NEHS Scholarships

NEHS is thrilled to announce an exhilarating expansion of its scholarship fund, now offering over $80,000 in financial support to student members from around the globe. This incredible opportunity allows aspiring scholars to dive deep into the world of literature, with all applicants required to read one (or both) of the captivating Common Reader texts. To compete for this prestigious scholarship, students must submit a high-quality, critical, and analytical essay based on one of the thought-provoking prompts listed below.

Our scholarships provide unlimited possibilities as they can be applied to any accredited university anywhere in the world. Whether you’re dreaming of studying marine biology in the USA, computer science in Tanzania, or art history in China, this scholarship empowers you to pursue any subject your heart desires. 

Essay prompts are listed at the foot of this page.

Awards

Award amounts vary depending on the number and quality of submissions received. In an average year, 30 or more students receive scholarships from NEHS. 

At least one Dr. William C. Johnson scholarship worth $5,000 will be awarded each year.

Awards will be sent directly to colleges or universities for deposit into winners’ financial accounts in late summer. If a student needs to defer college entry, NEHS will hold the scholarship for one year. Awards not accepted within one year will be forfeited.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be NEHS student members enrolled in a school with an active NEHS chapter.
2. Applicants must be current high school seniors planning to study at a four-year university or two-year college.

Application Requirements

Essay Submission Requirements

1. There are two rounds of submissions for NEHS scholarships, in the fall and winter award cycles.
2. Fall Awards Cycle applications require students to submit essays in response to questions about Angie Cruz’s How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water. Winter Awards Cycle applications require students to submit essays in response to questions about Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library.
3. Students must choose one prompt for their essay, reflecting an understanding of the text and meeting the prompt requirements. Essay prompts are listed at the foot of this page.
4. Essays must be independent work; plagiarism or AI use will disqualify applicants. 
5. Students must write a critical and analytical response to the essay prompt, not a book report. 
6. All essays must follow MLA guidelines.
7. Essays must be typed in a clear 12-point font, must be double-spaced, and be a maximum of 850 words including quotes and references. Internal documentation is required for quotes and references; a Works Cited page is needed if additional research is included. 
8. Do not include any identifying information in the document.
9. Essays must be submitted in PDF (.pdf) format, and labeled as prompt1, prompt2, prompt3, prompt4, or prompt5.

Supplementary Question Requirements

Applying students are also required to upload a high-quality, creative video response of between 1-2 minutes providing thoughtful responses to both the following stimuli:

1. Choose a personal choice text that you have read, and analyze how it has influenced your perspective on a specific issue or topic.
2. Analyze the impact the National English Honor Society has had on your personal growth as a student and as a member of your community. Reflect on the motto “Gelast Sceal Mid Are,” Old English for “Duty Goes with Honor,” and explain how it resonates with your experiences in the Society.

Students must upload a single accessible video of less than two minutes in the AwardSpring platform in .MOV or .MP4 format. If the video is not immediately accessible to our evaluators, the student’s application will be disqualified.

Application Process

1. All submissions must be made via the NEHS AwardSpring platform during the Fall Awards Cycle (for How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water) or Winter Awards Cycle (for The Midnight Library).
2. Student members must upload a PDF file (.pdf) of their essay.
3. Applicants must upload a single, accessible, video in the AwardSpring platform in .MOV or .MP4 format that allows evaluators to see and hear the student’s responses to the Supplementary Questions.
4. Applicants must complete demographic data questions prior to submitting their documentation.
5. Applicants must agree that they are willing to provide a written report and photos detailing the impact the scholarship has had on them, which can be used by NEHS to promote this and other opportunities in future years should they win an award.

Evaluation Process

1. All submissions will be evaluated by at least three members of the NEHS evaluation team.
2. All submissions will be evaluated against the following rubric and given a maximum score of 80 points:

Scholarship Essay Evaluation Rubric

80—Excellent

• Direct connections between text and selected prompt
• Ideas well-developed and supported by relevant references from text, showing clear understanding of both the text and the prompt; direct quotations from text used carefully and extensively
• Extensive details reflect excellent analysis of author’s themes
• Well-organized with sophisticated paragraphing and clear and varied transitions
• Sharp focus maintained throughout the essay
• Deliberate, sophisticated, and varied use of word choices enhance the writing
• No errors or very minor errors in grammar, conventions, and usage

70—Skillful

• Connections between text and prompt selected clear and accurate
• Ideas developed with specific references to text, including direct quotations
• Details well-chosen but not as creatively incorporated into the text of the essay; evidence of understanding of text gained from careful analysis
• Well-organized with clear transitions; paragraphing done with purpose
• Focus maintained throughout the essay
• Displays good and varied word choice and syntax
• Few errors in grammar, conventions, or usage

60—Sufficient

• Connections between text and prompt evident but could be stronger
• Specifics from the text read used sporadically; fewer direct quotations than expected
• Clear sequence of information but organization predictable
• Little commentary that reflects understanding of text and prompt
• Word choice accurate but not exceptional; syntax of sentences not varied
• Errors in grammar, conventions, and usage begin to distract the reader

50—Uneven

• Confusing or inaccurate connections between text and prompt
• Evidence of misreading of assigned text or of “surface” reading rather than analysis
• Reliance on an organizational pattern (five-paragraph essay) that does not reflect confidence as a writer
• Limited analysis of author’s themes or inclusion of incidental information
• Repetition of word choices or phrases, no creative syntax
• Errors in grammar, conventions, and usage become numerous, including incomplete sentences

40—Flawed

• Thesis of essay flawed or unsupported; little evidence of understanding of prompt
• Little development with a lack of textual references reflecting only cursory reading of assigned text
• Very disorganized or a reliance on a “template” organizational structure (five paragraphs or less)
• Characterized by misspellings, missing words, no variation of sentence structures
• Errors in grammar, conventions, and usage glaring, distracting the reader

30—No Connection

• No connection to text or prompt selected
• Clear misunderstanding of assigned text or clear evidence text was not read fully or carefully
• No analysis of text
• Organization illogical or juvenile
• Errors in grammar, conventions, or usage severely impede meaning and reflect a lack of editing

Essay Prompts

Winter 2025 Awards Cycle: Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library

Prompt 1:

The Midnight Library invites readers to imagine how their lives might have unfolded differently. What lesson from the novel resonates most deeply with you, and how does Haig use Nora’s journey to illustrate the relationship between regret, acceptance, and the meaning of choice? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.

Prompt 2:

Mrs. Elm plays a crucial role in Nora’s journey through the Midnight Library. How does her guidance shape Nora’s understanding of herself and her past? In what ways does Mrs. Elm act as both a mentor and a manifestation of Nora’s conscience? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.

Prompt 3:

Although The Midnight Library examines regret and despair, it ultimately affirms the beauty of ordinary life. Analyze how Haig develops this message through Nora’s experiences in her alternate lives. How does the novel encourage readers to find meaning and fulfillment in their own everyday moments? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.

Prompt 4:

Across Nora’s alternate realities, whether as a rock star, a scientist, or an athlete, Haig reveals that outward success does not guarantee inner contentment. Discuss how The Midnight Library critiques society’s fixation on perfection and achievement. How might the novel’s themes connect to modern anxieties about social media, comparison, and self-worth? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.

Prompt 5:

Through the structure of the Midnight Library and Nora’s shifting identities, Matt Haig explores existential questions about free will, fate, and authenticity. To what extent does the novel suggest that who we are is determined by our choices rather than our circumstances? Use textual evidence to support your analysis, and reference to key scenes and relationships, such as those involving Mrs. Elm, Dan, or Ash.