol.

Students who perform well in the awards have the chance to reap numerous benefits from the program.

These include scholarships, publications, being featured in exhibitions, and being invited to a national ceremony often attended by famous special guests (like Oprah Winfrey in the past!).

Am I Eligible for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards?

To apply for this highly competitive program, make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements below for 2024: Be in grades 7-12 Aged 13 years or older as of date of entry Residing in the United States, U.

S. territories or military bases, or Canada What are the Application Requirements?

To apply for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, make sure to follow the below entry requirements.

Note that since application components typically vary by category, entry requirements are grouped below.

Visual arts & 3D art: Images of artwork (if 3D, often from different angles + concept drawings), artistic statement Literary arts: Written piece, works cited if submitting a critical essay or journalism article.

Be mindful of word limits.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards has varying deadlines that range from December to January depending on your region.

Check this page to see the relevant deadline in your area to ensure you don't miss the chance to submit an entry.

The application has a $10 entry fee per submission.

The portfolio entry has a $30 fee.

Why Should I Apply to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards?

Aside from being a highly competitive and prestigious competition, there are a plethora of reasons why you should apply to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

See some of these below.

Gain recognition.

If you're an aspiring artist, winning awards from these types of competitions can thrust your work into the spotlight and be received by many people.

Especially because young creatives typically don't have a lot of chances to gain recognition for their pieces, submitting them to contests can be an excellent way to receive good exposure.

Additionally, winning a prestigious award can validate the quality of your work and your artistic merit.

Receiving a distinction from the Scholastic Awards means that your work went through a rigorous round of selection and deserved its spot among the top recognized entries.

Get a boost on your college application Entering art and writing competitions shows your passion in the creative field.

Adding such an honor in your college application can round out your profile and provide a good contrast with your other extracurriculars, or if your sole focus is on the arts, can help develop your spike.

Participating in contests like the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards shows that you actively seek out opportunities in whichever field you're interested in and avidly develop your passions.

Individuals who have such an intrinsic drive and sense of self are received well in college admissions.

Win scholarships The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards offers many distinctions, out of which multiple offer cash scholarships for high school students.

For example, portfolio submissions can win up to $12,500 in scholarships for college.

The "Flaunt It" award celebrates interpersonal differences and diversity and offers $1,000 to two teens whose work exemplifies these values.

Additionally, the “New York Life” offers $1,000 scholarships to students whose pieces navigate the grieving process.

Winning awards that are attached to monetary scholarships therefore adds additional value to the honor that translates well into college applications and artistic portfolios.

Gain an artistic community Participating in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards exposes you to a community of other like-minded artists and creatives.

Thousands of students apply to this contest every year, and for winners, attending award ceremonies and interacting with other students can expand your worldview in many positive ways.

Having a community in your corner in any kind of endeavor is a great thing, and can act as a support system as you pursue this field.

Concluding Remarks In conclusion, we provided a comprehensive overview of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards as well as reasons for why it's worth it to apply.

Participating in creative competitions and winning them can enhance your college application, bring exposure and recognition to your works, and earn scholarships for college.

However, the Scholastic Awards aren't the only well-known creative-based competitions for high schoolers.

Check out this list of the top 10 writing competitions for high school students to elevate your writing endeavors to the next level.

Image Credit: HCDE News.