The Shawano Area Writers has kicked off the 2026 George Putz Memorial Student Writing Contest.
Information about the contest is being distributed to public and private schools and homeschoolers in Shawano and Menominee counties. The contest is open for four grade groups: 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. There are three categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction.
Students will be competing only within their grade group, and cash prizes will be given in each of the categories. Students may enter in more than one category, and they may submit entries as many times as they want.
The judges for the contest are selected from outside Shawano and Menominee counties. They will be picking a first, second and third place in each category within each grade group. First, second, and third place winners in each grade group will receive cash prizes in each of the three categories. They will also be giving out honorable mentions to some of the students. All winners, including honorable mentions, will get a certificate of achievement for being selected by the judges.
The deadline for the contest is March 27. All the rules and the entry form are posted at https://shawanoareawriters.org/george-putz-memorial-student-writing-contest. Each entry must have an entry form. Entries can be mailed to Shawano Area Writers, P.O. Box 657, Shawano, WI 54166 or emailed to student.writing.contest@shawanoareawriters.org.
