The Holle Award for Excellence in Public Speaking recognizes exemplary oral communication skills.

Who’s eligible?

This award is open to students who have been enrolled in a public speaking course in a U.S. institution of higher learning during the 2025-26 academic year. Students must be nominated by their course instructor. Course instructors must complete a nomination form (linked below) that the student will include in their application materials. Students who are graduating during the calendar year of submission are eligible to apply, even though the award may be conferred after they have graduated. Students who are currently receiving scholarships or funding for college speech and debate activities are ineligible for this award. 

Requirements for Speech Competition

• The speech entered for the competition must be an original speech written and developed by the contestant.
• Contestants will submit 1 video of their speech delivered in front of a live audience. The size and specification of the audience are up to the instructor in the course. Nominees from university courses can elect to do a separate recording for the specific purpose of submitting for the contest. 
• All recordings should clearly show the speaker and have clear and high-quality audio. Inaudible or indiscernible recordings will be disqualified.
• The chief aim of the speech must be to persuade the audience regarding a specific action, policy, or value.
• The speech presentation must meet the 8-10 minute time limit.
• Contestants should consider ways to enhance credibility in attire through professional dress.

Contest Structure

• Each school can nominate up to two contestants, but only the first 25 nominations will be accepted.
• The submission window is May 1st to May 31st.
• Each nominator is required to serve as a judge during the preliminary rounds.
• Judging of speeches will occur virtually in an asynchronous format in June and/or July. Judges will be sent links to 5-6 different speeches to submit their feedback, ranks, and ratings through a secure awards platform. Judges will receive additional information about the judging process and deadlines by the awards coordinator.
• After preliminary competition, contestants will be broken out to a Final Round, which will be judged by a Holle Award Selection Committee. Students will be notified if their speech has moved on to the final round.
• If the number of overall submissions is less than ten, preliminary judging may be waved and entries will advance to the final review stage.

Submission Guidelines and Materials

• Applicants must create an account with the Submittable platform to apply for the award. Complete the online application form.
• Submissions should be anonymized. Please remove or distort any identifiable information from your entry including any reference or representation of your affiliated institution.
• Participants must present a formal persuasive speech that advocates change or support of specific actions, policies, concepts, or behaviors that impact society. Presentations should address a specific problem and provide a solution to that problem in the course of the speech. Speeches must contain logical structure, evidence of persuasive appeals, credible secondary research, and display exemplary standards of delivery.
• Upload an edited and finalized video of your speech, including sources, to the awards platform. You will also be required to provide a direct web link to your speech. We recommend that you create a recording in a private YouTube or Vimeo account and share a viewer link.
• Submit a 100-word abstract summarizing your speech and how it aligns with the Holle Awards mission. 
• Upload a signed nomination form, completed by your faculty reference/sponsor at your current institution. Only one nomination per application.
• Include a professional headshot and brief bio. Headshots should have a neutral background and include your head and shoulders only.

AI policy: The use of AI is not allowed for submissions to the Holle Award for Excellence in Public Speaking. Applications will be disqualified if AI or plagiarism is suspected. All advanced entries will be checked with AI-Detection tools to ensure compliance. The Holle Awards are intended to reward originality, creativity, and ingenuity.

All applications should align with the mission of the award and the vision of Everett Holle. 

Holle Award winners will be required to release the use of their name, image, likeness and representation of their work for promotional purposes but not commercial gain.

The Holle Award for Excellence in Filmmaking honors the director of the best narrative or documentary short film. 

Who’s eligible?

Any individual undergraduate student who is currently enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher learning who is majoring or minoring in film studies or a related field. Students who are graduating during the calendar year of submission are eligible to apply, even though the award may be conferred after they have graduated. While filmmaking is inherently collaborative, this award honors the director’s artistic vision and leadership that guided the work of an exceptional team.

