The School is rolling out new chances for students to put their voices on the map through regional and national writing competitions.

Led by Upper School English teacher and Writing Center Head Bradley Starr, these opportunities invite student writers to push themselves, share their work beyond campus, and earn recognition for their craft.

Competitions are often open to both Middle and Upper School, and offer a range of categories and prompts for students to choose from.

Starr actively promotes these competitions within the school community during US Meeting on Mondays, and regularly announces submissions from student members.

Starr has several favorite competitions like the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards competition, Mini Memoirs, and Letters About Literature.

A popular choice for submission is the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards competition, known to be the country’s longest running program for creative youth.

“A really big one is the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards,” Starr said, “which has categories in everything, so people can submit poetry or even essays written for school”.

Categories for entries range from photography and speculative fiction to personal essay and memoir, making this a popular choice for the school’s students.

Another option currently available is Letters of Literature, which offers students a chance to begin a conversation with an author whose writing really connected with them.

In addition to providing prizes, these competitions also play a key role in improving students writing skills.

Starr also plays a key role in helping students prepare for these competitions, giving individual feedback to every student planning to submit and guiding them through the entire process.

“This revision process helps you become more receptive to feedback and more confident in your work,” Starr said.

Starr understands the importance of drafting and redrafting and is willing to sit down with students at the Writing Center to offer feedback and help in deciding when a piece feels ready to submit.

His guidance has encouraged many students to take risks and share their work.

Arushi Mutha ’28 submitted a piece last year on the Babysitters Club and Mean Janine.

“Mr. Starr helped me revise and edit my work, [going] through each error,”Mutha  said. “As a result of our hard work, I was a finalist.”

Starr is a strong advocate for these competitions, driven by the lack of similar opportunities during his formative years. 

“I don’t remember it being something that was available,” Starr said.

By making students aware of these opportunities, Starr hopes to offer them a chance for their work to be recognized, and their voices and ideas to be heard outside of school.

Starr’s goal isn’t just to help students win awards.

He wants students to feel the pride and influence that come from “working hard, taking risks, and realizing that their words matter.”

Editors’ note: The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards writing deadline this year is December 5, 2025.