The Atlantic and College Board has named the winners of their 2nd annual writing contest recognizing the best high school essay writers. This year, students were asked to analyze and interpret a meaningful work of art and understand the importance of revision.
More than 2,000 entries were received about more than 700 different works of art from students in 43 different countries. 24 composition and art-history professors scored the essays, and then a smaller panel of representatives from The Atlantic and College Board picked the top three.
One of the finalists was Rahul Malayppan, a senior at Danbury High School, who plans to go to UC Berkeley in the fall. He wrote his essay on M.C. Escher’s Waterfall. As a finalist, Rahul will get a $2,500 prize and have his essay published on the College Board website in September.
Rahul received one-on-one editing guidance from The Atlantic's magazine editors. Editors worked through their argument, gave coaching, guidance and feedback, and then students submitted revisions for final judging.
Rahul, along with the winner and another finalist are in Washington, DC this month for The Atlantic's Education Summit.
