Bennington College Young Scientists Awards 2026 | Win Up to $2,000
High school students worldwide in grades 9–12 are invited to submit original work in the Natural Sciences category for a chance to win cash prizes up to $2,000, publication, and potential scholarships.
Overview
The Bennington College Young Scientists Awards celebrate high school students globally who demonstrate scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and engagement with the natural world. Participants can submit original visual work within the Natural Sciences category, such as field guides, scientific illustrations, research posters, or process diagrams.
Benefits
- First place: $2,000 cash prize
- Second place: $1,000 cash prize
- Third place: $500 cash prize
- Distinguished designation: $250 award
- Potential Bennington College scholarships, including full-tuition, half-tuition, or annual awards for enrolling winners
- Publication and showcase opportunities via Bennington College media channels
Eligibility
- Open to high school students in grades 9–12 from anywhere in the world who have not yet graduated.
- Submissions must be entirely original work without the use of artificial intelligence tools.
- Entries must be reviewed and approved by a sponsoring teacher or mentor (or through specific alternative applications for grade 12 students).
- Limited to one submission per student in this discipline.
How to Apply
Eligible candidates should prepare their original Natural Sciences submission as a PDF or digital image format (JPEG, JPG, PNG, or TIFF). All work must be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher or mentor. Grade 9–11 students can use the designated submission portal, while Grade 12 students must submit through either the Common Application or Coalition Application to receive follow-up instructions.
Deadline
The submission deadline is November 1 at 11:59 PM ET.