Ayn Rand “Fountainhead” Essay Contest – Summer Prompt

Scholarship Overview: Open to all middle school and high school students worldwide who have read Ayn Rand’s book “The Fountainhead”
Application Available: March 11, 2025
Deadline Date: June 7, 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
  • Sept. 13, 2024 – Fall Entry Deadline
  • 694 pages – Book length
  • submission Word count – 800-1600

 

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: $5,000

Award Details:

Top award is $5,000. 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:

Mar 11 2025 – Application Window for Summer Prompt Opens
June 7 2025 – Entry Deadline for Summer Prompt
June 14 2025 – Grading Begins for Summer Prompt
Aug 23, 2025 – Results Announced for Summer Prompt

Filters:

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