NEHS Scholarships
Offered by National English Honor Society
About This Scholarship
The National English Honor Society puts over $90,000 a year behind graduating senior members, with 30 or more students receiving scholarships each cycle and at least one $5,000 Dr. William C. Johnson Scholarship guaranteed annually. For strong readers and writers, this is one of the better returns on a skill they already have.
Membership is the gate: applicants must be NEHS student members enrolled at a school with an active chapter, and they must be current high school seniors headed to a four-year university or two-year college. The fall application window opens September 28, 2026 and closes October 13, 2026, with a second winter cycle opening December 7, 2026 for students who miss the first round.
The application, submitted through AwardSpring, is built around the society's annual Common Reader text: a critical analytical essay of up to 850 words responding to one of five prompts, plus a one-to-two-minute video answering questions about your reading life and NEHS experience. Essays follow MLA format and are read blind, so polish matters more than reputation.
Eligibility
- Current NEHS student member enrolled at a school with an active NEHS chapter
- High school senior planning to attend a four-year university or two-year college
- Critical analytical essay (maximum 850 words) on the assigned Common Reader text, in MLA format
- Video response (1-2 minutes, .MOV or .MP4) answering two supplementary questions
How To Apply
- Confirm your NEHS membership and read the current Common Reader text
- Draft your analytical essay (850 words maximum, MLA format, submitted as an anonymized PDF) responding to one of the five prompts
- Record your 1-2 minute video response
- Submit through the AwardSpring platform between September 28 and October 13, 2026 (or in the winter cycle, December 7, 2026 - January 12, 2027)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the National Honor Society scholarship?
No. The National English Honor Society is a separate organization focused on English and literature. Its scholarships require NEHS membership through your school's chapter.
How much can I win?
NEHS distributes over $90,000 across 30 or more awards each year, including at least one $5,000 Dr. William C. Johnson Scholarship. Individual award amounts vary.
What if I miss the October deadline?
NEHS runs a second application cycle from December 7, 2026 to January 12, 2027, with all awards announced May 3, 2027.