Since 1985, the Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual contests. The contests are categorized by Ayn Rand novels: Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged.
Each year a different essay topic is chosen. Students are instructed to pay attention to the themes and character motivations as they read the novels and think about how to answer the essay topic questions.
Anthem: Students in grades 8th to 12th worldwide can write an essay about Anthem for a top prize of $2,000.
The Fountainhead: Students in grades 11th and 12th worldwide can write an essay on The Fountainhead for a top prize of $5,000.
Atlas Shrugged: High school students in 12th grade, college students, and graduate students worldwide can write an essay about Atlas Shrugged for a top prize of $10,000.
Location(s)
Schedule
- Fall/Spring
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- All applicants must be at least 13 years old.
Deadline
- Anthem and The Fountainhead: late April
- Atlas Shrugged: late November
Application or Entry Requirements
- Visit the Ayn Rand Institute website to sign up for an email with application instructions and application portal
- Requirements vary by novel.
Notifications of Decisions
- Announcement of prize winners will be made in July (Anthem and The Fountainhead) and February (Atlas Shrugged)
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, the Ayn Rand Institute offers educational experiences based on Ayn Rand’s books and ideas for a variety of audiences, including students, educators, policymakers, and lifelong learners. ARI also engages in research and advocacy efforts, applying Rand’s ideas to current issues and seeking to promote her philosophical principles of reason, rational self-interest, and laissez-faire capitalism.
