Bennington Young Creators Awards

Read the requirements for each discipline you plan to enter:

• Young Writers Awards
• Young Artists Awards
• Young Innovators Awards
• Young Musicians Awards
• Young Scientists Awards

Ask a high school teacher to review and sponsor your entry. If you are homeschooled, ask a non-parent mentor. Have your sponsor’s full name, subject or discipline, phone number, and email address ready.

• Students in grades 9-11: Complete the student information form. Use an email address that you check regularly. After submitting this form, please allow 8-10 hours to receive your account setup email. 
• Students in grade 12: Indicate your interest in the Young Creators Awards in your Common App or the Coalition App with Scoir, and submit your application. You must submit your application before you can submit your entry. We receive applications the day after you submit them. Please allow 24-48 hours after submission to receive your account login credentials.​​​​​​​

For students in grades 9-11:

• Allow 8-10 hours to receive your account setup email. Check your spam or junk folder if it hasn’t arrived after that time period.
• Select “Set up your account” in the email. Use the username and PIN provided, then follow the prompts to create your password.
• Once your account is set up, you can access the YCA Portal and submit your entry.

For students in grade 12:

• Indicate your interest in the Young Creators Awards in your Common App or the Coalition App with Scoir, and submit your application. 
• We receive applications the day after you submit them. Please allow 24-48 hours after you submit your application to receive your account login credentials.
• Select “Set up your account” in the email you receive. Use the username and PIN provided, then follow the prompts to create your password.
• Once your account is set up, you can access the YCA Portal and submit your entry. You can find this portal link on your first-year applicant status page, and you’ll receive an email directing you to the YCA Portal as well.

• Log in to the YCA Portal with your new account credentials.
• Use the discipline buttons at the top of the portal to navigate to the relevant discipline submission form for your work.
• Complete the form for each discipline you plan to enter. Note: For Young Artists, Young Innovators, Young Musicians, and Young Scientists, submit your discipline form first, and then use the Portfolio interface in the YCA Portal to upload your entry materials.
• Follow the instructions on the page to complete your submission. Once you have uploaded your submission materials, you have completed the submission process. No further action is needed. We will reach out to you if we have any questions. 

Complete all required submission steps by November 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
 

If your account setup email hasn’t arrived per the guidance above or if you have questions about submitting your work, please contact YoungCreatorsAwards@bennington.edu.

• There is no entry fee.
• Only one submission per discipline award is allowed per student.
  • Select only one submission category to enter.
  • Students may win in only one discipline award.
• Open to students in grades 9–12 worldwide. 
  • Grade 12 students must first submit their Common Application or Coalition Application and indicate their interest in the Young Creators Awards (no application fees required, non-binding, no supplemental essays required).
  • Students should review and follow the instructions on How to Enter the Young Creators Awards. 
• All entries must be original work and will be reviewed for authenticity. 
• Entries must be reviewed and approved by a sponsoring teacher or mentor.
• Students who have already graduated from high school are not eligible.

Additional guidance and requirements may apply. Please review the individual discipline awards and categories for additional requirements and submissions guidelines.

Absolutely! We welcome students from all over the globe to participate in the Awards.

No. The Young Creators Awards are free to enter.

Yes, we welcome simultaneous submissions.

We ask that students who participate be in grades 9th through 12th grade. Gap year and transfer students are not eligible for the competition.

We have a diverse group of people who read our submissions; however, for most Young Creators Awards, we accept only submissions written in English. The only exception is the Young Musicians Awards, which can be submitted in any language, but an English translation must be submitted as an accompaniment.

In most cases, no. AI use is strictly prohibited for submissions to the following Young Creators Awards: Writers, Artists, Musicians, and Scientists.

The use of AI tools is permitted under specific conditions for submissions to the Young Innovators Awards. Please review the requirements for individual awards carefully before submitting.

No, you must be currently enrolled in high school to be eligible.

A sponsoring teacher is someone who has worked with you and reviewed your submission. They’ve given you feedback and advice. Once you submit your work, your sponsoring teacher’s work is largely done, but we want to make sure that you’ve done this step.

You don’t have to have taken a class with them, but they should know you and have worked with you in some capacity previously. Homeschooled students need to list a non-parent mentor.

Winning and distinguished entries may be featured on Bennington's website, social media channels, publications, and/or other showcase opportunities throughout the year.

These entries will remain the property of the student, and all students retain future publication rights to their submissions. 

Have a privacy concern about sharing your submitted work publicly? Email: YoungCreatorsAwards@bennington.edu