July 23, 2026
The Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing
Direct application
$1,000
3 winners
Eligibility
Major
English Literature
Education level
High school
About this scholarship
High school juniors and seniors in the U.S. or internationally, including rising juniors and spring graduates, may submit an original unpublished English essay responding to one of three annual writing prompts. A $1,000 grand prize and two runner-up awards are granted; winning entries may be featured on LearnCurious.
Essays must be under 2,000 words and must not have been published elsewhere. Submit through the LearnCurious scholarship form by July 23.
Essay questions
What else to submit
- Original unpublished English essay responding to one annual prompt, no more than 2,000 words
- Respond to ONE of the three prompts (NARRATIVE, META, or WACKY)
- 2000 words or fewer applies to all prompts
- Open to high school rising juniors, juniors, seniors, or rising college freshmen
- Submissions must be in English (short bits of other languages allowed within a story); poetry is welcome
- Up to $1,000 awarded to the best responses
- Prompts change each year; check the official LearnCurious page before applying
- Submissions must be made through the LearnCurious scholarship form.
- Winning entries may be featured by LearnCurious.