Ayn Rand “The Fountainhead” Essay Contest – Winter Prompt

Scholarship Overview: Open to all middle school and high school students worldwide who have read Ayn Rand’s book, “The Fountainhead.”
Application Available: October 6, 2025
Deadline Date: December 20, 2025

Scholarship Details:

Open to all middle & high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older. Fountainhead is a Ayn Rand’s classic presenting one of the most challenging ideas in all of fiction—that man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress.

Eligibility Requirements:
Entrants must be in middle school or high school and submit an essay of 800 to 1,600 words on one of three topics available on the web page. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of “The Fountainhead.”

• Annual Grand Prize – $25,000
• 694 pages – Book length
• Submission word count – 600-1,200

Seasonal Entry Rounds and Deadlines

 

 

Application Requirements: Essay

Essay Details:

Essays must be written in English only and between 600 and 1,200 words in length, double-spaced. Essay topics will be posted on the website.

Award Amount: $3,000

Award Details:

Top award is $3,000. Checks are mailed directly to winners with no restrictions on how the prize money is spent.

Website/URL: https://aynrand.org/students/essay-contests/the-fountainhead/

Scholarship Manager Information:

Contact Email: essays@aynrand.org
Additional Contact & Submission Information:

To enter – visit the website URL and choose the title of the book to view the Prompts for that scholarship. Fill out the contact form below, and you will recieve an email with more information about the contest—including instructions on how to enter.

Additional Scholarship Information:

Sep. 27, 2024 – Application Window for Winter Prompt Opens
Dec. 20, 2024 – Entry Deadline for Winter Prompt
Dec. 27, 2024 – Grading Begins for Winter Prompt
Mar. 7, 2025 – Results Announced for Winter Prompt

Filters:

Areas of Study: Open to All
Applicant’s Current Education Level: Middle School Student, High School Student (9-11), High School Senior
Location Specific: National