Submission Guidelines and Materials

• Applicants must create an account with the Submittable platform to apply for the award. Complete the online application form.
• Submissions should be anonymized. Please remove or distort any identifiable information from your entry.
• Films considered for this award must have been made under the supervision of a faculty member, as part of a student’s filmic coursework, or as a graduation requirement.
• Narrative or documentary films that are 30 minutes or less are considered for this award. Narrative films must be based on an original screenplay- adaptations are allowed if they have been written by students.
• Successful submissions are films that demonstrate artistic excellence through creative storytelling, emotional resonance, ambition, and engagement with larger themes. 
• Submit a film synopsis (1-3 sentences). Describe your film succinctly, providing a hook.
• Include a director’s statement (no more than 500 words). Tell us about yourself, your background, and the work you create. How did you come to tell this story, and how has your unique lived experience influenced the way you approached this project? Why did you have to tell this story? Describe your creative vision for this film, focusing on the tone, style, visuals, and themes you are exploring. Also, explain how your submission aligns with the Holle Awards mission. 
• Include the name and contact information of one faculty reference/sponsor at your current institution who has reviewed your work.
• Upload an edited and finalized version of your film to the awards platform. You will also be required to provide a direct web link to your film. We recommend that you create a recording in a private YouTube or Vimeo account and share a viewer link. Please ensure your privacy settings will allow the film to be viewed.
• Include a professional headshot and brief bio. Headshots should have a neutral background and include your head and shoulders only.
• Filmmakers must have release forms for all talent and subjects that appear on screen and hold rights or have permission for all material used in the film such as music rights, logos and branding, and any copyrighted material that appears on screen.

AI policy: The use of AI is discouraged; however, film submissions will still be considered as long as the use of AI is disclosed and explained in the application. All advanced entries will be checked with AI-Detection tools to ensure compliance. The Holle Awards are intended to reward originality, creativity, and ingenuity.

All applications should align with the mission of the award and the vision of Everett Holle.

While it is not a requirement to apply to the Holle Awards, we encourage you to register your work through the U.S. Copyright Office. 

Holle Award winners will be required to release the use of their name, image, likeness and representation of their work for promotional purposes but not commercial gain.

The Holle Award for Excellence in Media Writing is awarded to the author of an exceptional news story that reflects a topically relevant issue to society.  Note: Sports-related stories should be submitted to the Holle Award for Excellence in Sports Writing.

Who’s eligible?

Any individual undergraduate student who is currently enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher learning, and majoring or minoring in journalism or working on the staff of a student or community paper can apply for this award. Students who are graduating during the calendar year of submission are eligible to apply, even though the award may be conferred after they have graduated. 

Submission Guidelines and Materials

• Applicants must create an account with the Submittable platform to apply for the award. Complete the online application form.
• Submissions should be anonymized. Please remove or distort any identifiable information from your entry.
• Upload one single-authored news story that is at least 800 words in length. Though “news” is not defined in a specific way, all entries are expected to be nonfiction and reflect a topic or issue that is relevant to society.  The story must have at least three sources, and the contact information for all sources must be provided. Entries must have been published in print and/or online in a campus or professional publication (no blogs). 
• Submit an abstract summary (no more than 100 words) of your news story, and include an explanation about how your submission aligns with the Holle Awards mission.  
• Include a submission statement that lists: (a) the importance of the story for the intended readership, (b) any noteworthy information concerning the reporting process, such as time spent and sources consulted, and (c) any readership or community reaction to the piece, if applicable.
• Include the name and contact information of one faculty reference/sponsor at your current institution, who has reviewed your work.
• Single-author bylines only.
• Include a professional headshot and brief bio. Headshots should have a neutral background and include your head and shoulders only.

AI policy: The use of AI is not allowed for submissions to the Holle Award for Excellence in Media Writing. Applications will be disqualified if AI or plagiarism is suspected. All advanced entries will be checked with AI-Detection tools to ensure compliance. The Holle Awards are intended to reward originality, creativity, and ingenuity.

All applications should align with the mission of the award and the vision of Everett Holle.

While it is not a requirement to apply to the Holle Awards, we encourage you to register your work through the U.S. Copyright Office. 

Holle Award winners will be required to release the use of their name, image, likeness and representation of their work for promotional purposes but not commercial gain.

The Holle Award for Excellence in Book Arts celebrates the creative practice of book arts through the demonstration of both conceptual strength and exceptional craft skills. 

Who’s eligible?

Any student currently enrolled in a Book Arts program at a U.S. institution of higher learning, including undergraduates majoring or minoring in Book Arts, college or university certificate programs, and students working on a Book Arts MFA. Programs that are unaffiliated with a college or university degree program are ineligible. Students who are graduating during the calendar year of submission are eligible to apply, even though the award may be conferred after they have graduated. 

Submission Guidelines and Materials

• Applicants must create an account with the Submittable platform to apply for the award. Complete the online application form.
• Submissions should be anonymized. Please remove or distort any identifiable information from your entry.
• Only one book project may be submitted. The work may include hand bookbinding, letterpress printing, mixed media including digital printing and various art printing technologies, and hand papermaking.
• Upload 5-10 photographs of the book project and an image list, a description of content/full text of the book, and colophon information. All work must be completed.
• Submit a video view of the project to the awards platform. You will also be required to provide a direct web link. We recommend that you create a recording in a private YouTube or Vimeo account and share a viewer link.
• Submit an artist statement that specifically addresses the book being entered for consideration and explains how your submission aligns with the Holle Awards mission. This statement should also provide context and insight into the work and include the intentions of the project.
• Include the name and contact information of one faculty reference/sponsor at your current institution who has reviewed your work.
• Include a professional headshot and brief bio. Headshots should have a neutral background and include your head and shoulders only.

