The Alpha Delta Phi Foundation 

2026 SEWARD SCHOLARSHIPS 

Seward Scholarships are awarded annually to Undergraduate members in good standing of either the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society on the basis of their academic achievement and contributions to their chapter and their campus community.      

This is a merit based scholarship. It is not based on financial need and you do not need to provide any financial information to apply. 

Scholarships are awarded only to those applicants who will be full time students in the 2026-2027 academic year, and the scholarships must be used to meet direct educational expenses such as books and class supplies. Scholarships will range up to $1,000 and are awarded on a competitive basis.   

The 2026 Seward Scholarship competition will be conducted in four stages.  

1.     Submission of Seward Scholarship Application and Official Transcript 

The Seward Scholarship Application should be prepared by the student. The applicant must have their college or university send an official transcript of grades to the Committee. No applicant will be considered for the scholarship unless the application and official transcript are both received by the application deadline.    

The application deadline is July 10, 2026. 

POSTAL MAIL / EMAIL for Transcript Submission: 

The Alpha Delta Phi Foundation                 sewards@adphifoundation.org        

Seward Scholarship Committee         

c/o Craig Cheslog        

4007 Sherman Way          

Sacramento, CA  95817      

2.     Solicitation of Evaluations 

The Awards Committee may solicit evaluations of specific applicants by consulting members of the student’s community who are able to evaluate applicants’ contributions to their community. Any such evaluations will be obtained no later than July 10, 2026.      

3.     Selection of Scholarship Recipients 

The Committee will announce all scholarship recipients in August 2026 by positing the information to the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation's web site and social media pages.     

4.     Transmission of Scholarship Checks 

Scholarship checks (or other form of transmission) will be issued in November or December 2026, or January 2027.      If you have any questions or trouble submitting your application, please contact sewards@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR FICTION 

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Fiction entries. Please attach your entries as directed.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Judges reserve the right to limit consideration of an entry to the first 5000 words. Footnotes, end notes, and bibliographies are not considered part of this word count. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR NON-FICTION 

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Non-Fiction entries. Please submit Personal Essays and Narratives to that separate category. Please attach your entries as directed.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Judges reserve the right to limit consideration of an entry to the first 5000 words. Footnotes, end notes, and bibliographies are not considered part of this word count. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERSONAL ESSAY & NARRATIVE

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Personal Essay & Narrative entries. Please attach your entries as directed.
• Personal Essay and Narrative entries must recount a true event or experience from the writer’s life. Any works revealed to be fictional will be disqualified.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Judges reserve the right to limit consideration of an entry to the first 5000 words. Footnotes, end notes, and bibliographies are not considered part of this word count. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR POETRY

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Poetry entries.  Please attach your entries as directed.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Judges reserve the right to limit consideration of an entry to the first 5000 words. Footnotes, end notes, and bibliographies are not considered part of this word count. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026. 
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted.
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Photography. Please attach your entries as directed.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually.
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission.
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential. 
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VISUAL ARTS

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for the Visual Arts category only. Please attach your entries as directed.
• Work of Visual Art in this category are defined broadly including but not limited to installation, drawing, painting, sculpture, glass, mixed media, and new media. If you work in moving images or video, we recommend that you apply to the Film category. There is also a separate category for photography.
• Works of art should be documented with care. Two dimensional (2D) works should be well lit and squared to your camera. Three dimensional (3D) works should be well lit and can be documented with multiple images if needed. Try not to give the jury excessive detail images of your work. One to two images of your artwork should be enough.
• For a clear explanation of documenting 2D artworks please refer to this document: http://cuart.colorado.edu/resources/vrc/tips/photographing-2d/
• For a clear explanation of documenting 3D artworks please refer to this document: http://cuart.colorado.edu/resources/vrc/tips/photographing-3d/
• By entering this Competition, you are confirming that you are the primary creator of what you submit, even if others had a role in its production.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FILM CATEGORY 

