Our national Teen Writing Contest is celebrating 20 years this year! Our contest is an opportunity for 9th-12th graders to share their experience with cancer-whether it’s a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one.
2026 Teen Writing Contest is now closed
Winners will be announced in early May and each applicant will be notified via email.
Judging Process
Cancer Pathways employs a multi-step review process to select contest winners. Submissions are judged by an esteemed group of individuals, including cancer survivors, authors, influencers, politicians, business and community leaders, artists, and professional athletes.
Interested in Being a Judge?
We look for compassionate judges to read essays every year in April to help narrow down to the finalists. Judges are asked to read 15-20 short essays online. The essays are up to 1,500 words and take approximately five minutes to read per essay. Afterwards we ask that you complete a short three question evaluation to “judge” the essay.
If you’re interested in judging or would like more information about the contest, please contact [email protected]
About our Teen Writing Contest
Learning about a cancer diagnosis – your own or that of a loved one – can cause a storm of emotions, and everyone experiences it differently. We want to know what this experience was like for you. What happened in your life, and how did it change you or your perspectives?
Over the years we have received stories of triumph and stories of great loss, stories written in times of turbulence, and stories written in times of quiet reflection. Each one has been honest, heartfelt, and unique.
We invite you to submit a short essay about your experience with cancer for the opportunity to win a $1,000 cash prize. Since the contest began in 2006, we have received more than 11,000 submissions and awarded over $370,000 in prizes to teens in 9th-12th grade.
Contest Eligibility & Guidelines
Open to students grades 9-12 who are impacted by cancer and live in the United States
Essay Requirements
- Must not exceed 1,500 words
- Essays must be original content by the author
- Must be in English (other languages welcome with English translation)
- No poems, essays about a pet, or fiction
Prizes & Recognition
- Cash prizes of $1,000 awarded to winners
- Winners will be invited to a virtual celebration and asked to read their essays
Who Can Enter
- Open to 9-12th graders
- Those who have been impacted by cancer personally or through a loved one’s diagnosis
- Must reside in the United States
Winning Essays
Writing Tips
Quotes from Contest Winners
Partners
Our $1000 cash awards are made possible through the generosity of several major donors: The Lucky Seven Foundation, Sally Nordstrom