Top 7 Short Story Scholarships in August 2026

Are you an 11–18 year old passionate about the creative arts and/or the environment? Consider applying for Bow Seat's Ocean Awareness Contest! The 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest – "Your Story, Our Ocean: How Our Ocean Sustains, Protects, and Inspires Us" – encourages students to "explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us." Applicants are asked to share how "the ocean has shaped their story" through works of visual art, creative writing, poetry, spoken word, music, dance, film, and more for a chance to win cash awards of up to $1,000 and to join the world’s largest environmental youth community for the creative arts!Show Less

The Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship recognizes and supports the work of activist artists in New Hampshire who tell human rights stories in unique, inspiring, and significant ways. Applicants are challenged to examine the influence of a particular activist artist or create their own piece of activist art. Acceptable forms of media include film, writing, theater, dance, music, painting, poetry, and drawing.  While two runners-up will be awarded $2,500 each, two first-place winners will be granted $5,000 each. If you're an artist from New Hampshire passionate about expressing raw emotions that can provoke attention and action on human rights crises, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you a high school sophomore or junior interested in entering an essay contest? If so, consider applying for the Achievement Awards in Writing! The awards are open to nominated students who submit a piece of creative/argumentative writing. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), a nonprofit professional association of educators, offers the contest to recognize students’ talents and achievements. The NCTE focuses on improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Each year, multiple winners are chosen and receive a certificate. Additionally, winners of the “First Class Award" will have their name and their school’s name appear on the NCTE website. If you are passionate about writing, we encourage you to apply! While the scholarship cycle does not open until mid-November of each year, students are encouraged to start thinking of and preparing their first drafts early.Show Less

Arts For Life! recognizes the creativity and artistic talents of high school students throughout Florida. Thus, annually, the Arts for Life! Scholarship awards $1,000 each to 25 Florida high school seniors who demonstrate academic and artistic excellence in creative writing, dance, drama, music, or the visual arts. The program, launched by former First Lady Columba Bush in 1999, has awarded scholarships to more than 575 gifted high school seniors over its lifetime. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program offers twelfth-grade students (enrolled in a public school in South Carolina) the opportunity to compete for a scholarship in creative writing, dance, music, theater, or visual arts. In return for their impressive efforts, five (5) of the top applicants will be granted $2,000 each. Students must be U.S. citizens and have attended public school in South Carolina for the past two years. Students planning to attend an out-of-state college or university are ineligible to apply. Entries produced in collaboration with others are not eligible for this competition. Students may compete in one arts area only. If you're a South Carolinian high school senior passionate about the arts, we encourage you to apply!Show Less