Cancer Pathways 2025 Teen Writing Contest

Organization: Cancer Pathways – Click here to apply

Application Deadline: 02/28/2025

Overview: The Cancer Pathways Teen Writing Contest is an annual competition offering $1,000 cash prizes to high school students who write about their experiences with cancer. Students can share their personal stories or those of a loved one or friend. Since 2006, the contest has awarded over $320,000 in prize money and received more than 9,800 submissions.

Key Information:

• Location: United States

• Modality: N/A (Scholarship)

• Compensation: $1,000 cash prize for winners

• Time Commitment: Essay submission only

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a high school student (grades 9-12) living in the U.S.

• Essays must be original, in the student’s own voice, and about a cancer-related experience

• Maximum word count: 1,500 words

• Essays may be written in Spanish but will be translated into English for judging

• NOT eligible: Poems, fictional stories, or essays about pets

• Winners must attend the virtual celebration on May 18, 2025

• Winners will be required to fill out an IRS W-9 form

• Students may only win the contest once