Deadline: 01-Aug-2025
Students in grades 8 through 12 are invited to write an essay on Ayn Rand’s novel The Fountainhead for a chance to win scholarship prizes. This contest offers students an opportunity to enhance their college applications with a prestigious award and receive professional recognition from a globally respected organization.
Winners can receive up to $25,000, with a total prize pool of $40,000. The awards include a first-place prize of $3,000, a second-place prize of $2,000, and a third-place prize of $1,000 in each seasonal round.
Participation is free and open to all eligible students. Essays will be judged on clarity, organization, understanding of the novel’s philosophical themes, and how well the writer addresses the prompt.
To apply, students must respond to the assigned prompts in English with original, unpublished work. Each essay must include page citations for quoted material and meet the specified word limits. Only one submission per student is allowed per contest round. Participants will be notified with grading updates and potential interview invitations.
For more information, visit Ayn Rand Institute.