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Film. Please attach your entries as directed.
• By entering this Competition, you are confirming that you are the primary creator of what you submit, even if others had roles in its production and performance.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Screen credits that indicate the entrant or their school should be edited out before submission or be disqualified. If a Film entry wins an award, the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation will contact the entrant for the complete version with screen credits after judging is complete before posting it on the Foundation and related organizations’ websites to provide appropriate credit to those involved in the film’s production.
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR MUSIC & LYRICS 

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for Music and Lyrics. Please attach your entries as directed.
• Entries in the Music and Lyrics category must include either an audio file and/or sheet music. If an entry has lyrics, then please include a lyric sheet as a typed document in 10-12pt font. Entries for lyrics without either an audio file or sheet music should instead be submitted in the Poetry category.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.

2025-26 OFFICIAL RULES & INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE STEM WRITING CATEGORY 

• The 2025-26 Alpha Delta Phi Foundation Literary Competition is open to all undergraduate college students associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity or the Alpha Delta Phi Society. All entries must be received by Friday, June 26, 2026.
• A $5,000 GRAND PRIZE will be awarded to that single entry which shows the greatest level of overall excellence in one of the nine categories: fiction, non-fiction, personal essay/narrative, poetry, photography, film, music/lyrics, STEM writing and visual art. The decision of the judges is final; the judges may also elect not to give the award, or may split it into two $2,500 prizes. The prize money is paid directly to the winner. This is not a scholarship; it is a direct cash award. Previous winners of this prize are not eligible to win a second time, but they can enter and win first prizes in any or all categories.
• First prize of $750 is offered in all categories. Based on the number of second and third place prizes awarded, cash grants may be made of amounts up to $500 and $250, respectively, based on funds available and the number of awards granted. 
• There are nine categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Personal Essay/Narrative, Poetry, Photography, Film, Music/Lyrics, Visual Arts, and STEM Writing. Each entry may only be considered for one category. This application is for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Writing Award Competition only. Please attach your manuscripts below as directed.
• Acceptable STEM submissions may include peer reviews, experimental papers, and expository papers. Please do not submit lab reports or mere abstracts. All STEM manuscripts should be accessible to the general well-educated, non-expert reader; none should require highly specialized or technical knowledge.
• Previously published works are not eligible for entry, except works published in college or university publications. Original material submitted for course work is acceptable. Submit recent works to the competition, rather than works submitted in previous years. 
• You may submit more than once if you have additional entries for the same category or different categories. However, no entrant may submit more than five entry forms in any single category. Each submission should be sent via its own Submittable entry form. Entrants who want to ensure that their entries are reviewed as individual works should submit each work as a separate entry, via a separate Submittable form. Works submitted together in a single Submittable entry form will be reviewed holistically as a body/collection of work and will not be considered individually. 
• Manuscripts of less than 1,500 words are strongly recommended; however, manuscripts of up to 5,000 words or 12 pages, whichever is shorter, will receive consideration. 
• Entries should not be signed and should not bear information that could disclose the identity of the entrant. Failure to remove identifying information will result in disqualification. Where feasible, entrants are also required to remove information identifying their school before submission. 
• Entries will be considered if submitted from undergraduate college students in good standing associated with the Alpha Delta Phi Society or the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
• Entries must be submitted online via the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation submissions website before 11:59pm ET on the deadline date above. 
• By entering the Literary Competition, all participants assure the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation that the submitted work is their own, that all sources are correctly referenced, and that they have the appropriate rights to the content of their submission, to include depictions of characters or other content that is not the sole creation of the entrant. Any entries that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others will be disqualified. In addition to this, all participants grant the Alpha Delta Phi Foundation the unrestricted right to display all and/or selected entries on an Alpha Delta Phi Foundation website or social media, within a printed Alpha Delta Phi Foundation literary journal, or in other Alpha Delta Phi-affiliated publications.
• There is no minimum number of submissions required for an award to be made in each category. However, regardless of the number of submissions made, the judges reserve the right not to make an award in any category if they deem that no submissions meet the standards to earn an award. All decisions made by the judges are final and are kept confidential.
• If you have any questions or trouble submitting contact litcomp@adphifoundation.org.