Regional Student Writing Contest Opens Opportunities for Menominee Youth

Shawano Area Writers officially opened the 2026 George Putz Memorial Student Writing Contest on January 7, extending invitations to public and private schools as well as homeschool families throughout Shawano County and Menominee County. The contest is open to students in four grade groupings: grades 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, with entries accepted in three categories—poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

Organizers structured competition so students compete only against peers in the same grade group. Entrants may enter more than one category and may submit multiple entries, increasing opportunities for participation. Cash prizes will be awarded in each category within every grade group, and first-, second-, and third-place winners will be selected. Judges will be drawn from outside Shawano and Menominee counties to preserve impartiality, and additional honorable mentions may be named at the judges’ discretion. All winners, including honorable mentions, will receive certificates of achievement.

For Menominee County students and families, the contest represents a near-term deadline and a low-barrier chance to showcase skills. Entries require a completed entry form and may be mailed to Shawano Area Writers, P.O. Box 657, Shawano, WI 54166, or emailed to student.writing.contest@shawanoareawriters.org. Contest rules and entry forms are available online at the Shawano Area Writers website. The submission deadline is March 27, giving teachers and families roughly 11 weeks from the launch date to prepare and submit work.

Beyond the immediate cultural and educational benefits, local leaders and educators often view contests like this as part of a broader push to strengthen literacy and communication skills that support students’ futures. Writing proficiency is a core component of academic performance and can influence college readiness and workforce readiness, particularly in rural counties where expanding human capital is a policy priority. Cash awards may provide modest financial support to families and offer visible rewards that boost participation.

Including homeschool families and pairing impartial judging with grade-specific competition addresses equity and accessibility concerns, helping ensure that recognition is earned on merit. For Menominee County schools, the contest can be folded into classroom assignments or extracurricular programming without significant cost, while offering students an added credential for portfolios and school records.

Students interested in entering should obtain the required entry form from the Shawano Area Writers website and plan submissions well before the March 27 deadline.