Pro Life Essay Contest Deadline: November 7, 2026
Amount: $25 - $250
Description: Award is open to classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers between the ages of 8 and 18 who have not yet entered college during the 2026-2027 academic year.Respect for life requires that science and technology should always be at the service of man and his integral development. Society as a whole must respect, defend, and promote the dignity of every human person, at every moment and in every condition of that person’s life.” – St. John Paul II
Choose one specific stage or circumstance of human life—such as life before birth, disability, serious illness, or old age—and write a 500-word essay defending why that person’s life has value and dignity, even when he or she may be dependent on others or facing difficult circumstances.
Your essay should connect your argument to St. John Paul II’s quote and use specific examples to support your position.
Make sure to include all of the following: Describe one or more challenges that can threaten the dignity of people in the situation you chose; Explain why that person’s life has value and dignity, even when he or she may be dependent on others or facing difficult circumstances; Give at least one concrete example for how individuals, families, communities, or society can respond with greater respect, compassion, and protection, and explain why you chose this. Write 500 words responding to this prompt. Have your parent, legal guardian, or teacher submit your essay using this form. If you have any issues submitting your essay using the form, you can email it directly to clsp@all.org.
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Deadline: November 9, 2026
Amount: up to $10,000
Description: Award is open to classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers between the ages of 8 and 18 who have not yet entered college during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Youth Art Contest Deadline: November 13, 2026
Amount: up to $200
Description: Contest is open to students 18 years of age or younger who are directly or indirectly affected by cancer. Applicants must submit an original piece of artwork or photo.
Junior Scholars Essay Contest Deadline: November 30, 2026 (Early Bird 10/25/26)
Amount: varies
Description: The Junior Scholars Essay Contest invites students in grades 6 to 8 to wrestle with big questions, challenge common assumptions, and make their case with creativity and evidence. As a participant, you will choose one of the five prompts and submit an argumentative essay on the chosen question. Submissions should be formal academic essays, in English, featuring a clear central argument, well-organized reasoning, use of relevant sources, and thoughtful analysis of opposing perspectives. Entries are judged on five criteria: originality, analysis, evidence, structure, and presentation. Essays are reviewed by a panel of distinguished professors and researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Brown, and Dartmouth. 6 winners (1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze) will share a total of more than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships, besides many scholarships for top submissions.