Congratulations to the winners of the National Writing Award: The Humanities and a Freer Tomorrow!
Read NCTE’s press release
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), in partnership with the National Humanities Alliance (NHA), congratulates the recipients of the National Writing Award: The Humanities and a Freer Tomorrow.
Nearly 100 eleventh- and twelfth-grade students from 19 states responded to Ruth J. Simmons’ 2023 Jefferson Lecture, “Facing History to Find a Better Future.” Simmons delivered this prestigious lecture at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in September 2023. The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Jefferson Lecture is the highest honor the federal government bestows for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities, making it an ideal platform for student reflection and exploration.
One first-place winner and four runners-up were selected by judges across the United States. The first-place winner receives a prize of $1,000; the runners-up each receive a $500 prize.
We extend our thanks to the Teagle Foundation for its support of this award.
AWARDEES
First Place Winner
Nina Zar has always been passionate about art history. They hope that the somewhat niche area of study will continue to grow in popularity, due to its increasing importance in contemporary society.
Runners Up
In alphabetical order by last name
Abigail Giroux is a student journalist, photographer, and award-winning filmmaker with a passion for telling stories inspired by her community and the historical events of her native Baltimore.
Taigh Montes is a force to be reckoned with. He is thoughtful and very intuitive. He is bright and always approaches situations with great calm. He makes everything seem manageable and easy.
Aadya Rangole (she/her) is a sleep-deprived senior from the Seattle area. She is interested in researching the emerging intersections between technology and the humanities.
Katherine Zhao is an Asian American artist and writer. Her work has been recognized by various publications and competitions, including the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Scribere, Celebrating Art, Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine, Teen Ink, The Dawn Review, and more.
AWARD INFORMATION
NCTE, in partnership with the National Humanities Alliance, is proud to bring forth a new opportunity for student writers based on the National Endowment for the Humanities’ 2023 Jefferson Lecture.
The title of Ruth J. Simmons’ 2023 Jefferson Lecture, “Facing History to Find a Better Future,” offers an invitation for inquiry, empathy, and imagination. The humanities help us better understand the past so that we can envision a better future for ourselves, our communities, and our country. As Simmons reflects, “From the time I first encountered history and literature as a child of poverty, I have been on a path of learning and self-discovery that has empowered my work in every decade of my life. Persuaded that the humanities can mean everything to young people struggling to understand what their lives can be, I have encouraged students . . . to embrace the humanities as a lifeline to happiness and success.”
Prompt:
What is an example of an under- examined object of the humanities (e.g,. a historical account, a poem, a work of multimedia art) that serves as a personal lodestar for how to step into a freer tomorrow? In what ways might this work provide personal guidance and inspiration? How might it be relevant or useful for broader groups of people?
Award structure:
- Nominating teachers can submit work from current 11th and 12th graders
- Up to four pages, double-space; entries longer than this will not be reviewed beyond four pages
- Submit to one category (fiction, prose, poetry or essay), as only one submission per writer is allowed
- Submitted writings should be in PDF form, with only the student’s first and last name and the submission title included with the writing
Awards:
- One prize of $1,000
- Four (4) prizes of $500 each
- The top five (5) will have the opportunity for excerpts to be published by NCTE
All participating students would receive a certificate of Superior Writing (all submissions sent to the second round of review) or Honorable Mention.
Timeline:
- Today: Watch the recording of this year’s Jefferson Lecture and discuss the lecture and prompt with your students and communities
- September 26 to October 28: application open to submissions
- Early 2024: winning students and their teachers will be notified
Please email studentwriting@ncte.org with any questions.