Each year, the University Writing Program hosts an essay competition. Founded in the early 1990s by Stephen McPartlin, this award honors excellent writing by first year students at the University of Notre Dame. Three awards are given, and winning essays are published in Fresh Writing, the annual journal of the best essays written by first year students.
First, second, and third place winners will receive $300, $250, and $200 cash awards, respectively, and certificates commemorating their achievement.
Please submit the essay you are nominating for the McPartlin Award, along with your letter of nomination, explaining the assignment and how the student exemplified or exceeded your expectations. The deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.
Note: Instructors may only submit ONE entry for consideration for the McPartlin Award. All submissions to McPartlin will automatically be considered for inclusion in Fresh Writing, so please do not double submit.
For complete guidelines, see: https://freshwriting.nd.edu/about/mcpartlin-submission-guidelines/
How to Submit We are now accepting submissions for the 2026 issue of Fresh Writing. To be considered for the upcoming issue (due to be published in summer 2026), essays must have been written by a first-year student during the Spring 2025 or Fall 2025 semesters at Notre Dame. Though submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis, the final deadline for consideration for the next issue is Friday, January 9, 2026.
To nominate an essay, instructors should notify students of the instructor’s wish to nominate the essay, then submit the essay on the student’s behalf. Students should not submit their essays directly. Please submit the essay you are nominating along with your letter of nomination explaining the assignment and why you believe the piece worthy of consideration for publication.
For complete guidelines, see: https://freshwriting.nd.edu/about/submission-guidelines/