National Competitions for Your Humanities Students: High School Edition
- Goomi
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Below is a (fairly comprehensive) list of national-level competitions and opportunities for high school students interested in the humanities—writing, research, debate, history, journalism, and more. While not absolutely exhaustive, it should give you a strong starting point. These competitions are great opportunities for kids to explore their talents in the fields they enjoy. These competitions should be both beneficial to the development of their talents, but also a great benchmark to show their exceptional skills in the face of scholarship or admissions committees.
1. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Who It’s For: Creative students in grades 7–12
Focus: Writing categories include poetry, short stories, personal essays, dramatic scripts, and more.
What to Know: This is the nation’s longest-running recognition program for young artists and writers. Regional winners advance to national judging, with high honors often leading to scholarships and publication opportunities.
2. The Concord Review
Who It’s For: High school students worldwide
Focus: In-depth history research papers
What to Know: This prestigious quarterly journal publishes exceptional historical essays (typically 4,000–6,000 words). Acceptance indicates serious scholarly achievement, and published students often cite it in college applications.
3. National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Competitions
Who It’s For: Middle and high school students involved in speech and debate programs
Focus: Debate events (Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional Debate) and speech events (Original Oratory, Informative, Extemporaneous Speaking, etc.)
What to Know: NSDA tournaments culminate in a large national championship each year. Students can qualify through district events. This is the premier organization for high school speech and debate in the U.S.
4. The New York Times Writing Contests
Who It’s For: Middle and high school students
Focus: Varies by contest—editorials, personal narratives, informative essays, and more
What to Know: The Times hosts multiple contests annually, including a Student Editorial Contest and a Personal Narrative Contest. Winning entries are often published online, offering high visibility for student writers.
5. National History Day
Who It’s For: Middle and high school students
Focus: Historical research (aligned with a yearly theme) presented as papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites, or performances
What to Know: Students compete at local, regional, and state contests, with winners advancing to nationals. This program places heavy emphasis on original research, analysis, and interpretation of historical events.
6. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Who It’s For: U.S. high school students in grades 9–12
Focus: Essays related to political courage, often tying a historical example to contemporary issues
What to Know: Sponsored by the JFK Presidential Library, this contest awards cash prizes and high-profile recognition to top entries demonstrating exceptional research and insight.
7. American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) National High School Essay Contest
Who It’s For: U.S. high school students in grades 9–12
Focus: Foreign policy and diplomacy topics
What to Know: Winners can earn scholarship money, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and a potential visit to meet the U.S. Secretary of State.
8. The Bill of Rights Institute’s “We the Students” Essay Contest
Who It’s For: U.S. high school students
Focus: Civic knowledge, the Constitution, and current events related to individual rights and freedoms
What to Know: Offers sizable scholarships to top essays, with prompts typically centered on contemporary political and social issues.
9. Princeton University Contests (Poetry & Ten-Minute Play)
Who It’s For: High school sophomores and juniors
Focus: Creative writing—poetry and drama
What to Know: Princeton sponsors separate annual contests for poetry and ten-minute plays. Winners earn monetary awards and often receive feedback from established literary figures.
10. Bennington Young Writers Awards
Who It’s For: High school students in grades 10–12
Focus: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction
What to Know: Hosted by Bennington College, these prestigious awards often spotlight emerging literary talent, with monetary prizes for winners and publication on the college’s website.
11. NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing
Who It’s For: U.S. high school juniors
Focus: Original writing in multiple genres, judged for quality, voice, and style
What to Know: Sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English, this program aims to encourage and recognize writing excellence. Awardees receive national recognition and are often honored at local events as well.
12. Quill and Scroll International Writing, Photo, and Multimedia Contest
Who It’s For: High school journalism students (and their school publications)
Focus: Journalistic writing, photography, and design
What to Know: Winners earn the Quill and Scroll’s prestigious Gold Key award and can compete for scholarships. This competition is particularly valuable for those interested in journalism careers.
13. YoungArts (National YoungArts Foundation)
Who It’s For: U.S. students ages 15–18 (or grades 10–12)
Focus: Multiple disciplines, including writing, classical music, dance, theater, visual arts, and more
What to Know: In the Writing category, students may submit creative work (e.g., short stories, poetry, novel excerpts). Winners can receive monetary awards and participate in master classes with leading artists.
14. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest (Writing Category)
Who It’s For: Middle and high school students globally
Focus: Ocean conservation themes, with writing as one category among art, film, and interactive media
What to Know: Encourages research-based creative projects that engage with environmental and conservation topics. Awards can include cash prizes and publication online.
15. American Legion Oratorical Contest
Who It’s For: U.S. high school students
Focus: Speeches on the U.S. Constitution
What to Know: Contestants deliver both a prepared oration and an impromptu speech on constitutional topics, competing at local, regional, and state levels before nationals. Scholarships at the national level can be substantial.
Additional Possibilities
Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose (run by The Adroit Journal)
Writopia Lab Contests (plays, short stories, etc.)
International Torrance Legacy Creativity Awards (for creative writing, art, music, and inventions)
These contests cater to a broad range of interests, from traditional essay writing to creative storytelling to rigorous speech and debate. If you’re a humanities enthusiast, there’s a strong chance at least one of these competitions aligns with your passion—whether that passion is historical research, persuasive speaking, creative writing, or social commentary. Good luck exploring them, and remember that each competition has its own guidelines, deadlines, and submission processes, so check the official websites for the most up-to-date information.
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