Bennington College Young Scientists Awards 2026 – YOA

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Applications for the Bennington College Young Scientists Awards 2026 are actually open. The Bennington College Young Scientists Awards have fun distinctive highschool college students in grades 9-12 who’re pondering critically and creatively about STEM and whose work demonstrates originality, curiosity, and scientific inquiry. The Bennington Young Scientists Awards acknowledge the subsequent technology of scientists whose work challenges conventions, explores new concepts, and displays a definite perspective.

Whether you’re interested by pollinator range in native gardens or the results of drought stress on plant progress, they wish to see work that demonstrates creativity, thoughtfulness, and a willingness to take dangers and study the pure world.

Category: Natural Sciences

Submit a visible illustration that displays your particular and/or distinctive understanding of a specific side of the pure world. This may very well be an expression of a specific scientific idea, the rendering of a number of components in nature, or a poster reflecting impartial analysis. The aim is to current a personally crafted artifact that demonstrates your information and appreciation of pure science.

AI might not be utilized in any portion of your submission.

Benefits

Cash Prizes (per class)

• First place: $2,000
• Second place: $1,000
• Third place: $500

Distinguished Submissions

• Distinguished designation by class and grade stage: $250
  • Particularly sturdy submissions of unique work could also be chosen for this designation. While these submissions might not have been chosen for the highest three composition prizes, college students whose high quality is distinguished amongst different entries will probably be acknowledged.

Scholarships

• First Place Winners who enroll at Bennington obtain a full-tuition scholarship for 4 years
• Distinguished Designation Recipients who enroll obtain a half-tuition scholarship for 4 years
• Finalists who enroll obtain a $25,000 annual scholarship for 4 years.

Publication and Showcase

• Winning and distinguished entries could also be featured on Bennington’s web site, social media channels, publications, and different showcase alternatives all year long.
• These entries will stay the property of the scholar.

Eligibility

• Only one submission on this self-discipline award is allowed per pupil.
• Open to college students in grades 9–12 worldwide.
• All entries have to be unique work and will probably be reviewed for authenticity.
  • No AI ought to be utilized in any portion of your submission.
• Entries have to be reviewed and accepted by a sponsoring trainer or mentor.
• Grade 12 college students should submit by means of the Common Application or Coalition Application course of (no application charges required, non-binding, no supplemental essays required). Once the application is full, they are going to ship a observe-up e-mail with YCA submission directions. Since so many YCA members additionally apply to Bennington, this strategy permits college students to submit their school and YCA purposes by means of a single course of.
• Students who’ve already graduated from highschool usually are not eligible.

Application

Submissions are accepted starting September 1 at 9:00 AM ET by means of November 1 at 11:59 PM ET. 

For extra data, go to Bennington College Young Scientists Awards.