AI policy: The use of AI is not allowed for submissions to the Holle Award for Excellence in Book Arts. Applications will be disqualified if AI or plagiarism is suspected. All advanced entries will be checked with AI-Detection tools to ensure compliance. The Holle Awards are intended to reward originality, creativity, and ingenuity.

All applications should align with the mission of the award and the vision of Everett Holle.

While it is not a requirement to apply to the Holle Awards, we encourage you to register your work through the U.S. Copyright Office. 

Holle Award winners will be required to release the use of their name, image, likeness and representation of their work for promotional purposes but not commercial gain. Award recipients will be required to submit a copy of the winning book.

The Holle Award for Excellence in Screenwriting celebrates an exemplary original script of any genre.

Who’s eligible?

Any individual undergraduate student who is currently enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher learning. Students who are graduating during the calendar year of submission are eligible to apply, even though the award may be conferred after they have graduated. 

Submission Guidelines and Materials

• Applicants must create an account with the Submittable platform to apply for the award. Complete the online application form.
• Submissions should be anonymized. Please remove or distort any identifiable information from your entry.
• Upload a completed and original full-length feature script (80-120 pages). Include a cover page with a one sentence logline.
• Submit a brief synopsis (approximately 300 words)
• Submit an artist statement (no more than three paragraphs) that explains how your submission aligns with the Holle Awards mission. This statement should also provide context and insight into the work and include the intentions of the project.
• Scripts should be written in standard spec screenplay or teleplay format, set in 12-point Courier font (for help with standard formatting, see The Screenwriter’s Bible). Entries must be uploaded as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file. 
• The entry must be an original work. Adaptations of other artistic works will be disqualified.
• Include the name and contact information of one faculty reference/sponsor at your current institution, who has reviewed your work.
• Include a professional headshot and brief bio. Headshots should have a neutral background and include your head and shoulders only.

AI policy: The use of AI is not allowed for submissions to the Holle Award for Excellence in Screenwriting. Applications will be disqualified if AI or plagiarism is suspected. All advanced entries will be checked with AI-Detection tools to ensure compliance. The Holle Awards are intended to reward originality, creativity, and ingenuity.

All applications should align with the mission of the award and the vision of Everett Holle.

While it is not a requirement to apply to the Holle Awards, we encourage you to register your work through the U.S. Copyright Office. 

Holle Award winners will be required to release the use of their name, image, likeness and representation of their work for promotional purposes but not commercial gain.

The Holle Award for Excellence in Sports Writing celebrates exemplary work in written sports journalism. 

Who’s eligible?

Any individual undergraduate student who is currently enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher learning, and majoring or minoring in journalism or working on the staff of a student or community paper can apply for this award. Students who are graduating during the calendar year of submission are eligible to apply, even though the award may be conferred after they have graduated. 

Submission Guidelines and Materials

• Applicants must create an account with the Submittable platform to apply for the award. Complete the online application form.
• Submissions should be anonymized. Please remove or distort any identifiable information from your entry.
• Upload one narrative based sports story (feature story or commentary) that has been published in print and/or online in a campus or professional publication (no blogs, magazines, newsletters, or self-publications).
• Submit an abstract summary (no more than 100 words) of your story and include an explanation about how your submission aligns with the Holle Awards mission.  
• Include a submission statement that lists: (a) the importance of the story for the intended readership, (b) any noteworthy information concerning the reporting process, such as time spent and sources consulted, and (c) any readership or community reaction to the piece, if applicable.
• Include the name and contact information of one faculty reference/sponsor at your current institution, who has reviewed your work.
• Single-author bylines only.
• Include a professional headshot and brief bio. Headshots should have a neutral background and include your head and shoulders only.

AI policy: The use of AI is not allowed for submissions to the Holle Award for Excellence in Sports Writing. Applications will be disqualified if AI or plagiarism is suspected. All advanced entries will be checked with AI-Detection tools to ensure compliance. The Holle Awards are intended to reward originality, creativity, and ingenuity.

All applications should align with the mission of the award and the vision of Everett Holle.

While it is not a requirement to apply to the Holle Awards, we encourage you to register your work through the U.S. Copyright Office. 

Holle Award winners will be required to release the use of their name, image, likeness and representation of their work for promotional purposes but not commercial gain.