International Undergraduate Student Writing Contest

2025 International Undergraduate Writing Contest!

Do you enjoy writing and want to show off your skills? Do you like the idea of having a writing contest on your resume?

Submission Deadline: 12:00 PM (Noon) Friday, March 7, 2025

Contest Rules:

Four prizes will be awarded for essays written by international undergraduate students for a course in the Program in English as a Second Language (ESL 117 or ESL 118) during the 2024/25 academic year. The work can be on any subject, but must be informative, analytical, or argumentative.

  • 1st Place: $250
  • 2nd Place: $150
  • 2 runners up:$100 each

Questions?

Email Contests Coordinator Danielle Scheffler.

Winners can also attend an award ceremony held for all English Department writing and scholarship contests for the year at the Pyle Center on Sunday, April 27 at 4:00pm.

Submission Procedure:

  • 6 single-spaced, typed pages maximum (plus your reference page)
  • Stapled and double-sided
  • 12-point font, Times New Roman
  • Do not include your name on the essay
  • Include the cover sheet available in the ESL Office, from your instructor, or upload the coversheet from the Writing Contest Cover Sheet link
  • Students may not submit more than one essay
    • Note: The Independent Research Project (IRP) from ESL 118 may not be entered in the contest
  •  Submit 5 printed copies of your essay, along with one copy of the cover sheet to the ESL Office, 5134, 5th fl.,  Helen C. White Hall during the office hours.
    • Monday – Wednesday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
    • Friday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Please note: Essays that do not conform to the guidelines will not be considered.

Submission Deadline: 12:00 PM (Noon) Friday, March 7, 2025

First Place:

Hiroaki Taniyama (Instructor: Karen Best)

Second Place:

Abigail Wu (Instructor: Shauna Crowther)

Two Runners Up: 

  • Xingrun Lu (Instructor: Stephen Timm)
  • Ralitsa Wong (Instructor: Jenny Wilson-Farley)