Sponsoring Institution: Ayn Rand Institute

Type: Essay Contests

Eligibility: No application is required. Contest is open to students worldwide, except where void or prohibited by law. Essays must be written in English only. Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest :12th gr, College and Graduate Students Fountainhead Essay Contest :11th and 12th graders Anthem Essay contest: 8th,9th, and 10th graders OR 11th and 12th graders

Application Deadline:
Atlas Shrugged: September
Fountainhead and Anthem: April

Highlight:  30+ year old essay contest sponsored by the Ayn Rand Institute open to students in different age categories from anywhere in the world (unless prohibited by law). Three topics are given annually around each work– The Fountainhead, Anthem, and Atlas Shrugged. Rand’s stories and characters clearly reflect, promote, and generate lots of discussion around objectivism — her philosophy that you may know or be inspired to read more about, but really don’t need to be familiar with at all!! Essays are min 600 or 800 words and max 1200 or 1600 words, depending on the particular work. 59 prizes in each age category for each work, and all prizes are cash that go directly to the winning student — not to their school!  A great opportunity to practice organizing and jotting down your thoughts, and possibly win some money with your musings!!!