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UM Writing Competition

Interdisciplinary

Grades 7-12Spring
2026-2027 Theme: A Celebration of the Ordinary
Student Submissions Due: January 29, 2027
Awards Ceremony (Virtual): April 8, 2027
Students: Rising 7th-12th grades
Registration Coming Soon

The University of Mississippi Writing Competition is an annual celebration of creative expression, open to students nationwide through online submission. Each year, writers explore a unifying theme across multiple genres, showcasing their unique perspectives and storytelling talents.

Participants may submit work in the following categories:

  • Essay (narrative or expository)
  • Poetry
  • Short Story

All entries must connect to the annual Writing Competition theme.

Sponsor: UM Writing Project, Office of Pre‑College Programs, Division of Outreach and Continuing Education

Competition Type: Online Submission Only

Entries will be judged on literary merit and usage/grammar appropriate to grade level. The work is not to be taken from or based upon any writing by any author famous or unknown, student or adult - or from any published or unpublished source such as a book, magazine, literary anthology, or the like. Judges will be teacher consultants from the University of Mississippi Writing Project. 

Submissions will be judged for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each writing category. Winning submissions will receive scholarship awards to summer programs, sponsored by the Office of Pre-College Programs, and will be published in the Office of Pre-College Programs’ Celebrations literary magazine. Honorary submissions may also be published in the literary magazine.

Competition Rules

  • The competition is open to students currently enrolled in grades 7th-12th.
  • Entries should consist of original pieces of writing:
    • Poetry
    • Short Stories
    • Essays
  • Acceptable format of entries:
    • Typed using Microsoft Word or another word processor
    • Double-spaced on one side of paper only. No double-sided printing.
    • 12-point font, Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman
  • Maximum word limit:
    • 1,500 words for 7th-8th grades
    • 3,000 words for 9th-12th grades
  • All entries may be uploaded to our secure portal after registration. The registration form links to the secure portal.
    • NO NAME should appear on the entry itself. Entries with names will be disqualified.
    • Titles are required on the entry. Titles should be punctuated correctly. No underlining or quotation marks of titles on original work.
    • Entries should be labeled as directed by the upload portal. Appropriate format for your file name is: Last Name_First Name_Grade_Genre. Ex: Landshark_Tony_10_Poetry.

Celebrations is an annual literary magazine featuring the first, second, and third place winners from the Celebration Writing Competition. You’ll find a mix of essays, poems, and short stories from middle and high school students, along with original student artwork. 

Please enjoy these previous publications of Celebrations:

2026 Issue (link coming soon)
2025 Issue (link coming soon)
2023 Issue
2022 Issue
2021 Issue

Benefit for UM Faculty and Staff
Full-time University of Mississippi employees can choose one of these payment options:

  • Upfront Payment: Pay $170/week with a credit card and save $25 per week.
  • Payroll Deduction: Pay $195/week over six pay periods, starting in July. Available until June 15th.

Only one payment option can be used per week; both options cannot be combined.

Financial Aid available.
Need-based assistance is available for Rebel Quest and other summer programs. Only one week per child can be scholarship-funded. Funding is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summer Financial Aid