Learning Resources: NISOD Student Essay Contest: NISOD's Annual Student Contests

NISOD and the SJR State Writing Centers invite you to participate in the Scott Wright Student Essay Contest!

Describe in a 500-word (or less) essay a faculty member, staff member, or administrator who encouraged you to complete a course, finish a semester, or graduate from college and how that encouragement helped you reach your goal(s).

The 2022 Scott Wright Student Essay Contest has closed and we are so pleased to share SJR State student, Rebekah Wilson, was chosen as a winner! Read her winning essay!

If you need help with this or any writing assignment, please visit the writing center in your campus Library!

The 2023 Scott Wright Student Essay Contest is Open!

The Prize

Three (3) winning student authors and the faculty members, staff members, or administrators featured in the winning essays will each receive:

$1,000 USD
Travel to the International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence (May 27-30 in Austin, Texas), which includes:
- Up to $400 USD toward travel to Austin, Texas;
- Up to three (3) nights lodging (Saturday, Sunday, Monday nights only);
- One (1) complimentary conference registration.

(Note: Winning authors will read their essays on stage during the conference’s Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration on Sunday, May 28.)

In addition, each winning student author’s college will receive a complimentary one-year NISOD membership.

Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Content
Originality
Clarity
Organization
Conciseness
Grammar

Timeline

Contest opens: August 19, 2022
Submission deadline: March 5, 2023
Winners notified: March 24, 2023
Winner acceptance due: March 31, 2023
Winners’ photos due: April 7, 2023
Prize and essay presentations at NISOD conference: May 28, 2023

View past winning essays on the Scott Wright Student Essay Contest homepage.

Submit your essay online!

NISOD Student Graphic Design Contest

NISOD invites students at NISOD-member colleges to participate in the Student Graphic Design Contest and design the official Conference Program for NISOD’s 2024 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, the definitive gathering of community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff seeking best and promising practices designed to improve student achievement.

The winning artwork will become the 2024 Conference Program front cover!

The Prize

The winning student artist will receive:

$1,000 USD
Travel to the International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence (May 27-30, 2023 in Austin, Texas), which includes:
- Up to $400 USD toward travel to Austin, Texas;
- Up to three (3) nights lodging (Saturday, Sunday, Monday nights only);
- One (1) complimentary conference registration.

In addition, each winning student’s college will receive a complimentary one-year NISOD membership.

Timeline

Contest opens: August 19, 2022
Submission deadline: March 3, 2023
Winner notified: March 24, 2023
Winner acceptance due: March 31, 2023
Winner’s photo due: April 7, 2023
Winning artwork unveiled at NISOD conference: May 29, 2023

Suggested Theme and Style Guidelines

We are looking for artwork with interesting, fun, bold, fresh, colorful, original, and modern images, yet which honors the legacy of NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence. Keep in mind that the winning artwork will become the 2024 Conference Program front cover, and must also be easily applicable to advertising, brochures, and other applications. If you choose to use community and technical college educators in an illustrated format, our preferences are faculty members in classroom settings. No recognizable students, faculty, administrators, and staff are permitted.

For complete details, visit NISOD's Student Graphic Design Contest web page.