NeW Essay Contest
Submit an essay for the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship.
Submit an essay for the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship.
NeW was started on the belief that there should be a place on campus for conservative women. As a part of our programming, we are thrilled to host our annual Essay Contest.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or sign up for our NeWsletter to stay informed about the winners of the Essay Contest.
The 2026 Essay Contest prompt:
In 2026, Americans are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. America’s Founding Fathers collaborated on documents that would shape not only a nation, but also the course of history. What specifically in America’s founding documents best stands the test of time? What line from the Declaration of Independence do you think is most important today? What does it mean for our rights to be “unalienable?” What do you think has been the most effective safeguard of liberty in the Constitution? Is government playing the role that our Founders intended? What role did women play in shaping America’s early identity? What do you think are the greatest threats to freedom and liberty in America today?
Feel free to respond to the entire essay prompt or focus on specific sections that resonate with you.
Who: Female high school juniors and seniors and college students
Start Date: Saturday, March 1, 2026 at 9:00am ET
Deadline: Monday, March 31, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
Prize: $1,000 for the first-place winners of the College and High School Category. The first-place essays will have the opportunity to be published.
To read the Official Contest Rules, click here.
Read the winning 2025 College Essay and the winning High School Essay.
For questions that are not answered in the description above, please email media@enlightenedwomen.org.
NeW is excited to announce the winner of the College Category of the 2025 Essay Contest, Anna Meverden, a student at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Congratulations, Anna!
NeW is excited to announce the winner of the High School Category of the 2025 Essay Contest, Erika Morford, a student at Ephrata High School. Congratulations, Erika!
NeW is excited to announce the winner of the College Category of the 2024 Essay Contest, Adelaide Bradley, a student at Washington State University Vancouver. Congratulations, Adelaide!