Scholarships for High School Students
The Dickens Day of Writing
The Dickens Day of Writing is both a writing retreat and a writing competition designed to support Monterey Bay Area junior and senior high school students in their futures as college students and professionals. Through reflecting on a short essay by Charles Dickens, the students will reinforce skills learned in the classroom, such as critical reading, analytical reasoning, argumentative writing, creative production, and cultural history to prepare them for life beyond high school.
All Dickens Day of Writing essays are published in a printed volume and the authors of winning essays receive cash prizes. Any winners who are 18 years old by July 15 will also be eligible for scholarships to enroll in a 5-credit, intensive week-long college course at this summer’s Dickens Universe conference, taking place from July 23-29 on the UCSC campus. Participants who are 18 years old by July 15 will also have their registration fee waived to attend the Dickens Universe conference at no cost.
PRIZES:
- 1st Place: $1,000 award, and scholarship to enroll in UCSC's LIT 112C course (valued at $1,717)
- 2nd Place: $750 award, and scholarship to enroll in UCSC's LIT 112C course
- 3rd Place: $500 award, and scholarship to enroll in UCSC's LIT 112C course
See the Dickens Day of Writing webpage for registration and event details.
Neighboorhood Academic Initiative Scholarships
Through its partnership with the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI), the Dickens Project offers up to four scholarships each year for NAI high school students to study Dickens amid the redwoods. Students enter the scholarship competition by submitting an essay following the guidelines described below. Students must be fully matriculated in a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school, and in good standing in the USC NAI program.
The scholarship competition winners will attend the Dickens Universe with all expenses paid. (Paid expenses include conference registration as well as food and lodging for six nights.) A travel stipend of $150 is also included for each student.
(PLEASE NOTE: The nationwide Dickens Project High School Essay Contest is no longer in effect. An archive of winning essays from the former contest is still available here.)
