McPartlin Submission Guidelines

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.

Guidelines for Faculty

• Professors may each nominate one essay written by a student enrolled in the professor’s Writing and Rhetoric or University Seminar course during the 2025 spring or fall semesters. The essay must be based on work undertaken for that course.
• The nominated essay must make an argument about a given topic.
• The essay may include original research by the writer.
• The essay may not exceed fifteen pages of text (excluding works cited).
• Professors should obtain students’ written permission to enter the essay in the contest and to publish it in Fresh Writing.
• Nominations must include a letter giving a brief explanation of the assignment and explaining why the essay is worthy of consideration. Be sure to include both the instructor's name and the student's name in the nomination letter.
• All submissions to McPartlin will automatically be considered for inclusion in Fresh Writing.

Essays that do not meet these guidelines do not qualify for the contest.

Contest winners and nominating faculty will be notified in the spring semester.

How to Submit

We are now accepting submissions for the 2026 McPartlin Award. Though submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis, the final deadline for consideration for the next issue is 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.

Submit McPartlin Nomination

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Capdevielle and Jessica Shumake, at freshwriting@nd.edu .