East Texas Scholastic
Awards
Cash prizes and scholarships are available for participants and winners!
Applications are now OPEN for 2026
The mission of ETSA is to encourage students to write more and provide a fun competitive atmosphere which will help motivate young writers
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS 11:59 PM FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
All entries after the deadline will not be eligible.
Created in 2022 by Capstone and Brook Hill School student Terry Kim, ETSA has continued to grow each year and Capstone College and Career Advising is proud to host this event each year. This year, ETSA had a record number of submissions and ETSA participants have represented over a dozen schools in the East Texas area! Prize money will be awarded at the winner's school or mailed and winners will be posted after winners are notified and prize money is distributed.
Submit your entry in any or all of the categories listed. Make sure you provide a valid email and address to insure you receive your prize if you are a winning entry. Good luck!
Essay Categories
Fiction (500-3000 Word Limit)
Non Fiction (500-3000 Word Limit)
Poetry (25-200 Word Limit)
Journalism (250-2500 Word Limit)
Some Former Winners
- Benjamin Sowers
- Athens Christian Preparatory Academy
- The Disappearance of Madeleine Fischer
- Piper Drinkwater
- Bullard High School
- Evangeline Bock
- Grace Community School
- Sephora Kids
- Grace Parker
- Christian Heritage Classical School
- Mental Health in the Modern Age_ Desensitizing to the Sensitive
- Lydia Payne
- Lindale High School
- Kiley Normandin
- Athens Christian Preparatory Academy
- Wyatt Arnold
- Grace Community School
- Mia Black
- Bishop Thomas K Gorman Catholic School
- A Letter to My Brother’s Future
Girlfriends
- Madison Dean
- Bullard High School
- Morality of Genetic Engineering
- Kalie Cummings
- Bullard High School
- Empower and Thrive: Wellness Expo for the Black Community in Tyler
- Chandler Davis
- Bullard High School
- Bradley Grooters
- Christian Heritage Classical School
Help us support East Texas students by becoming a Corporate Sponsor:
All sponsorship money goes directly to student prizes for ETSA winners. to become an ETSA sponsor, contact Jim Bell at 903-747-3424 or email jbell@capstoneadvising.com.
Please indicate the sponsorship level in the message.
$1000 - C.S. Lewis Level Sponsor - Listing on the ETSA Website with Link plus Listing on Flyers and named sponsor of the event through media coverage
$500 - Shakespeare Level Sponsor - Listing on the ETSA Website with Link plus Listing on Flyers.
$100 - Charles Dickens Level Sponsor - Listing on the ETSA Website with Link to your business
$50 - J.K. Rowling Level Sponsor - Listing on the ETSA website
