SCHOLARSHIPS
NSAL Writing Scholarships
NSAL Writing Scholarships
The NSAL Writing Scholarships in Short Story are annual scholarships available through the National Society of Arts and Letters to young writers ages 16 to 22.
Successful applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success. The scholarship funds are for private study, special training, or personal advancement. The funds can be used for college tuition, but not for housing, travel or personal expenses.
The 2027 NSAL Writing Scholarship Information & Application Coming Soon
The National Society of Arts and Letters invite artists to apply for our 2026 Writing Scholarship opportunities. $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded. Applications are due to chapters by February 1, 2026. Please see the materials below for more information on this opportunity and check back for 2027 information.
2026 NSAL Writing Scholarships Winners
MAKENNA MARPLES
New York Chapter
First Place
Ages 19 -22
I love to write short stories, screenplays, and stage plays. My work has been produced at Playwrights Theater School and by NYU students at the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center. Within my work, I enjoy exploring the complexities of familial relationships, sometimes in a dark, abstract fashion. I also like to tackle challenging topics related to intersectionality, reclamation, and death.
ANNA KATE VERDONI
Iowa Chapter
First Place
Ages 16-18
Storytelling and imagination have been the center of my life since before I could hold a pencil or read a book. Now, I write as a creative way of meditating on the hidden meanings of life through word and song. The Poet began as a reflection on why we create, and has since then blossomed into the story of an old man who lives alone on an island. To all who may read this story and journey in their own tiny, wooden boat to the shores of the island - thank you for allowing to share this little corner of my heart.
The Poet
2025 NSAL Writing Scholarships Winners
Marissa Watanabe - First Place
Aloha mai kākou,
My name is Marissa Watanabe. I am a fourth generation Japanese-American, born in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Growing up in Kaimukī, an old town that raised my parents and now fosters me, I have been able to develop deep connections with my community and the many cultures of Hawai'i. Since I was young, I’ve had a great love for writing short stories. Now, at 19 years old, I am blessed with the opportunity to continue my studies in English at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. “Kaimukī Love Story” was a little thing I wrote as a college freshman; a local teen love story created before ever experiencing that kind of love myself. It was the first short story I’ve ever written and finished, and it surely won’t be my last. Mahalo nui loa to the National Society of Arts and Letters for the opportunity to share my work!
Ages 19-22
Hailey Soucie -
First Place
My name is Hailey Soucie, and I am a BSc Bioscience student at the University of Limerick. I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and went to Lincoln High School where I was surrounded by immensely talented educators and peers. For my entire life, I've had creative ambitions and a strong passion for the written and visual arts. I spend my free time writing, drawing, and otherwise creating. I participated in the International Baccalaureate Programme, where my conviction that the humanities and STEM share an immense overlap was founded. Because of my educators and family, I've always been supported in pursuit of my passions-- including writing. A special thanks to my IB educators at Lincoln High who gave me the confidence to put myself out there, and to my family for their lifetime support.