BrightSprout Crossword Scholarship

BrightSprout believes in education for all students–no matter their background. Making a successful crossword puzzle is incredibly challenging. We want to reward the creative thinking and hard work that goes into writing crosswords with our annual Crossword Scholarship.

Each year, we award a prize to one talented student. Instead of the typical essay, our crossword scholarship is awarded to the best puzzle-maker. To apply, students must create and submit one 15×15 newspaper-style crossword puzzle on My Crossword Maker

Eligibility and Rules
The BrightSprout Crossword Scholarship competition is open to all current or incoming undergraduate students who will be enrolled for the fall 2025 semester or quarter. We verify enrollment with the winner’s school before dispersing the award.

To be considered for the competition, all crosswords must be original, written solely by the applicant, and not previously published elsewhere. Additionally, they must be created and published publicly on Crossword Maker following all instructions and guidelines outlined below.