Irene Adler Prize

Scholarship Sponsored by Lucas Aykroyd

Introduction
I’ve been fortunate to photograph and write across the globe — from Sweden to South Africa, from the Golden Globes red carpet to the Olympic women’s hockey final. I’ve captured a mother polar bear with her cubs and profiled artists and athletes including ABBA, Jennifer Garner and Katarina Witt. Throughout my career, women have been central: my mother is a journalist, my sister works in publishing, and the editors who opened doors for me at the New York Times, the Washington Post and National Geographic have been women. Many of the stories that earned recognition were assigned by female editors. Teachers, librarians, publicists, agents and fellow writers — women have shaped my work and helped me succeed.

Purpose
As a way to give back, I am launching the Irene Adler Prize: a scholarship and essay competition designed to support women studying journalism, creative writing or literature. This award acknowledges the vital contributions of women in the media, letters and storytelling, and seeks to help the often-underrepresented half of the world reach their full potential.

Key Dates
- Competition period: January 30, 2026 – May 30, 2026 (no late submissions).
- Winner announced: August 4, 2026.

Eligibility
- Open to women of any age from anywhere in the world.
- Applicants must be commencing or continuing study in 2026–27 toward a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. degree in journalism, creative writing or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution.
- Previous recipients of the $1,000 Irene Adler Prize are not eligible to win again. Past honorable-mention recipients remain eligible.

Prizes
- Grand prize: $1,000 (USD) scholarship.
- Up to two honorable mentions: $250 (USD) each, at the judge’s discretion.
- Payments are intended to be used for educational expenses (for example, tuition). Winners must provide proof that funds were applied to such expenses (receipt, tuition payment slip, or letter from the institution). Any applicable taxes are the winner’s responsibility.

Entry Fee
- No entry fee. Participation is free.

Submission Requirements
Each submission must include two separate files, both in Microsoft Word format, emailed as separate attachments to [email protected]:
1) The essay (500 words maximum, in English). Requirements for the essay:
- Choose one of the five prompts listed below.
- Provide an original title.
- On the first page include your full name, mailing address, phone number and email address. Personal data will be kept strictly confidential.
2) A completed entry form (see the provided entry form; please attach as a separate Word document).

Email subject line
Include the essay title followed by “(Irene Adler Prize application)”. Example:
Coming of Age Amid the Rhododendrons (Irene Adler Prize application)

Limit
- One entry per person. Multiple submissions by the same individual will result in disqualification.

Essay Prompts (choose one)
- Describe what you learned and gained from meeting someone (or people) from another culture.
- Which recent historical development makes you most optimistic about the future for women?
- Recount the most unforgettable dream you have ever had, awake or asleep.
- Write a short work of fiction with a female protagonist that ends with a dramatic twist.
- Through non-fiction storytelling, show what the rise of women’s sports worldwide means.

Judging
- Entries will be evaluated by Lucas Aykroyd, the prize administrator. Judging criteria include content, originality, structure and overall quality of writing. The administrator’s decisions are final.
- Entries that are found to be plagiarized or generated wholly or partly by AI will be disqualified.

Notifications and Publication
- The grand prize winner will be announced on August 4, 2026. Honorable mentions will be awarded at the judge’s discretion.
- By entering, participants agree that the prize administrator may publish the winning essay and the author’s name on lucasaykroyd.com and promote it via media channels.

Verification and Payment Conditions
- Proof of enrollment at a recognized post-secondary institution for the 2026–27 academic year must be provided before prize funds are released. Acceptable documents include a registrar’s letter or certificate of enrollment, an official tuition bill, or a class schedule.
- Winners must provide confirmation that prize money was applied to educational expenses (receipt, tuition payment slip, or institutional letter).

Final Notes
- The Irene Adler Prize is a one-time award; the $1,000 scholarship may not be won more than once by the same person.
- For questions about the competition, contact: [email protected]

I look forward to reading your work and supporting the next generation of women writers and journalists.