The Boston Globe is encouraging high school students across New England to showcase their storytelling and journalism skills through the 22nd Annual Will McDonough Sports Writing Contest.

The free contest is open to students in grades 9-12 residing in any New England state, including Maine. It offers students an opportunity to develop and share their nonfiction writing centered on sports. Educators, school staff, journalism advisers, English teachers, coaches, and families are encouraged to share this opportunity with students who may be interested in sports writing, journalism, storytelling, or communications.

Students may submit one original nonfiction entry of up to 700 words. Entries may be written in either first person or third person and must have sports as a central element. Submissions can be newly written or previously published works created after August 15, 2025.

Contest organizers note that all work must be wholly created by the student and will be evaluated based on the strength of the writing, reporting, use of journalism practices, and the ability to engage readers.

The contest honors Will McDonough, a legendary sportswriter best known for his decades spent covering professional sports in New England. McDonough was widely respected for his reporting, storytelling, and commitment to journalistic excellence.

Contest Guidelines

To participate, students must:

• Be enrolled in grades 9-12 as of May 1, 2026
• Reside in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont
• Submit one nonfiction sports-related essay
• Keep submissions to 700 words or fewer
• Submit their entry by May 27, 2026

How to Enter

Students must complete two steps before the May 27, 2026, deadline:

1. Have an adult (18+) complete the entry form, which can be found here.
2. Email their submission to McDonoughContest@globe.com.

For official contest rules and additional information, please click here. Judging will conclude on June 8, 2026, and winners will be announced on June 9, 2026.

Do you know a Maine high school junior who’s passionate about science and curious about the ocean? Applications are now open for a no-cost, immersive ocean research experience through the Keller BLOOM Program, offered by the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

The Keller BLOOM Program runs May 17-22, 2026, and gives selected students the chance to spend a week living and learning on Bigelow’s East Boothbay campus, working alongside professional scientists using advanced equipment and real research techniques.

Founded by Bigelow scientist Maureen Keller, the Keller BLOOM Program is designed to introduce students to hands-on ocean science, from field sampling and data collection to laboratory investigation and analysis. Participants explore the biological, chemical, and geological characteristics of Maine’s marine environment and learn firsthand what a career in ocean science can look like.

Current Maine high school juniors — including those who are homeschooled — are encouraged to apply. No previous research experience is required, and there is no cost to participate; Bigelow provides chaperoned room and board for the week.

Sixteen students from across the state will be selected, with representation from Maine’s various counties being a priority. During the program, students may participate in field activities, laboratory investigations, and discussions with scientists about careers, ethics, and real-world ocean research.

Applications are due April 10, 2026. For more details and to submit an application, visit the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Keller BLOOM Program application or contact Dr. Nicole Poulton at npoulton@bigelow.org or 207-315-2567 x513.

Image courtesy of the MY AMERICA website.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to share a new civic learning opportunity for Maine educators and students: MY AMERICA: From Ground Zero to Common Ground, a nationwide, youth-driven art and civic engagement campaign taking place during a period of national reflection in 2026.

Through this initiative, Maine students will have the opportunity to contribute directly to a national commemorative artifact, a large-scale mosaic of an American flag composed of thousands of individual student-created tiles from across all 50 states. Each tile will feature a student’s original message, artwork, or poem reflecting their perspective on unity, democracy, and what it means to live together in the United States today. When assembled, the mosaic is expected to measure approximately 150 feet by 80 feet, creating a powerful visual representation of youth voice and collective expression.

MY AMERICA invites young people to engage thoughtfully with the nation’s past, present, and future during a moment that includes both the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. The campaign acknowledges that while these anniversaries hold significance in the nation’s civic history, they also sit within a much longer and more complex narrative, one that encompasses the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples whose presence on this land predates the formation of the United States.

Building on the legacy of the original United We Stand for America youth flag created after 9/11, MY AMERICA centers youth voice as a means of reflection, dialogue, and shared meaning-making. The project affirms that democracy is not static or complete but rather an ongoing practice shaped by many perspectives, experiences, and histories.

Educational Opportunities for Maine Classrooms

Participation in MY AMERICA offers rich, flexible learning opportunities across grade levels and content areas. The project is well suited for:

• Civics and social studies, supporting inquiry into democracy, civic identity, and multiple perspectives on national history.
• Arts and humanities, emphasizing creative expression, symbolism, and storytelling.
• Interdisciplinary learning, integrating history, literacy, visual arts, and student voice.
• Project-based learning, engaging students in reflection that culminates in a contribution to a national public work.

Educators may adapt participation to align with local curricular goals while inviting students to grapple with complex questions about history, belonging, responsibility, and the future they hope to shape.

Maine’s Participation

Maine is a coalition partner in the MY AMERICA campaign, and the Maine DOE encourages educators to consider participating. Through this effort, Maine students will be represented alongside peers from across the country, ensuring that Maine perspectives, experiences, and values are part of a national artifact that reflects the diversity and complexity of our shared civic life.

How to Get Involved

Educators may register their classrooms to receive a free participation kit, which includes fabric tiles, markers, and classroom guidance. Kits are scheduled to be mailed at the end of January.

Completed tiles must be returned by October 1, 2026, although educators are encouraged to submit them before the end of the school year in June, if possible.

To learn more or register, visit MyAmerica2026.org. Questions may be directed to Maine DOE Chief Teaching and Learning Officer Beth Lambert at beth.lambert@maine.gov.

By participating in MY AMERICA, Maine educators and students have the opportunity to engage in meaningful civic learning while contributing their voices to a national work that reflects on where we have been, acknowledges the histories that shape us, and looks toward a more inclusive and shared future.