CMTS Sponsors Mark Twain Writing & Art Competitions for Elmira College Students

The Center for Mark Twain Studies is sponsoring two competitions: The 24th Annual Mark Twain Writing Contest & The “Portraying Mark Twain” Art Competition.

Both contests are open to all Elmira College students. 

The Mark Twain Writing Contest solicits excellent student writing related to Mark Twain, his life, works, and times. Academic essays and creative writing are both strongly encouraged.

All submissions should be typed, double-spaced, and formatted according to MLA style. A submission length of 750-1250 words is recommended, but submissions of any length will be reviewed.

The author of the winning essay will receive a $250 cash prize and have their name engraved on the statuette in the entryway of McGraw Hall (beneath that of 2016 winner Emma Freedenberg ’18). Additional runners-up may also receive cash prizes.

Please submit your essay via email to Dr. Joe Lemak, Director of the Center for Mark Twain Studies ([email protected]). All entries will be judge anonymously by Dr. Matt Seybold, Assistant Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 27, 2017.

In 2017, CMTS will also sponsor the inaugural “Portraying Mark Twain” Art Competition, open to visual artists in all mediums and genres.

A $350 prize pool will be divided between winning entries, which will also be displayed on campus and/or via MarkTwainStudies.org.

Further guidelines for submissions may be found here. The deadline for entry is March 30, 2017.