Get ready—big things are coming! The 2025–2026 school year will introduce exciting new changes to the structure of NEHS awards, grants, and scholarships, opening the door for even more student members, chapters, and Chapter Advisors to explore, apply for, and benefit from these incredible opportunities.
The NEHS website will update in advance of the start of the new school year with information for all 2025-2026 awards, grants, and scholarships.
Scholarships
Get ready to shine—two exciting rounds of NEHS scholarships await the Class of 2026! This year, seniors will continue to have two opportunities to display their brilliance:
- Fall Cycle: Respond to Angie Cruz’s How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water with a critical and analytical essay.
- Winter Cycle: Explore Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library with a critical and analytical essay.
Students can submit to one or both cycles. In the case they submit to both, the highest scoring essay will be used in the scholarship evaluation.
In both rounds, students will respond to a series of thought-provoking prompts (to be released on the NEHS website) and upload a short, impactful video reflecting on a meaningful text of their choice and the personal impact of NEHS on their academic and personal growth.
Convention Presentation Award
This fall, students can submit proposals inspired by Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones and Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Pairs of students will submit two presentation abstracts for a chance to present at the 2026 Sigma Tau Delta Convention in New Orleans!
NCTE–NEHS ELA Innovation Award
This prestigious award for Chapter Advisors, sponsored jointly by NEHS and NCTE, will return in spring 2026, spotlighting bold, creative innovations in English Language Arts instruction. Stay tuned!
Chapter Impact Award
This award celebrates chapters that are making a real difference in their schools and communities. Start documenting your chapter’s accomplishments now for the spring 2026 submission period.
NEHS Triangle: Journal of Creative Writing
The 2026 edition of NEHS Triangle will shine a spotlight on student creativity! This marks the beginning of a new alternating focus:
- Even years (2026, 2028, 2030): Creative writing
- Odd years (2027, 2029, 2031): Critical and analytical writing
Intellectual Freedom Challenge
This Challenge is moving to the winter cycle, giving students more time to engage deeply with banned and challenged books—and to speak up for intellectual freedom through thoughtful, courageous writing.
Creative Challenges & Literary Artwork Awards
Exciting new opportunities are on the horizon for NEHS students with the launch of new Creative Challenges and Literary Artwork Awards! Look out for updated information on the NEHS website during summer 2025.
More from NEHSXpress: July 15, 2025
NEHS 2026 Convention
NEHS Honor Roll 2024-2025
NEHS UK Literary Tour 2025 Round-Up
Author Talk Webinar Series 2025-2026
